Hello, my dear viewers!
Today I’m here to talk to you about a topic that might seem even more mysterious than a woman – a woman who draws power. I’m talking about the Power Take-Off (PTO) and what information you need to provide to the PTO supplier, as well as what to look out for to ensure your vehicle is correctly fitted with a PTO.
But just to keep with tradition – here’s an industry inside joke:
Why are a properly matched power take-off unit and gearbox the perfect match? Because even if they’re only inseparable when the car’s revving, they still run at high revs.
The first thing you need to sort out is to give the PTO supplier – someone like me – clear and specific details about what you’re planning to do with this bit of kit. We need to know which car you want to fit it to, so the gearbox nameplate is like a legend in a game – absolutely essential to ensure you don’t end up with something that doesn’t fit and is expensive. You should provide the gearbox type as shown on the plate here. If it’s gone missing, the vehicle’s VIN can save the day.
Another thing to consider is what you’ll be using the PTO for. Will it be continuous operation, such as pumping air with a compressor, or perhaps a short job on a tipper? It’s important to distinguish between the two, as continuous operation may require a bit of extra lubrication. Remember, if you don’t lubricate, you won’t get anywhere!
And, of course, you’ll need to tell the supplier how much power you’ll be drawing from the driven unit. For example, a pump with a power requirement of 35 kW. The more power, the more powerful the PTO you need – in this case, that means higher PTO torque. It can all be calculated. I’ll talk about this in the next episode – how PTO suppliers have to go to great lengths to get this crucial detail right.
Ah, and the direction of rotation! This can be a bit confusing. But don’t worry, I’ve got it sorted. Look at the PTO from the front, as if you were trying to work out which side is left and which is right in terms of rotation. Clockwise rotation is right-hand rotation, and anti-clockwise is left-hand rotation. And it’s the same with the equipment you’re planning to power. Of course, take a pump, for example – if you want to fit it to a right-rotating PTO, it must rotate in the opposite direction, i.e. counter-clockwise. Simple, isn’t it? And they say women get directions mixed up. Hee hee hee
The rotational speed of the driven unit is also an important point that you must make clear to the salesperson. For example, a compressor operating in the range of 1,200 to 2,000 rpm. This will help you select the correct PTO ratio to maintain optimum engine revs. It’s a bit like matching your dance steps to the beat of the music – only in your car. This helps to save on fuel consumption.
Another important point is the PTO output. For a compressor, this may be an SAE or DIN flange, whilst for a pump it may be a 4- or 3-hole mounting. You need to know how you will connect the driven unit to the PTO, e.g. the flange type. It is also important to specify how the PTO is to be engaged – in other words, you must inform the seller of the type of control system – this can be pneumatic, mechanical or electric.
Finally, the mounting position of the driven unit. The gearbox usually allows for a PTO to be fitted at the rear, but on some types of gearbox it can also be fitted on the side. It is important to bear this in mind so that you can choose the best possible position for the PTO in relation to the driven implement and ensure that everything fits without having to force it into place.
It’s also worth checking whether your car is ready to accommodate a PTO. Does it have a wiring harness in place to send a signal to the computer and the engine control unit when the PTO is engaged? Just think: if your car doesn’t have this and you don’t ask about it, a visit to a specialist workshop after purchase could end up costing more than buying the entire PTO system with hydraulics.
Dear viewers, these were my handy tips on the information you need to prepare and pass on to the PTO seller. I hope you now feel more confident in this area. Remember that a well-chosen PTO is the key to extra power in your car and fantastic possibilities for driving various devices.
Thank you for watching my channel, and see you next Monday. Be like a well-matched PTO – full of energy and ready for action!
Right then – Stay with me. Have a lovely week! Yours, Asia Pieprzyca. 🙂
