The effects of directional rotation radius and transmission error excitation on the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of face gear transmission system are analyzed. First, the accurate time-varying mesh stiffness is calculated using finite element method, and the nonlinear motion equation of the system under static transmission error excitation is proposed. The frequency response curve, time history curve, dynamic mesh force curve and dynamic factor curve are given, and the phenomena of jump, multiple solutions and tooth impact are observed. The numerical results show that the effect of amplitude variation of directional rotation radius on the dynamic characteristics of face gear pair is less conspicuous than that of transmission error but actually existing. The amplitude of the dynamic response of face gear pair reduces to some extent with the uniform distribution of the loading area through enlarging the amplitude variation of directional rotation radius. The static transmission error excitation should be reduced to perfect the transmission property. The system is in periodic motion most of the time, and tooth impact occurs only near [Formula: see text] . Since its dynamic property at low velocity and high velocity is good, the system should get through the resonant area quickly in work.