Imagine if you’re on a job site and your excavator’s final drive suddenly fails. You’re left with a machine that’s immobile and likely costing you money by the minute. In comparison, a final drive failure may seem like a daunting repair.
It’s something that you can get repaired in a Final Drive repair facility. In this blog post, we’ll look inside a real final drive repair vicinity so you can know what to expect if your machine suffers from the same issue.
So, would you like to see what an actual hydraulic repair vicinity looks like? Let’s dive in to find out.
Stage 1: Cleaning
Equipment Used in Cleaning
1. Spray Wash Cabinet
When repairing your final drive, the first step that it faces is cleaning. Cleaning your final drive takes place in a cabinet using the spray wash technique. This process cleans the final drive from the outside.
These spray wash cabinets use a mixture of detergent and water at high pressure and high temperature. This cleans the traces of carbon, grease, oil, etc., from the outer surface of the final drive.
The cleaning begins with mounting your final drive on a spindle that rotates it at high speed. Then it would help if you closed the doors of the cabinet.
When the cleaning process gets complete, you will receive degreased final drive. However, some traces of hard buildup remain.
2. Needle Scaler
A piece of equipment known as needle scaler is used to remove this hard buildup on the final drive. It can remove scaling, hard buildup, and rust that covers your outer final drive surface.
The name of equipment needle gun scaler makes perfect sense. This is because the arrangement of the chisel on it looks like small needles.
These chisels’ high-speed vibration breaks up hard materials like rust and debris. Thus, making it easy for you to clean your final drive without risking injury.
3. Sandblasting Cabinet
In case the cleaning through needle gun scaler and spray wash cabinet cannot completely clean your final drive. Then there comes sandblasting cabinet to take over.
The role of sandblasting cabinet is to force spray the abrasive materials utilizing higher speeds. This process takes place within a cabinet to prevent any injuries or accidents. This is all in one cleaning process because, after this, there will be no residues of rust, debris, or paint left on the outer surface.
Internal Parts Washer
After following the above three cleaning processes, there is no need to clean your final drive further externally. Now there is a need to open and clean it internally. Here comes an internal parts washer to cope with this need.
This equipment has a container shape, and you must place the individual open components over the sieve. The parts washer uses heated and pressurized water with detergent to clean metal chips, carbon stains, oil, etc. This will leave each internal component completely clean.
Stage 2: Tools for Aids in Repair
Tools Used in Assembling and Disassembling
Several tools aid in the repair of your final drive motor. Some of the widely used tools are as follows:
1. Small Picks
The small picks tool is specialized to remove the bearing races on final drive motors. The tips of the small picks are designed to fit into tight spaces. The benefits of this tool include saving time, maintaining accuracy, and making repairs easier to achieve.
2. Pneumatic Socket Wrenches
Using socket wrenches is essential in the final drive repair, assembly, and disassembly of motors. These traditional tools are used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts. Thus maintaining the torque required for the smooth functioning of a vehicle.
3. Pliers
Pliers are two- or three-pronged tools with a closing action to grasp, hold and squeeze objects. It is necessary for bending, cutting, and general-purpose use. Thus, this is why we use this tool in final drive repair.
4. Screwdrivers
You can use this tool to assemble or disassemble screws in the fasteners. Screwdrivers make assembly and repair easy and quick because you can place them at a right angle at a given position.
5. Ball Peen Hammers
The Ball-Peen Hammer is a small tool to drive outdent. You can also use it to drive nails or rivets into metal. The head of this hammer has been hardened and filed flat. This allows it to deliver repeated blows without breaking through the material in final drive repair.
6. Socket Wrench Extender
A socket wrench extender is a special tool to extend your socket wrench’s reach. It helps you get into tight spaces that standard sockets can’t fit.
7. Loctite
Loctite is not a tool. It is like a solution that helps in the thread locking process. It ensures a perfect fit between the components as per particular requirements.
Equipment’s use in Final Drive Repair
Apart from the tools mentioned above, many tools exist that will aid in the repair of the final drive. Some other crucial equipment that is employed in final drive repair include:
1. Overhead Crane
Overhead Crane helps to lift and move a load more easily than the regular wheeled crane. You can use it in many applications such as moving materials, lifting heavy objects, etc.
