Test

1. Low Hydraulic Pressure

Lack of hydraulic pressure is by far the most common problem. If the final drive is worn out, the pressure inside the travel motor will go down. If you are unsure about what the correct amount of pressure is, asking your supplier is a good way to go. If the pressure in your travel motor doesn’t match your supplier’s recommendations, the final drive is likely worn out, and you’ll have to decide if it’s time to buy a new one or get spare parts for your current final drive.

If the pressure measured in your final drive is equivalent to the amount recommended by your supplier, it is likely that the problem is not in the final drive but rather somewhere else.

2. Track Tension

If you feel you don’t have enough power, or your machine seems to veer to one side, you are probably right - but it’s not necessarily the fault of the travel motor. The final drive may be in perfect condition, but a track that is too tight increases inward pressure, which the final drive might be unable to compensate for. Track tension outside the optimal working margin might also cause excessive wear to idlers, rollers and other undercarriage parts.

3. Wrong Speed

Are you experiencing trouble going uphill with your excavator? Or maybe even driving down a straight, flat road? These issues are often caused by a machine with the speed control system set in high-speed mode. The final drive can produce a higher amount of revolutions per minute in second gear, but first gear can produce a much higher amount of torque. You won’t necessarily have to replace your travel motor. But you might want to have a look at your control system.

4. Noisy Final Drive

Is loud noise coming from your travel motor? If so, and it seems to be low on power, you might have a broken charge pump. It’s one of the most probable causes since the travel motor requires a minimum amount of pressure to start and disengage the motor’s internal brakes. If the internal brakes are not disengaged, your excavator will force the travel motor to drive with the emergency brakes on. Even though your final drive isn’t the culprit in this case, it will likely get damaged from driving around while emergency braking! So, if you hear loud noise coming from below, investigate – don’t force it!

5. The Reduction

The reduction is in the top part of the final drive. This is one of the more fragile parts of the travel motor. In the event of damage to the reduction gear, the travel motor will not last much longer. This is without doubt the most common reason why operators may be forced to replace their travel motors.

Preventive measures and good maintenance habits will definitely make the travel motor last much longer. This includes servicing the drives every 100 work hours. You should also remember to change the filters and the transmission oil.