How it works: The track motor spool in an Excavator

A look at the spool in the center of the turn table on an Excavator. This shows how oil gets to the wheel motors without any hoses binding up.

[@BobC777]

I've always wondered how this was accomplished so thanks for explaining. Nice to see the actual parts.

[@thekodanator]

Almost 12 years on and you're still helping people learn. Thanks for answering my questions!

[@EthanSmith-kn7lf]

God blass him

[@TheDanceTrackz]

I have been wondering for so long how this worked! I imagined it had to be sometimes like this. Thanks for posting!

[@Michael-by4jw]

tremendous video, ive being driving an excavator all week wondering how this happens

[@mountainthrasher500]

Thanks for explaining that. Great video. Very clever design. I always wondered how that was achieved.

[@jessdigs]

Thank you for the video. I have been running heavy equipment since 2000 when I was 19 yrs old and have always tried to answer that question to people. I explained it like a banjo fitting, but really it's like 4 banjo fittings stacked. This will help.

[@gangesexcavating]

@willingtowork not a spool. That maybe what they call that down south, but the correct term is "rotary manifold" A spool is what the valve banks consist of, they stroke back and forth and are controlled by pilot hydraulic pressure. Those are directly behind the swing motor in this pictured Hitachi EX270LC-1 unit. I can't remember if there is a bulkhead welded between the swing drive and the valve banks.

[@robsj413]

We were discussing this earlier in the week trying to figure it out, nice one thanks

[@christophers1247]

i have always called them swivels and depending on the type air/hydraulic swivel. i call the centre piece the swivel and the outer piece the swivel housing.

[@izzyonyoutuba]

Thank you, I had wondered how this aspect of an excavator worked. Finally I know!

[@haneylondhe6697]

Thanks buddy now i will sleep peacefully

[@glenjamindle]

Been wondering this for a while so I googled it. It's basically a huge banjo bolt...

[@sdlgdhj]

It like the headphone jack 👍 1:51

[@YoussefLamborghiniJCB]

this video deserve to share everywhere

[@BigCroca]

can you record a video of how the swing brake works? its very hard to find information on. :(

[@yungeyebrows5862]

Thanks! I never understood how the oil got to the undercarriage until now.

[@martinitland]

This is one of those things I never understood during my childhood and teenage years. I would think about it, but forget to ask whenever I met someone who could actually explain/demonstrate it. Thank you for providing a simple and easy to understand answer to one of my oldest questions! =D By the way, would someone care to explain how the hydraulic oil is "reversed" in the rotating centerpiece? It may be a silly question, but it's kind of bugging me now that I finally understand the first part..

[@jacobvanderzanden1077]

If I understand your question correctly then I think the best way to explain it is that the fluid is always being pushed and not pulled when going the other way. One of the those holes goes to the track and then another comes back. When the track goes backward the pump pushes through the other hole forcing the fluid the other direction. It’s the same with the hydraulic cylinders. It’s always pushing from either end. Never “pulling” with suction. Maybe this is not what you meant though.

[@martinitland]

@@jacobvanderzanden1077 I think this is exactly what I meant to ask, even though it's been so long that I have no chance to recall😅 wow, to think that someone would actually reply to my question after five years.. it's almost hard to believe! But thank you so much! That's one more point to cross out on my list of things I want to learn more about😊

[@YoussefLamborghiniJCB]

thanks a lot for explaining this mechanism it was driving me crazy n confusing me how it works i did a lot of researches then i found your video thanks again bro

[@Tomthetoolman100]

i thought it was something like this but you have answered a question that has got the better of me for years. thanks heaps

[@dalepeter3016]

It is nice to see you have a locker bar for the top spinning port of the center joint, but my EX50urg has no locker, it twisted and broke a hose on spinning port at a very cold day, due to stiffness of cold fluid.

[@cylascylas937]

Wauh !! this is great ... i have been an operator for more than six years now , and this thing always has given me an headache on how it works , imagne its gone to appoint of thinking tht magic is making this happen but thankyou for letting me know

[@20cricket09]

@gangesexcavating I've always called them swivels.but I like Rotary manifold better..I'll use that from now on.lol..

[@curtislowe4577]

I am pleasantly surprised by the comments. Even though the narrator did not mention that each section of the swivel, rotary or live center is separated by seals in the outer housing apparently everyone figured that out for themselves.

[@benritchsmith]

I wondered how this worked. Thank you for you video!

[@MyName-cb1yl]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge

[@aDIYCarGuy]

I randomly wondered about this a few minutes ago, now I know something, thanks, great explanation!

[@bunabhucan]

The device being examined isn't involved with making the whole thing turn. It just solves the problem of how to get four hoses from the top part to the bottom part while allowing "infinite" turning. It turns on a "slewing bearing" - two rings, with ball bearings separating them. One ring attaches to the top, the other to the bottom. One ring will have gear teeth on it, the other part of the machine will turn using motors connected to a gear tooth engaged with the fixed gears on the bearing.

[@willingtowork]

Always wondered how that worked. Excellent explanation as to how it works. Thanks

[@jasonyoung6362]

Thanks Lance. Very well explained.

