A customer sent in a Hy-Dash brand final drive in for repairs. The symptoms were quite simple: the tracks on one side of the machine had been losing power and finally refused to move, so he pulled the track drive and brought it to us. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to look at what caused this kind of catastrophic failure and how you can avoid a similar fate.
Autopsy: Hy-Dash Final Drive Motor
Final Drive, Final Drive Failure, Final Drive Motor Gearbox, Final Drive Maintenance, Heavy Equipment 101, Hy-dash Final Drive
|Bobcat Mini Excavator Findings
In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to review the "autopsy" findings for a mini-excavator final drive taken off a Bobcat 331. We'll go through this step-by-step, just like the technician who disassembled and inspected this hydraulic drive motor.
Daily Maintenance for Skid Steer Loaders
Final Drive Failure, Final Drive Motors, Final Drive Maintenance, Heavy Equipment 101, Skid Steers, Hydraulic drive motor
|Extending Useful Life of Your Skid Steer
Did you know that daily maintenance is the key to extending the useful life of your skid steer? While simply daily steps may not seem like much, they add up to a great deal of savings in repairs and machine down-time regardless of whether a Bobcat or Terex skid steer loader. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to review the daily maintenance tasks that need to be followed if you want the skid steers in your fleet to be as efficient and productive as possible.
Hydraulic Drive Motors and Contamination
Final Drive Failure, Hydraulic Motors, Final Drive Maintenance, Heavy Equipment 101, Hydraulic drive motor
|Hydraulic contamination is a major source of problems for any type of hydraulic system, but especially for hydraulic motors and final drives -- which means that it is very important to be well informed on the subject. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to talk about the types and sources of contamination, as well as how to avoid contamination. This information is important for all types of hydraulic construction equipment, from a Terex CTL to a Bobcat skid steer.
For more Shop Talk Blog post on hydraulic motor maintenance and repair, check out these great artilcles:
- CASE CTL: Options for Replacing the Hydraulic Motor and Final Drive
- Taking Your Hydraulic Motor Diagnosis Seriously
- 3 Things You Should Know About Eaton and Hydraulic Motors
- Hydraulic Contamination Issues in Newer Machines
- Types of Hydraulic Contamination that Affects Final Drives
5 Things You Should Know About Floating Face Seals
Final Drive Failure, Hydraulic Motors, Final Drive Maintenance, Heavy Equipment 101, Hydraulic drive motor
|Floating Face Seals and Track Drive Maintenance
The floating face seal is a vital part of your travel motor or final drive, whether its on a John Deere skid steer or an ASV compact track loader. It rests against the hub, holding in the gear oil on the planetary side and preventing contaminants from getting in where they can damage bearings and gear. If this seal begins to leak, your travel drive motor will suffer damage. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to talk about 5 things you should know about floating face seals and track drive maintenance.
Track Drives: 3 Mistakes Heavy Equipment Owners Make
Final Drive Failure, Final Drive Maintenance, Heavy Equipment 101, Excavators, Mini-excavators, Compact Track Loader
|Track Drives Vital to CTL and MTL Equipment
If you own a CTL (Compact Track Loader) or MTL (Multi-Terrain Loader), you know that it needs a working track drive in order to move. Track drives are a vital part of your CTL, whether it's an ASV compact track loader or a CAT multi-terrain loader, they are also commonly neglected. In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to talk about three common mistakes equipment owners make in maintaining their track drive motors.
CTLs and Skid Steers: Charge Pump Failures (YouTube Video)
Final Drive Failure, Heavy Equipment 101, Mini-excavators, Hydraulic drive motor
|In this Shop Talk Blog post, we are going to talk about a common cause of failures in CTLs and skid steers and how to prevent it. As part of this case study, we will be specifically discussing CAT 246 skid steer hydraulic motor and brake assembly that was sent in to us for diagnosis.
The Main Cause of Radial Piston Motor Failure: Do You Know What It Is?
Final Drive Failure, Hydraulic Motors, Heavy Equipment 101, Final drive motor, Hydraulic drive motor
|We’ve been getting in quite a few radial piston motors, especially those coming off CAT CTLs. In this blog post, we are going to talk about the most common reason for failure of radial piston motors that get sent in to us for repair or re-manufacturing -- and how easily this failure mode can be prevented.
3 Things You Should Know about Gear Oil for Final Drives
Final Drive, Final Drive Failure, Final Drive Motors, Final Drive Maintenance
|Gear oil is a special type of highly viscous lubricant that is well adapted for use in differentials and transmissions, including final drives. Gear oil, also referred to as gear lube, is the lubricant for the planetary side of a final drive. In this Shop Talk blog post we are going to discuss three things you should know about final drive gear oil.
Here are some additional Shop Talk blog posts you might find useful:
Most Common Failure Items on a Final Drive
Final Drive, Final Drive Failure, Final Drive Motor Gears, Final Drive Motor Seals, Final Drive Motors, Final drives, Heavy Equipment 101
|Final Drive Motor Failure
There are certain items on a final drive that are more likely to fail than others. They will cause damage to the motor, if left unchecked. Routine maintenance of these items will not only prevent damage but greatly extend the life of the components of the final drive motor.
Here are a few more blog posts that you might find helpful ...

