In order to research the relationship between the starved lubrication life of spiral bevel gear drive and the roughness of gear,based on the differential geometry and meshing principles,the elastohydrodynamic lubrication parameters were calculated.The equation of elastohydrodynamic film thickness was established with consideration of the surface roughness of gear,and by using finite element analysisis (FEA) method to solve Reynolds equation,the normal pressure of the meshing points and the film thickness of the lubrication center during meshing was obtained respectively.By correcting the starved lubrication life prediction formula of smooth surface of spiral bevel gear,the starved lubrication life of the spiral bevel gear with different roughness was calculated,and the law of influence of different roughness on starved lubrication life was analyzed.The results show that the starved lubrication life of spiral bevel gear drive is short and can be prolonged by a proper increase of the roughness of the tooth surface,and compared with a smooth tooth surface,the rough tooth surface has more uniform film distribute.