If the driving mechanism of an engine consists only of gears, this system is referred to as what?

• A. Gear train
• B. Timing belt system
• C. Hydraulic drive
• D. Cam and follower system

Answer: (A)

When the driving mechanism is made up entirely of gears, it’s a gear train. A gear train is a set of gears that mesh together to transfer rotation and torque from one shaft to another, and it can change speed and torque through gear ratios. In an engine, a gear train might drive components like the camshaft or oil pump using gears rather than belts or chains. A timing belt system uses a belt, not gears; a hydraulic drive relies on fluid power; a cam and follower system uses a cam profile and follower, not a network of gears. So, the gear-only driving mechanism is described as a gear train.