By: Jacob Maslow

A final motor drive is also known as a travel drive. No matter which term you and those around you use, it’s essential to know that it’s a worn part. It will wear out eventually. How long it lasts depends on several factors, such as maintenance levels and the overall machine’s use. Many final drives deal with heavy loads; they will only last long with appropriate maintenance. Frequent failure areas include seals, shafts, gears, and bearings. You need to know when and how to replace a final drive motor but remember four mistakes to avoid.

Undersizing the Replacement Motor

An undersized motor will draw more energy to compensate for its lack of power. Internal heat will rise, and the motor’s lifespan will go down. The excessive heat will seriously damage many components in and around the final drive motor. Repairing that damage can cost a lot of your budget and time. Fire risk is another factor to consider. You might have your equipment operators stop anytime they see temperature gauges going up so they can let things cool down, but this makes your productivity decline. Projects take longer without solving the issue.

Fresh Gear Oil

Depending on your specific final drive motor, you might need to change your gear oil every 100 operational hours or monthly. You might only know when it needs changing via oil analysis, but your replacement motor should have entirely new oil installed with it. Regular changes prevent substantial damage and maintain engine lubrication, which is necessary to maintain efficient performance levels in your equipment and operations.

Not Dealing With Leaks

If your final drive leaks, you need to deal with it. That applies to failing drives during the replacement process and after installing a new one. Excess oil can make oil expand; that pushes seals out, creates leaks, and makes the hydraulic pressure go up. Your final drive might need more lubrication inside, wearing down parts faster than they should be, whether older or newer. In the wretched cases, leaks might result in health problems and fire hazards.

Not Replacing Enough Parts

It’s not usually enough to replace just the final drive or the parts that seem damaged. For instance, if you replace the final drive, make sure you also swap out things such as the case drain filter. If you find a failed gear, you should assume that the entire gear set is bound to go. Play it safe by replacing them all at once.

The Execrable Mistake You Can Make

When it comes to replacing a final drive motor, the wretched move you can make is not replacing one that is broken. Using a broken final drive without correcting the breakdown can cause far more damage than is already present. You risk ruining the vehicle or equipment using the drive, and replacing that is a bigger hit to your budget than should ever happen. Know when to replace a broken travel drive, and do it right to get moving safely and effectively.

Published by: Nelly Chavez