We have disassembled hundreds of John Deere and Hitachi excavator final drives so we have become quite familiar with why final drives could fail. Your excavator’s final drive is one of the most essential parts since if it is not working properly your excavator won’t be able to work resulting in downtime. If you are aware of why they fail, you could take proper action to help avoid damaging your bearings, save yourselves costly repairs and minimize excavator downtime.
One of the fundamental actions you should take in order to protect your excavator and each of its parts is to maintain a documented maintenance schedule. Such a schedule can help you ensure that any maintenance is performed correctly and on time.
Check Fluid Level and Seals
The final drive consists of a series of gear stages that are held tightly together with the help of internal bearings. If the fluid levels are too low they cause faster wear of parts. Similarly, you shouldn’t have too much oil in the final drive’s hub since the oil can push out the seal when the temperature rises. Consequently, you should definitely maintain proper fluid level that is changed at appropriate intervals and checked for any internal metal shavings. The presence of metal shaving could very well indicate the start of significant problems.
Checking the seals of your excavator’s final drive is also important since seals keep fluids in and contaminants out. In addition, seals prevent different types of fluids from mixing and causing serious issues which can result in damage and reduced efficiency with respect to the functionality of your final drive. You should also be aware that if seals start to break down, their pieces can clog filters. Consequently, at Langley Excavator Parts Exchange, when we are rebuilding John Deere and Hitachi excavator final drives, our team of expert technicians replaces the seals and o-rings with new ones.
Check Gears
The gears of your excavator’s final drive transmit power and torque that keeps your excavator moving. Since the gear teeth transfer those loads, they are the components where any indications of wear will most likely appear. Therefore, having your final drive’s gears checked for internal wear and evaluating the condition of the gears and bearings is quite important. By checking and changing your gear oil on a regular basis, you will protect your gears but like any parts, gears have a limited life. Hence, when you notice worn or bent gear teeth, pitting, or cracking, you should replace them before they start to break apart and cause further damage.
When reassembling a final drive, you need to keep in mind that it must be done to the proper torque settings. If the bearings are too loose, the oil can leak out and/or the gears can move and bind. On the other hand, if they are too tight, there will be premature wear on the bearings, ultimately causing similar damage.
Check Tracks
Checking the tracks of your excavator is also an important part of protecting your final drive. You must ensure the tracks are installed properly and always run at the right tension.
If the tracks are too tight, they can put unnecessary pressure on the bearings and the increased friction can weaken your final drive. The weakness in the final drive is usually more noticeable when travelling on a slope or when carrying a load. If your excavator tracks are too tight, they will not only reduce the power of your final drive but also increase the consumption of fuel.
On the other hand, if your excavator tracks are too loose, they can come off your excavator or cause excessive wear of components such as pins, bushings, and the sprocket, which can also resemble final drive issues. As a result, if you suspect you are having issues with your final drive, also check the condition and tightness of your excavator tracks.
If you maintain your final drive, it should work as it has been designed and provide you with years of service but like with any complex working component it has a limited life. At Langley Excavator Parts Exchange, you’ll find new, rebuilt, refurbished, and used excavator components and parts for John Deere and Hitachi excavators. Our expert technician will find what you need quickly and help minimize downtime. Call us at 1-888-530-5444 or contact us online. With one of the largest inventories of John Deere and Hitachi components, our experienced and knowledgeable staff is equipped to help you with the part you may need.
