Purpose. Development of a mathematical model of a heavy loaded gear transmission with a self-aligning drive gear; evaluation of the dynamic load on the gear transmission in the gear alignment process. Methodology. The calculation schematic and equations of the relative motion of the self-aligning drive gear are formed using the methods of rigid body dynamics. Analytical expressions for the gear self-alignment time, collision velocity during the alignment and dynamic load factor are obtained by integrating an ordinary differential equation. Methods of the linear theory for oscillations are used to determine the dynamic factor. Findings. The article investigates the state-of-art design and mathematical models of the self-aligning gear. An equation for the relative motion of the moving part of the gear has been formed using the methods of rigid body dynamics. It is shown that by using the proposed hypotheses, the movement of the gear can be reduced to rotation about the instantaneous axis. The influence of geometric and dynamic parameters of the ball mill drive on dynamic loads in the open gear transmission is investigated. The gear alignment speed dependences on the tooth mesh misalignment angle in the gear transmission and the inertial parameters of the gear have been obtained. The obtained dependencies were used to calculate the time and speed of the gear alignment in the open gear transmission of the ball mill 5.5 6.5 (central discharge ball mill). It is shown that in the real range of mesh misalignment angles and gear parameters, the time of the gear alignment is several orders of magnitude less than the time of teeth re-engagement. In the presence of the variable component of the mesh misalignment angle, the gear will constantly make a relative motion with strikes; depending on the current value of the mesh misalignment angle, the dynamic load on the gear transmission can be significant. It is shown that when assessing the efficacy of self-aligning gears, it is necessary to take into account a possible increase in dynamic loads. The dynamic factor and the load factor are calculated for the nominal value of the mesh misalignment angle in the open gear transmission of 5.5 6.5 ball mills. Originality. A mathematical model of the dynamics of a self-aligning gear transmission in heavy duty machine drives has been developed. A quantitative assessment of internal dynamic load factor in an open gear transmission of 5.5 6.5 ball mills has been carried out. Practical value. A method for determining the dynamic component of the load on a gear transmission containing a self-aligning drive gear has been developed.