Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Power Take Off (PTO)?

A power take-off or power takeoff (PTO) is a term for methods of taking power from an operating power source, such as a running engine, which can be used to provide power to attachments or separate machines. Most commonly, it is a splined driveshaft on a tractor or truck designed so that a PTO shaft, a kind of drive shaft, can be easily connected and disconnected.

The power take-off allows implements to draw energy from the engine. Semi-permanently mounted power take-offs can also be found on industrial and marine engines. These applications typically use a drive shaft and bolted joint to transmit power to a secondary implement or accessory. In the case of a marine application, such shafts may be used to power fire pumps.

In aircraft applications, such an accessory drive may be used in conjunction with a constant speed drive. Jet aircraft may have permanently installed PTO shafts which are used to power engine accessories. In some cases, aircraft power take-off systems also provide for putting power into the engine during engine start.

(Info from Wikipedia)

How do I know which PTO I need?

If you are unsure about which PTO (Power Take Off) unit you require, simply contact us and let us know:

  • The Manufacturer of your vehicle
  • The Model number and Chassis number of your vehicle
  • The intended use of the vehicle (eg. Skip Loader, Crane, Tipper, etc)

We will let you know what you need and how much it will cost.

What is a hydraulic pump?

Hydraulic pumps are used in hydraulic drive systems and can be hydrostatic or hydrodynamic.

Hydrostatic pumps are positive displacement pumps while hydrodynamic pumps can be fixed displacement pumps, in which the displacement (flow through the pump per rotation of the pump) cannot be adjusted, or variable displacement pumps, which have a more complicated construction that allows the displacement to be adjusted.

(Info from Wikipedia)

Gear pumps

Gear pumps (with external teeth) (fixed displacement) are simple and economical pumps. The swept volume or displacement of gear pumps for hydraulics will be between about 1 cm3 (0.001 litre) and 200 cm3 (0.2 litre).

These pumps create pressure through the meshing of the gear teeth, which forces fluid around the gears to pressurize the outlet side. For lubrication, the gear pump uses a small amount of oil from the pressurized side of the gears, bleeds this through the (typically) hydrodynamic bearings, and vents the same oil either to the low pressure side of the gears, or through a dedicated drain port on the pump housing. Some gear pumps can be quite noisy, compared to other types, but modern gear pumps are highly reliable and much quieter than older models.

(Info from Wikipedia)

Vane pumps

Rotary vane pumps (fixed and simple adjustable displacement) have higher efficiencies than gear pumps, but are also used for mid pressures up to 180 bars in general. Modern units can exceed 300 bars in continuous operation, although vane pumps are not regarded as “high pressure” components. Some types of vane pumps can change the centre of the vane body, so that a simple adjustable pump is obtained.

(Info from Wikipedia)

Identifying your pump

To help identify your pump the following information may be labeled on your pump:

For example on an Aber pump it is labeled B33T38. This is the label and also features the litre of the pump which is 38 litre. Other information is included which can inform about the BAR pressure

  • Bidirectional
  • GEAR PUMP: Litre
  • MAX. PRESS: BAR
  • OP. PRESS: BAR