backless? I assume you mean backlash, if you google gears and backlash you will get a fund of information.
The second part of your question is of no use as you do not say what type of gears, size etc. Nobody can give you a sensible answer with this amount of information.
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If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. (A.E.)
I think you are referring BACKLASH for the Gear and it is not backless.
Generally the BACKLASH will be 4 to 5 Percent of the MODULE, and ROOT CLEARANCE will be 0.225 x MODULE.
Pl. refer any Standard book on Gear. The GEAR TRERMINOLOGY is to be understood properly, like MODULE, BACKLASH, ROOT CLEARANCE, ADDENDUM, DEDENDUM, DIAMETRAL PITCH, FLANK, TOOTH THICKNESS, ROOT STRESS, APPLICATION FACTOR etc.