Abstract: A turning gear apparatus mounted adjacent the bull gear of a large turbomachine rotor has a carriage pivotably mounted to the frame, a first pinion rotatably mounted on the carriage, and a second pinion continuously engaging the first pinion and rotatably mounted to the frame coaxial with the carriage pivoting axis. The improvement comprises locating the carriage on the side of the bull gear where it rotates in an upward direction, with the axis of the second pinion located such that when the carriage is pivoted and the first pinion engages the bull gear, the axis of rotation of the first pinion is located on a selected angle below the horizintal substantially equal to the pressure angle of the bull gear tooth, resulting in substantially vertical reaction forces.