Travel Gearboxes

Travel Gearboxes for Excavators and Crawler Machinery

Travel gearboxes are reduction gear units used in excavators, mini excavators and other crawler machines. They transfer rotary power from the hydraulic travel motor to the drive sprocket, allowing the machine to move under high load.

Travel gearboxes are commonly integrated into a final drive assembly, which may consist of the hydraulic motor and planetary reduction gearbox.

How Does a Travel Gearbox Work?

The hydraulic travel motor generates rotational speed and torque. The travel gearbox reduces this speed through one or more planetary gear stages and increases torque at the output.

This allows a relatively compact hydraulic motor to move a heavy excavator or crawler machine.

Travel Gearbox vs Final Drive

The term travel gearbox usually refers to the mechanical reduction section. The term final drive is often used for the complete assembly that includes both the hydraulic travel motor and the gearbox.

Before ordering, confirm whether you need:

• travel gearbox only,
• hydraulic travel motor only,
• complete final drive unit.

How to Select the Correct Travel Gearbox

Important information includes:

• excavator manufacturer and model,
• machine serial number where available,
• OEM number,
• gearbox or final drive reference,
• reduction ratio,
• motor mounting interface,
• sprocket mounting dimensions,
• number and spacing of mounting holes.

Machine Model and OEM Number

Travel drives are often specific to a particular machine series. The machine model and OEM reference should therefore be checked before comparing dimensions.

Reduction Ratio

The correct reduction ratio is essential for proper travel speed and torque. Installing a gearbox with a different ratio may cause one track to operate at a different speed or change machine travel performance.

Common Symptoms of Travel Gearbox Wear

• grinding or knocking noise,
• excessive backlash,
• gear oil leakage,
• one track moving incorrectly,
• loss of travel torque,
• damaged bearings,
• metal particles in gearbox oil.

If one track is weak, also check the hydraulic travel motor, pump and control valve before concluding that the gearbox is defective.

Replacement Travel Gearboxes from HPM Hydraulic

HPM Hydraulic supplies travel gearboxes and final drive units for excavators and crawler machinery. The main Gearboxes category currently includes complete travel units for machines such as Kubota and Doosan applications.

For identification, provide the machine model, OEM number and photographs of the existing final drive or gearbox.

FAQ – Travel Gearboxes

Is a travel gearbox the same as a final drive?

A travel gearbox is the reduction section, while a final drive commonly refers to the complete motor and gearbox assembly.

How do I identify the correct travel gearbox?

Use the machine model, OEM number, gearbox reference, reduction ratio and mounting dimensions.

Can I replace only the gearbox and keep the travel motor?

Yes, if the hydraulic motor is serviceable and mechanically compatible with the replacement gearbox.

Why is one excavator track slower than the other?

Possible causes include travel motor wear, hydraulic problems, gearbox damage or different final drive ratios.