Both are certainly possible. I suspect the mesh is the likely culprit. I have considered removing the swing motor and enlarging the mounting holes so there would be a little adjustment possible. Then push the motor a little closer to the ring gear to remove the slack. As the weather here improves, I will be more involved with some repairs.
I also think slop in the keyway of the pinion gear may be the issue.
I took my house motor off months ago and video'd that the slop was internal (posted here and also found on my chan). Zero perceptible play in ring/gear mesh or gear/keyway/shaft. All internal to motor.
Slop in motor (and boom/dipper) have grown after >35 gal gas hard use. So now having a new spare motor eventually I'll swap in fresh and fully disassemble old to see more precisely what is likely just poor tolerances internally.
The fact swing function runs full pressure on these if fun but they take wear fast (esp under abuse like using as a battering ram lol).
Also soon time to add oil cooler and fan, and attempt to take up the little slop that's also developed at the dipper and arm joints. I got pins but missed getting the corresponding (removable?) bushings these apparently use at all pivots.
Your first image looks interesting to me.
Is your digger electric?
Mine is, and this side almost looks identical. The potentiometer is for the electric motor for the hydraulic pump; while the lever is for lowering the blade, and widening the track. All same colour, position and form.
Could you please share an image of the control/display panel and mention what the gauges are showing? Thanks.
Uh, no not electric, sorry I've no idea what you are on about!
I literally have zero gauges, potentiometers, or even 'control' panel. Not even an hour meter bud!
Congrats on the E-digger, perhaps ours are similar base machines - it would be fairly simple to substitute one power plant for another in this case and with any of these machines.
When I checked prices they were a bit too steep for an 'E' setup, but would (and could) fairly easily convert after sourcing a good motor and motor controller setup (assume they are using 3 phase sensored DC motors).
Electric can be really great in the right situations, best things generally are the huge torque and low noise imo.