During different repair processes, you can move the final drive from one place to another. You can put in and take out the final drive using an overhead crane in spray wash and sandblasting cabinets.
2. Arbor Press
Arbor press, as the name, reflects that it is a press. You can use it for bearing removal, installation, configuration, riveting, and other press-related operations. It applies load, saves human resources, and increases working efficiency and accuracy.
Stage 3: Machining
Tools used in Machining
1. CNC Turning or Milling
Machining is very crucial when it comes to final drive repair. CNC (Computer Numeric Control) Milling is a process that mills or drills parts by positioning the cutting tool over the material.
It controls the speed and feed of the machine for machining a single part. You can program the tool with integrated sensors, hard switches, and computer software to accomplish CNC (Computer Numeric Control) Milling.
CNC (Computer Numeric Control) Turning is turning metal around a cutting-edge using computer vision and robotics.
It replaces traditional machining methods. This is done to allow for precise and repeatable cuts throughout parts. It also minimizes the number of turns necessary to fabricate parts. You can also use these machines for main hubs.
2. Lapping Table
The function of the lapping table is to rebuild flat and smoother surfaces, ensuring the perfect fit. You can use this equipment for distributors to ensure evenness throughout the component. This will enhance the efficiency of final drive motors.
Stage 4: Testing
Equipment Testing
In the final stage, final drive motor final testing is involved. The final testing ensures that your final drive motor can handle difficult field circumstances. A series of tests ensure the proper working of your final drive. Some of the widely used tests are as follows:
1. Pneumatic Leak Detection
Pneumatic Leak Detection is a technique to detect leaks in final drive seals. The air is forced into the drive. A coating of detergent mixed with water is put on the outer surface of the final drive. If there is any leaking present, it forms foaming; otherwise not.
2. Idle Test
The idle test measures how much the final drive will vary when no load is applied. This provides the ability to estimate how the final drive will perform under various conditions. You can rate it for ultimate operating efficiency and expected life.
3. Load Test
A load test can be performed on any final drive to check the torque output of your drive. This will be done by applying a load equivalent to real-world operating conditions.
The ultimate goal of any load test is to measure the final drive’s performance under maximum load. However, in production vehicles, verifying that the gearbox and its components will last over time is important.
4. Case Drain Flow Test
The case drain flow test refers to the process of checking whether the case drain blockage is in your final drive. In this test, you’ll check to ensure the soil drains properly.
5. Brake Engage and Release Pressure
Engage and Release Pressure Test indicates that the braking system is working properly. It consists of applying an increasing load on the transmission to achieve maximum attainable preload.
This is then followed by brake testing. This test evaluates final drive performance under simulated conditions above its operating limits.
6. RPM Performance Test
RPM Performance Test is used to test the mechanical integrity of the final drive. The RPM Test is a function that runs the final drive motor and measures its RPM (revolution per minute).
A higher RPM indicates a better-quality drive, while a lower RPM indicates poor repairing. Apart from the above-listed tests, the dual speed performance also gets tested if needed.
Record Keeping of Essential Tests
One of the best things about Xugong Parts is the record-keeping of essential tests at their facility. The documents for all the tests are recorded carefully for any future endeavor.
The major record includes:
- The type of tests carried out,
- The results of the tests,
- Details of inspection person,
- The kind of manufacturing takes place at the facility
The record is saved in a digital database. This will ensure the retrieving process of any required data at any time.
Skilled Team of Engineers and Technicians
The right facility with up-to-date equipment can make all the difference. But it cannot do anything without skilled labor and engineers.
Xugong Parts knows the best technicians have both practical experience and an understanding of the latest technology. They should be able to mentor new hires, providing them with needed guidance.
Also, they should train them on how to use their skills most effectively. This will help out customers as well as improve their efficiency! This makes Xugong parts stand out from its competitors.
Verdict
Xugong parts have not only specialization in selling new final drives. They also facilitate the rebuilding and repairing process of final drives.
Whether your final drive needs a quick tune-up or an extensive rebuild, we are equipped with the latest repair technology and quality equipment to ensure your final drive is safe for miles.
A team of skilled technicians will promptly fix what matters so that you can get back on track quickly without worry!