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A sudden hydraulic line blowout is more than just an inconvenience—it can shut down your jobsite, delay your project, and cost you in lost time and fluid cleanup. Whether you’re an independent contractor relying on a single machine or a rental business trying to avoid customer complaints, understanding how and why blowouts occur is essential. 

This Shop Talk Blog post will not only help you recognize the risks, but also empower you to spot the warning signs early and take simple steps to prevent disaster before it strikes. Your proactive role in this process is crucial.

Here are a few more blog posts you might find helpful:

• Hydraulic Hoses and Final Drives
• 5 Things to Avoid Doing with Hydraulic Hoses
• Exploring Hydraulic Connectors

Finding a high-quality, cost-effective replacement can be challenging when one of your final drive motors fails. At Â鶹ֱ²¥ Final Drive, we get it -- you need to keep your equipment running without breaking the bank, and that’s why our reman final drive motors are the wise choice.

In this post, we’ll cover three reasons why choosing a reman final drive motor from Â鶹ֱ²¥ Final Drive is the best decision for your business: no expensive tariffs, made in America, and environmentally friendly.

Here are a few other blog posts you might find interesting:

• Rebuilding a Track Drive
• Maintaining your Excavator Final Drive
• 5 Things You Should Know About Floating Face Seals

Replacing your final drive motor is a high-stakes decision affecting your equipment, schedule, and bottom line. But with the correct information and supplier, you can get the job done right the first time. You can't afford to make the wrong decision when it comes to replacing your travel drives.

Gear oil is easy to overlook—until something goes wrong. A noisy final drive, worn planetary gears, or sudden power loss can all point to a single cause: lubricant failure.

Many don’t realize that gear oils are engineered fluids, not just oil. They’re packed with chemical additives that do far more than reduce friction—they help your equipment run cooler, cleaner, and longer. These additives reduce wear, prevent corrosion, fight sludge, and help the oil survive extreme pressure and temperature. Without them, even top-tier base oil won’t cut it.

This Shop Talk Blog post covers what gear oil additives do, how they work, and why they're essential for protecting your final drive motor gearbox. And whether you operate compact track loaders or full-sized excavators, knowing what’s in your oil helps extend service life and avoid costly repairs.

Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might be interested in:

• 3 Things You Should Know about Gear Oil for Final Drives
• Gear Oil Part 1: How to Troubleshoot Gear Oil Problems with Your Final Drive
• Gear Oil Part 2: How to Check and Change the Gear Oil in a Final Drive Motor

If there’s one thing we know here at Â鶹ֱ²¥ Final Drive, it’s how we wish people would maintain their final drive motors. That’s why we’ve come up with this comprehensive guide to final drive motor maintenance. It touches on more than just the final drives, though, because issues such as track tension and even a dirty undercarriage can impact the performance of your final drives and cause premature wear.

Skid steer loaders, compact track loaders, and mini-excavators typically use petroleum-based hydraulic fluids. How much do you know about the hydraulic fluids you work with every day? Let's see if we can share something you don't know yet!

Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might find of interest:

• Terminology for Final Drive Motors, Part 1
• Maintaining Skid Steer Final Drives for Optimal Performance and Reliability​
• Hydraulic Hose Fittings: A Beginner’s Guide

If you use a skid steer, you’ve probably wondered whether wheels or tracks are better for your machine. Each option has its own set of pros and cons. The choice depends on your job, budget, and work environment.

In this Shop Talk Blog, we’ll help to break it down so you can decide what’s best for you.

Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might find interesting:

• World's Largest Skid Steer Loader
• 11 Useful Stats About Skid Steer Loaders
• Tips for Purchasing a Used Skid Steer Loader
  

Many dream of turning their backyard into a farm, where they can grow fruits and vegetables, raise chickens, and even keep goats. Prepping your land is key to success, whether you’re planning to create a chicken coop, a goat pen, or a small orchard. Compact track loaders (CTLs) are the unsung heroes for projects like these. They combine versatility, power, and efficiency to help you transform your property. 

In this Shop Talk Blog post, let’s dive into how these machines can help you build the backyard farm of your dreams.

Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might find of interest:

• Skid Steer Loaders in Agriculture
• Skid Steer Maintenance Challenges in Agriculture
• Hydraulic Motors and the Cotton Industry

Hydraulic cylinder issues, such as leaks, drift, rod damage, and slow operation, can significantly impact equipment performance and longevity. By addressing these common issues proactively, however, you can ensure optimal hydraulic cylinder performance and minimize downtime.

This Shop Talk Blog post talks about the most common hydraulic cylinder issues, what causes them, and how to prevent them.

Here are a few other Shop Talk Blog posts you might be interested in:

• The Basics of Hydraulic Cylinders
• Skid Steer Safety and Lift Arm Supports
• Final Drive Leaks

Think final drive motors don’t need maintenance? Think again! While they’re built to last, ignoring routine care can lead to big problems down the road—like leaks, breakdowns, or even total failure. The good news? A little maintenance goes a long way in keeping your equipment running smoothly, saving you time and money.

In this post, we’re busting common myths about final drive motors and sharing simple tips to keep them in top shape. Let’s dive in and set the record straight!

Here are a few other blog posts that might interest you:

• Final Drive Motor Maintenance: Key Practices to Extend Equipment Life
• Catastrophic Failure: Why Gear Oil Maintenance is So Important
• Hydraulic System Health: Preventive Maintenance for Compact Equipment

1. Myth: Final Drive Motors Are Completely Maintenance-Free

Reality: While final drive motors are durable, they must be regularly maintained. Maintenance includes: 

• Checking and changing the gear oil
• Cleaning the undercarriage and around the final drive
• Fluid analysis

Besides the obvious benefits of maintenance, it also ensures the life of your final drive, enhances efficiency, and helps promote excellent performance. If you don’t want to be stranded with a compact machine that won’t move or have to pay costly repair or replacement costs for your final drive, maintain your final drive motors. Neglecting maintenance can lead to decreased machine performance, increased fuel consumption, and even total machine failure.