Shop Talk Blog

Final drive motors are essential components in heavy machinery. They turn hydraulic energy into mechanical motion to propel equipment. Understanding their function, maintenance, and common issues is crucial for optimal performance and longevity. Here are some frequently asked questions about final drive motors.

Here are some other Shop Talk Blog posts you might be interested in:

• 5 Questions You Should Ask About a Final Drive Before Buying It
  
• Basic Types of Hydraulic Fluid for Heavy and Compact Equipment
• Valve Blocks on Final Drive Hydraulic Motors

   

What is a final drive motor?

A final drive motor is a hydraulic motor that converts hydraulic pressure into mechanical torque. It drives the tracks or wheels of both heavy and compact equipment like excavators, compact track loaders, and skid steer loaders. A final drive motor combines a hydraulic motor with a gear reduction system to provide the necessary force for movement.

Halloween Horror Stories from the Construction Site!

As Halloween draws close, tales of haunted houses, monsters, and things that go bump in the night are in full swing. But for those in construction, there’s another type of horror to worry about: the dreaded equipment breakdowns that bring your jobs to a screeching halt. One of the biggest culprits? Final drive motors. Join us as we dive into some familiar “horror stories” and, most importantly, how to avoid them!

As an owner or operator of compact and heavy equipment, you play a crucial role in maintaining your final drive motor. Your efforts in this area improve your equipment's performance and help avoid costly repairs and downtime. 

We know how essential maintenance is to your equipment's performance and value, so here’s a guide to final drive motor maintenance. This Shop Talk Blog post focuses on industry best practices to keep your motors in top shape.

Hydraulic cylinders lift, push, pull, compress, and extend with a tremendous amount of force. We know how indispensable they are to your compact equipment, so here's a refresher on the basics.

Skid steer loaders are versatile workhorses in numerous industries ranging from heavy construction to delicate landscaping. These compact machines are renowned for their maneuverability and ability to tackle various tasks. One crucial aspect of skid steer loaders is their choice of wheel tracks. Sometimes, tires won't do the job when you need more flotation or traction, and that's where over-the-tire tracks come in. When selecting the right OTT tracks for your skid steer loader, understanding the pros and cons of each option is vital.

In this Shop Talk Blog post, we'll look at the pros and cons of rubber and steel over tire tracks.

Here are some additional Shop Talk Blog posts you might find helpful:

• Track Tension and Final Drives
• Radial Lift vs Vertical Lift
• CTL / MTL Undercarriage Maintenance

Bobcat CTLs are truly "one tough animal" and the Bobcat T190 is no exception. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we'll talk a bit about the T190 and the different types of final drive motors they may have.

Here are a few articles you might find of interest:

• Facts about the Bobcat 864
• Bobcat Final Drive Basics
• A Quick History of Doosan Infracore

We know that it’s vital to keep your skid steers rolling year-round and that the key to their reliability and performance lies in maintenance.

In this Shop Talk blog post, we’ll discuss the key maintenance tasks for skid steer final drivesthat will increase their uptime, reduce repair costs, and extend their lifespan.

Here are some additional blog posts you might be interested in:

• Catastrophic Failure: Why Gear Oil Maintenance is So Important 
• Demystifying Skid Steer Loader Categories 
• 5 Common Questions about Skid Steer Loaders 

Your hydraulic equipment has many different hydraulic connectors, and it’s good to know the different types. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we’ll talk about hydraulic connectors (threaded, flange, and quick disconnect) -- including how they work and where you’re likely to find them.

Here are some other Shop Talk Blog posts you might find of interest:

• 5 Things to Avoid Doing With Hydraulic Lines
• Hydraulic Hoses and Final Drives
• Causes of Hydraulic Hose Failure on Heavy Equipment

Heavy equipment theft is a significant problem in the United States. Showing up to a job site only to find some of your equipment missing is a nightmare --  financial losses, waiting for insurance to process, delayed projects, downtime, lost productivity, and more. 

And while we know this doesn’t tie in directly with final drive motors, we know it is a concern for many of our customers. So, in this Shop Talk Blog post, we’re talking about equipment theft trends, contributing factors, and their impact. Then, we’ll look at the challenges to recovery, followed by preventative strategies. At the end, there are some additional resources to help you protect your equipment and ensure a fast recovery if stolen.

The planetary on your final drive motor generates tremendous amounts of torque and requires lubrication to provide high performance and extend the life of its components. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we'll talk about lubrication's role in preventing planetary failure.