[@TheRantingCabbie]

Is that spool dead center in the slew ring? And If so I'm also guess that when you showed it from the engine compartment, that big round piece to the left is the drive gear that mates to the slew ring.

[@michaelpos4206]

Very educational, thumbs up for you guys wherever you from it dont matter.We need more talk like that,Regards from Papua New Guineaor should we say PNG

[@softwarephil1709]

Excellent video. Very clear explanation.

[@loganschwenker8574]

1) Yes, you would need two more ports on the top (or wherever you can fit them so long as the principle still works), and two more rings on the bottom. You are quite the machinist if you can make one. 2) Yes, a very similar design is used for those "Fixing a Retractable Cord Reel" youtube search 1:41 you can see the contactor rings where a tab would ride on each ring allowing for continuity while being able to spin continuously

[@HideYaWife69]

Damn,this answered my question perfectly 💯 great video

[@louskunt9798]

Excellent video! Thank you.

[@jamesedinger1167]

So simple but so genius. Amazing!

[@nananginamo7677]

Another great mysteries inside My mind has been solved

[@iyungakbar4611]

thank's for teardown excavator..... now i know they work,, nice video

[@ACportal]

thanks for the video, exactly what i needed to know. I have two more questions if anyone can help. 1) To run fluid to the hydraulic cylinders on the blade would you just have an extended version of this mechanism? 2) If you wanted to solve this same problem but for electrical wiring, is there a similar mechanism? thanks

[@jamesb72]

Great video, I saw the spindizzy ride at diggerland, which just spins round and round all day long, and asked how this worked, and they didn't know - your video shows this really clearly. I have to ask - how much does the spool cost ? Looks an expensive bit of machining !!

[@graypistachio4141]

Awesomesauce!

[@dannyk032]

It helps a lot! Thanks!

[@raw123yt]

Thanks for sowing how it works

[@fatboyshadetree5139]

So the fluid in one hose comes down and fills one "level" and so it can only exit one orifice on the bottom half no matter which way it faces. That's some extreme tolerances to not leak under that pressure. I'm sitting at a construction company with 3 of them and was curious how they moved independent of the upper half. Could make for a he'll of an amusement ride if you say in the bucket while spinning and moving forward.

[@Goldenstu]

Thank you I always wondered how they didnt get the hoses twisted, Im guessing is the same thing for the electrical side? Thanks 👍😃

[@piebepost8887]

I guess there are no electrics in the chassis?

[@ouahaahmed3902]

That's for the explanation...

[@FIAT-TURBONewHolland]

We call it a hydrulic orbital unit in ireland

[@Ramdodge582]

here's some terminology for you, rotary manifold. also for the "things" that drive the tracks, planetary track hub, probably a 3 stage with negative brake and most likely a radial piston hydraulic motor.

[@subayillalu6000]

yuu

[@johncollins8304]

Great. Now would someone please invent a valve on a hose connector that releases when there is too much pressure instead the hose bursting randomly anywhere! Then we just lose some oil, the valve closes back when you stop overworking the part, you can refill and get back to work with less gusto this time. I'm surprised nobody's done it. This is like electricity without fuses.

[@YoussefLamborghiniJCB]

finally i can die in peace

[@davewolf8869]

Same. Enlightenment has been achieved

[@gerardadvincula6482]

How to repair hyundai wheel type back and forward no faction pls be inform thanks you

[@romeoinasecretland9692]

That's for Track, what about wheel excavator, pressure for blade, out tigger, brakes, travel

[@derekhartter5179]

That's awesome

[@ericvickery6357]

thats awesome..... thanks i always wondered how that worked

[@antpoo]

Hi, Can operating on one track motor for a while upset the spool? I removed sun gear from my right side so I could continue to operate machine. Now I have put new motor in and it does not turn even though I can hear engine labouring.

[@spikarooni6391]

Thank you so much

[@ElementofKindness]

Always wondered about that

[@azizmdeedashki8398]

Now how would wires work with that

[@saadbaig9066]

Thanks Sir Give Me More Videos Excavator

[@EATSLEEPDRIVE2002]

Thanka man, very informative. Also...he said orifices

[@fuckyoucc8]

Good! This is the most important part of the excavator that many people are blur about it! and yet the rest of other stupid people did not touch on it!! One more thing is what is the different between the parallel and series control valves. AND one pump how to control few items simultaneously.

[@rajputradeuri1005]

full fitting video.sir

[@hielkebaron7007]

thanks!!

[@deagsy]

yeah nice video.

[@delanowesley1399]

so what makes the whole thing turn?

[@dalepeter3016]

It channels fluids to both track drive motors to move forward or backward, also allowing cab turn around while driving. the planetary drive turns the whole cab and arm around.

[@kvajeblostari]

not turn but drive :)

[@gerryvanwoerkom7241]

thanks .. now I know

[@dalepeter3016]

l found my locker broken off so hoses suffers......

[@FarmaanAli]

Answered my question .. thanks

[@jporubsky85]

That’s a lie, on this machine if you turn to the left 24 times you will unscrew yourself. On cats it’s 12 to the right and it unscrews.

[@davewolf8869]

Fake! I know for a fact you can only rotate it 15 times before it unscrews itself and the top half falls down, onto the ground, then your pay is docked! (just kidding that's actually brilliant!)