You’re on the job, deadlines are already tight, and suddenly your skid steer doesn’t sound or feel right. Every hour of downtime costs not just time but money.
That’s why we’ve put together this Shop Talk Blog post to help you learn the early warning signs of a final drive that’s about to fail. That way, you can catch these problems before they become catastrophic-- and more expensive.
Loss of Power
If your machine suddenly feels weak, maybe struggling to climb like it used to, or is sluggish when it has to move with a load, then here are some possibilities as to what is wrong with it:
- A blocked case drain filter
- Internal wear in the final drive
- Weak charge pump
- Final drive brakes are not releasing
- Other hydraulic issues
If power loss is only on one side, or the machine tries to curve to the side, that’s a big clue it’s a final drive issue.
Strange Noises
Grinding, clunking, excessive vibrating, or squealing noises coming from your final drive motor are never good. Metal-on-metal contact and bearing failure are possible causes, and can quickly snowball into significant damage. The key is this: when you hear new noises coming from your final drive motor, damage is probably already in progress.
Leaks Around the Final Drive
As we have said before, leaks are never a good thing. When you see oil or hydraulic fluid pooling under the machine or visible on the drive housing, it’s time to take action. The most common cause is a failed seal, which means that not only is fluid leaking, but contamination is making its way in. For hydraulic fluid leaks, the cause is usually excessive pressure, possibly caused by a clogged case drain filter. Even small leaks are cause for concern. Address them as soon as possible.
Excessive Heat
If your final drive motor is unusually hot to the touch, water sizzles when it contacts it, or you smell burning oil coming from up, that is a problem. Heat like this can accelerate wear and cause your hydraulic fluid and gear oil to age more rapidly (and lose their effectiveness). The cause is usually hydraulic contamination, a blocked case drain line, or an overloaded final drive motor.
Jerky or Uneven Movement
If your machine surges, stalls, or moves inconsistently, it could signal issues such as internal wear, worn-out or damaged gear teeth, or hydraulic contamination. We suggest testing your machine in a controlled area and, if jerky or uneven movement happens repeatedly, take that machine out of service until the final drives can be checked. When you keep running it, you risk totaling the final drive.
What to Do if You Notice These Signs
If you notice any of these signs, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean your final drive is totaled: it just means that it needs attention. Here are some quick steps to perform that can help you narrow down what may be wrong:
- Check fluid levels and condition
- Inspect the area around the drive
- Note whether it’s one side or both
- Call in expert support if symptoms persist
Here are some blog posts on troubleshooting that you might find helpful:
- Strange Noises Your Final Drive Should Never Make
- Diagnosing a Stalled or Jammed Final Drive Motor
- Diagnosing a Weak Final Drive Motor
- Final Drive Motors: Speed, Torque, and Power
- Is the Problem Really the Pump?
- Root Cause Analysis for Final Drives
- Damaged Final Drives: Brakes
- 3 Tips for Troubleshooting Hydraulic Problems on Compact Equipment
- Troubleshooting 5 Common Final Drive Issues
- Troubleshooting a Final Drive Using Case Drain Flow
- When Professionals Run Into Problems With Final Drives This Is What They Do
- Troubleshooting Final Drive Problems – Eliminating External Causes
Conclusion
If your skid steer is showing any of these signs, don’t ignore them. Check out our final drive troubleshooting guides or reach out to our team for advice — we’re here to help keep your machine running strong. Let us help you keep running!
