Construction Outlook: Importance of Purchasing Final Drive Motors From a Reputable Source

You’ve got a construction project to do, but your equipment isn’t moving. A quick inspection reveals that the final drive motor on your mini-excavator is worn beyond repair. After a brief search, you find an online distributor that promises to deliver a final drive motor with lightning speed. You’ve never heard of this distribution company before, but it’s hard to resist their promise of fast delivery, especially since you have a deadline to keep.

What do you do? When you’re on a budget or under a time crunch, you may be tempted to trust a company that promises low prices and fast shipping. But in this post, we’ll explain the importance of purchasing a final drive motor from a reputable source.

The Importance of a Final Drive Motor

When it comes to sheer power, few pieces of equipment rival your final drive motor. Consider the fact that a John Deere 35D excavator weighs well over 7,500 pounds. A pair of final drive motors weighs only 170 pounds but can move that excavator at speeds of up to 2.8 mph. If you do the math, that means that a final drive motor is capable of carrying 50 times its own weight.

The final drive motor powers the movement of your agricultural or construction equipment. It consists of two components:

• The hydraulic motor (sometimes called the travel motor)
• The gearbox (the “final drive”)

Technically, the gearbox itself is the “final drive,” but usually travel motors and final drives are sold as a unit, so if you replace one, you’ll usually replace the other.

Final drives are commonly found on popular brands of heavy equipment, including:

• John Deere
• Bobcat
• Caterpillar
• Yanmar
• Takeuchi
• Kubota
• Brevini

This is why it’s important to ensure that your replacement final drive is compatible with your current equipment.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

When properly maintained, your final drive motor should last for years. We recommend changing the final drive gear oil once per year, as well as checking the oil every month or after 100 hours of operation, especially when you’re using your equipment for heavy-duty construction projects.

Of course, nothing lasts forever, and sometimes the final drive motor will need to be replaced. The final drive motor in a Bobcat, for example, tends to be vulnerable to main bearing failure. When this happens, it can cause stress on the rest of the components in the system, leading to a need for a replacement.

The Perils and Promises of Non-Reputable Companies

As we hinted earlier, the pressures of the construction industry may tempt you to trust a non-reputable source. Some companies offer low pricing, fast shipping, or other incentives that might tempt you to take a chance on an unknown company.

Don’t.

While there’s nothing wrong with a rebuilt final drive, some distributors cut corners by using non-OEM parts, and others provide a product that’s not compatible with your equipment. A John Deere or Volvo component isn’t going to be compatible with your Komatsu machine.

What You Get from a Reputable Source

So what should you expect from a reputable source? Here are some of the things that you should look for:

OEM Parts

The best companies offer final drive motors with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) equivalent parts. This is especially important for machinery that will receive regular use. A rebuilt or aftermarket final drive can save you money but be sure that it’s been tested for proper function and quality standards.

Cleanliness

When you’re dealing with hydraulics, there’s no such thing as “too clean.” Hydraulic contamination won’t just affect your final drive motor; it can also cause catastrophic failure of your machinery. And because the EPA has strict regulations about the disposal of hydraulic fluid, you’ll want to avoid having to deal with old, contaminated fluid.

Warranties and Support

Final drives work hard on the construction site. You want to know that your distributor stands behind the product you’re buying. Reputable companies will typically provide some sort of quality control warranty on their products that will include maintenance and/or repair.

What You Get from Us

We’re proud to say that MiniFinalDrives.com is nationally recognized for its high quality products and professional service.

Our online store offers a wide range of new aftermarket and OEM-equivalent Final Drive Motors with Travel Motors. You can select from all the manufacturers’ names, or you can search by part numbers.

Every purchase comes with our two-year warranty that covers unlimited labor. After that, each product is covered by a lifetime 15% replacement discount.

Our inventory is based in the U.S., and we provide free expedited shipping to get the product to you right when you need it. When you need a new final drive for your construction industry equipment, browse our online store or give us a call!

Our family at Mini Final Drives has been providing excellent Quality, Value, and Service for over 50 years, and you can continue to count on us for a lifetime of friendly, helpful support for all your final drive and travel motor needs. Call us today at 877-483-2806 or visit our online store at www.minifinaldrives.com to find and order what you need today for Fast and Free delivery to your door.