Getting a Quick, Accurate Diagnosis for Your Final Drive

When you final drive has kicked the proverbial bucket, you need to make some decisions very quickly. Those decisions hinge on an accurate, thorough description of exactly what went wrong. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the most important information you can share with a technician after your final drive has failed.

How did your final drive fail?

Everyone knows that just saying something like, “It stopped working” isn’t very helpful. There are quite a few ways a travel drive could fail: the cover plate could have blown off, the travel drive could refuse to turn, or it would only steer to one side, or the drive freewheels, just to name a few.

What did your final drive sound like when it failed?

Never underestimate the power of sounds to help diagnose mechanical problems! Descriptions like “it was making a grinding noise right before it failed” or “it was vibrating” can provide some excellent clues. Excessive noise can indicate things like worn out bearings or gears, loose sprocket bolts, or something as simple as not having enough oil in the gearbox.

Are there any fluids leaking out of your final drive?

An excessive amount of fluids leaking out of a final drive can help narrow down the potential causes of failure. Always mention any leaks that were occurring before the final drive failed. Your problem might turn out to be a worn seal.

Where are the leaking fluids coming from?

Leaks in a final drive usually either come from the gearbox cover or from behind the sprocket. If it’s coming from the gear box cover, the cover or casing might have sustained some physical damage that is allowing fluid to leak out and repairs will be needed. If the leak is coming from the sprocket, you may be having issues with your floating seal. There’s another possibility for both of these cases, though: a build-up of pressure in the final drive that could result in catastrophic damage if not treated.

What were you doing when it failed?

Be as specific as possible here, and it can save you time and money in the long run. Was it shuddering when you made turns? Did the problem occur when you were going uphill, or were you on flat ground?

Conclusion: Help Technicians Determine Problem

Answers to questions like these help technicians determine whether or not the problem can be fixed by repairing or replacing the travel motor, because sometimes the failure of the travel motor is actually the symptom of another problem. The more information you can provide, the more assured you can be that whoever is helping you can track down the real problem.

Do you need a final drive?  

Give us a call at 877-351-3840 -- let us help you find the right motor for your machine!