Updated · By the AMS Parts team
The surest way to get the right final drive is the tag on the drive itself—not just the model on the side of the machine.
A lot of machines have had a drive swapped at some point, sometimes for an aftermarket unit with a different hub or bolt pattern. Two machines with the same model name can also use different drives depending on the year and serial number. Order by model alone and there's a chance the drive that shows up won't fit, because of serial number breaks or a different drive being installed previously.
Excavators and track loaders: find the tag
On most of these machines the ID tag is on the travel motor, under a small cover on the side of the drive facing the machine.
- Park on level ground and shut it down.
- Pull the cover. A socket is usually all it takes.
- Wipe the tag with a rag. Skip the wire brush—it can take the numbers off with the dirt.
- Take a clear photo with your phone and send it to us. That one photo solves most of the guesswork.
What's on the tag
Depending on who made the drive, you'll usually see a part or model number, the drive's own serial number (not the machine's), and sometimes a gear ratio or motor size. You may also see a maker's name like Nabtesco, KYB, Kawasaki, Doosan, or Eaton. Many machine brands buy drives from the same handful of companies, so the drive you need may cross over to more options than you'd expect.
Dozers
On a hydrostatic dozer, the travel motor usually has a tag like an excavator's, so start there.
On a powershift dozer, the final drive is built into the machine and usually has no tag of its own. The machine's model and full serial number are what matter. On a Cat, the first three characters of the serial number (the prefix) tell us which version of the drive you have.
No tag? Send us this instead
Tags get painted over, rusted out, or knocked off. If yours is gone, send:
- Machine make, model, and the full serial number from the plate on the frame or cab
- Whether it's single-speed or two-speed (a two-speed motor has an extra small hose)
- How many bolts hold the sprocket on, and how many hold the drive to the frame
- Photos of the whole drive, the hose ports, and the mounting face if you can see it
The usual ways people get it wrong
- Ordering by model alone when the drive was swapped years ago.
- Assuming left and right are the same (often they are, but not always).
- Missing the second-speed hose.
- Not checking that the new drive's sprocket bolt pattern matches the sprocket you're keeping.
Let us match it
Send the tag photo or your serial number and a Parts Specialist will confirm the match before anything ships. We stand behind the fitment.
Wondering whether the drive is actually the problem? See the seven signs a final drive is failing. Already know it's bad? Read how to choose between a rebuild, reman, or new drive.
AMS Parts