Excavator Maintenance: 4 Travel Motor Mistakes to Avoid

Excavators can weigh anywhere between 3,790 pounds to 188,716 pounds. But no matter the size of the machine, it’s imperative that quality final drive travel motors are equipped to ensure performance and efficiency. Additionally, much more is needed to be done when it comes to travel motors than simply making sure they are in place.

Proper maintenance is required in order to maximize performance. Whether its Brevini final drive motors, John Deere final drives, or another manufacturer, there are plenty of common mistakes that can be easily made that will lead to all sorts of problems, potentially jeopardizing major construction tasks.

Travel motor mistakes to avoid:

1. Neglecting to check gear oil levels — Final drive gear oil should be checked about every 100 hours of operation or, at least, once a month. Neglecting to do so could completely ruin an excavator’s ability to perform efficiently. Additionally, final drive gear oil should be changed at least once a year.


2. Operating a broken final drive — If a final drive is broken or compromised in any way, it should never be utilized until the issue is corrected. Running a damaged travel motor would likely end up completely ruining the hydraulics system on the machine and cause all kinds of major damages.


3. Ignoring leaks — Whether you are staying on top of your oil inspections or not, if you notice any leak coming from travel motors, you need to take action immediately. Whenever fluid leaks out, that means damaging contaminants can find their way inside. Get any leaks repaired as soon as possible to avoid expensive damages.


4. Being unaware of strange sounds — Make sure you’re always paying attention to how your machine actually sounds. You should be able to identify whenever your equipment is making new noises. Whether it’s a strange screeching sound or you hear some extra vibration, there could be all kinds of underlying problems. So pay attention and have new sounds inspected right away.

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 for all major brands including Caterpillar, Bobcat, Yanmar, and Kubota. 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.