Shop Talk Blog

The Official Blog for Texas Final Drive

Dr McCaslin

Recent Posts

Winter is Coming - Tips for Machine Owners

by Dr McCaslin | Dec 12, 2017 |

Heavy Equipment, Skid Steers, seasonal

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Winter is coming -- and for many parts of the country, it feels as if winter's already here. But, as owner-operators of heavy machinery already know, winter brings a whole new set of challenges for the industry. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to talk about a few of those challenges and some of the opportunities disguised as challenges that are waiting to be exploited.

4 Bad Habits That Mini Excavator Owners and Operators Need to Quit

It’s important that your excavator is ready to work when the deadlines are looming ever nearer -- but there are some bad habits and patterns that all too many owners and operators fall into that compromise the performance and useful life of their excavator. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to talk about four bad habits that compact excavator owners and operators need to quit.

Hitachi Trivia You Probably Didn't Know!

by Dr McCaslin | Nov 30, 2017 |

Excavators, Mini-excavators, Hitachi

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Hitachi is a well-known brand name in construction machinery, and in this Shop Talk Blog post we present several facts about Hitachi that you probably don't know.  Be prepared to learn what hitachi means, the extremely diverse range of products manufactured by Hitachi through the years, and its relationship with John Deere.

Compact Track Loader Final Drives: 5 Signs They Need Service

There is never a convenient time to get the final drive on your CTL serviced, but servicing becomes necessary as time passes. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to discuss the signs that indicate the need for you to get your final drive serviced ASAP. Some of them are common sense, of course -- but others might not be so obvious.

5 Common Questions about Skid Steer Loaders

Skid steer loaders haven’t decreased in popularity since they first became mainstream during the 1960s. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to answer some of the Internet’s most common question about this universally popular piece of compact equipment.

Our Favorite YouTube Channels about Compact Equipment

YouTube can be a great source of information for any niche you can think of. In fact, we at Texas Final Drive have our own channel where we occasionally try to educate and entertain viewers about final drives. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to introduce you to four of the best channels we have found for accurate, informative, and interesting videos related to compact equipment.

5 Things to Avoid Doing with Hydraulic Lines

by Dr McCaslin | Nov 09, 2017 |

Hydraulics, Hydraulic Lines, Hydraulic Fittings

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Hydraulic lines are a major part of any hydraulic system; the hydraulics on construction equipment such as skid steers, compact track loaders, and excavators are no exception. Since hydraulics are so vital to your equipment, we wanted to dedicate a Shop Talk Blog post to this subject. Whether you are maintaining your own equipment or restoring an older machine, here are five things you want to avoid doing with your hydraulic lines.

Background on Major Final Drive Motor Manufacturers

by Dr McCaslin | Nov 08, 2017 |

Final Drive, Manufacturers

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0 Comments
Most people in this industry are familiar with prominent like Bobcat or John Deere, major manufacturers of earth moving and construction equipment that have a worldwide presence . However, not as many know about the manufacturers of the final drives that provide the torque for their equipment . In this Shop Talk Blog post, we will talk about five major manufacturers for final drives: Rexroth, Nachi, Eaton, Comer, and Bonfiglioli .

Monster Excavators by the Numbers

by Dr McCaslin | Nov 07, 2017 |

Excavators

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4 Comments

In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to look at 7 of the world’s largest excavators and consider them by the numbers. We’ve included several charts so you can get a quick idea of how they compare in terms of weight, bucket capacity, gross horsepower, track length, and more.  Have any of you guys ever worked with one of these monsters?  Tell us in the comments!

Excavating Deep Underwater

by Dr McCaslin | Nov 03, 2017 |

Excavators, Underwater Excavators, Subsea

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5 Comments

There are two approaches to excavating underwater. The first is through the use of amphibious excavators which work primarily in swamps, marshlands, and relatively shallow water. This blog post focuses on the second approach: excavators used in deeper waters which are partially (or totally) submerged.

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