Swing motor leaks – causes and consequences

The swing motor is an essential part of an excavator operating in hazardous conditions. If it breaks down – all work stops immediately. Unfortunately, even high-quality parts can break down over time if not properly cared for. This is a fairly common problem for owners of excavators, and the cause of failure may be, leaks from the swing motor. In addition, leaks also create other problems that prevent the swing motors from working properly. Either way, their breakdown is directly or indirectly caused by leaks.

What actually happens when the swing motor starts to leak?

If you find that your swing motor leaks, you can repair it or buy a new one. Whether it is repairable depends largely on the scale of the leak. Sometimes it is not necessary to buy a whole new engine. You only need to replace a few of its components.

The most common reasons for swing motor leaks

In a swing motor, the most busy component is the rotating group of the motor. Like everything else, it wears out over time. When the swing motor is running, it generates a lot of heat, which may result in overheating. It may cause overheating problem, which accelerates wear. A symptom of rotor wear may be a slow running engine or when the excavator takes a long time to stop. When this part fails, oil may leak due to excessively high pressure in the return line. This results in the destruction of the seal between the gearbox and the engine and leakage. If this occurs, both the packing and the rotating group must be replaced.

A damaged bearing can be another cause of leakage. It can be damaged, among others due to overuse or lack of lubrication. For example, gear oil can be used as a lubricant and done with a grease nipple. When gears are fitted at the factory, the bearings are already filled with grease and remain so for the life of the engine. A damaged bearing can contribute to a misalignment of the shaft of the swing motor. And this, in turn, allows oil to leak from the seal. If the leakage is too great, the consequence could be the failure of the entire swing motor. In order to prevent this, it is worth replacing the seal and bearing with a new one as soon as possible.

Source:
https://www.excavatorhydraulic. com/excavator-swing-motor-leak/