8 Things to Check Before Purchasing a Final Drive

Speed difference

Is the final drive you’ve been offered an exact speed match to the one on your machine or is there a speed difference? If there is a speed difference can the supplier tell you what it is? It’s also possible that the final drive may be the exact same speed but the torque flow is different to that of the original. If this was the case the drive would be overcompensating, working much harder than it should – affecting overall performance and longevity.

Connections

Are there any differences in the port connections? Are the connections positioned differently? Will you require fittings to install it? If so, will port fittings be provided along with instructions?

Country of origin

Can the supplier tell you where the final drive has come from? The reason for asking this, is that there are so many low-quality imitations on the market.

Spare parts availability

Does the supplier support the final drive with spare parts? You may not be thinking about it now, but further down the line you may wish to repair the final drive. If you’re unable to get spare parts for it what could be a simple fix may result in replacing the complete final drive again – an unwanted and unnecessary expense.

Check what final drives you have fitted on both sides of the machine.

If you haven’t had the machine from new, it’s possible that one or both of the final drives have been changed at one time or another, and may not be the genuine components anymore. Your supplier will quote the final drive based on machine model number and assuming the genuine (or same speed match) is fitted. If this isn’t the case, you may find you have a massive speed difference and are stuck with a final drive that you’ve fitted and run that’s non-returnable according to your suppliers returns policy. Spend those extra few minutes checking the final drive data plate on both sides of the machine. If there are any differences, or you’re unsure whether or not they are the genuine drives, send details to your supplier, indicating which you want to replace, so they have all the information to identify a correct solution for you.

Is the final drive the actual fault on the machine?

Final drive problems could be a symptom of a fault elsewhere on the machine so ensure you have checked all other possible causes. Without eliminating other possible causes, you may spend money on a new final drive and very soon have the same problem again. Use the FDC Final Drive Troubleshooting Guide to help you.

Warranty

Is the final drive covered by warranty? What are the warranty terms? If you needed to return the final drive under warranty investigation will the supplier have to return it to the manufacturer or do they support their own warranties in house? If the supplier has to send the drive away to the manufacturer to investigate, you will need to factor in this time. If the manufacturer is abroad this will of course take even longer. Having the facilities to investigate and test in house will mean much less downtime for you and your machine.

Returns policy

What is the suppliers returns policy? What if you purchase the final drive but discover the issue with the machine is elsewhere before fitting it to the machine. Will the supplier accept it back? What if you fit the final drive, run it, then discover you have been sent the wrong final drive or you mistakenly requested the wrong final drive. Does the supplier have a strict no returns policy, or will they accept it back with a re-stocking fee / shop soiled fee pending workshop testing? Despite who is at fault, will the supplier do all they can to help you get up and running again at minimal possible cost to you?

Plant Parts can supply final drive options for over 150 brands of excavator and all other track laying equipment. Plant Parts are also an approved FDC Dealer.

Use the online Final Drive Finder to identify the correct Final Drive for your machine.