Heavy machinery is made of many complex components. Some, like the brakes and body, are easier to identify than others, and thus it’s the components we can’t see as easily that we often unintentionally ignore.
Final drives fall into the latter category. The final drive motor is what powers the wheels or the tracks on construction equipment, like excavators and mini excavators. It works by transferring power to the wheels of a vehicle from an engine or motor. It’s fairly small but plays a big role in the operation of these machines!
To further explain the importance of keeping your final drive motor in good condition, here are five reasons why they are important and should not be overlooked.
1. Efficiency and Power
A final drive motor is, simply put, more efficient than other types of transmission systems, regardless of whether they are electrically or hydraulically powered. Many are powered hydraulically, which means that the fluid power inside of the final drive provides the greatest amount of power to your machine in exchange for the lowest amount of wear.
2. Steering
The gears inside of the final drive are essential for controlling the tires of tracks of heavy machinery. This little component is what keeps the wheels turning and your machine moving!
3. Traversing Rough Terrain
It’s also responsible for ensuring heavy machinery can exert the necessary force to overcome rough terrain, make uphill or downhill climbs without losing control, or clear other obstacles. It controls the speed at which your machine is traveling and the amount of torque put out by the tires. Traveling over rough terrain becomes a lot more difficult without either of those things.
4. Ability to Lift Heavy Loads
We touched on the final drive’s ability to adjust torque in our last point, but it’s important for more than just steering. In order to travel with heavy loads, the final drive’s ability to adjust the torque exerted and keep the machine balanced is essential. In order to exert the necessary force to overcome any sort of resistance, the heavy machinery used on construction sites needs a working final drive motor.
5. Safety
As you can imagine, a machine that is unable to do its job properly would not be a very safe machine, especially on a construction site. In order to reduce the risk of work-related accidents or unexpected equipment breakdowns, regularly inspecting your machine’s final drive and maintaining it is essential. Any issues that arise should be promptly addressed, for the safety of the operator as well as to avoid the risk of costly repairs or downtime caused by equipment breakdowns.
Introduction to Preventive maintenance(Opens in a new browser tab)
Luckily, there are many reliable sources that you can look to for replacement parts or replacement final drives. Regular maintenance, as mentioned previously, is important for keeping this vital piece of equipment operating. When the final drive is performing at its optimal level, you are not only saving money in the long run but also making everyone’s jobs easier and ensuring the construction site is safer overall!
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