Choosing your PTO percentage: How fast is fast enough?

You need a power take-off, it’s that simple right? More often than not the process of figuring out exactly what PTO you need can be a very involved task. One of the most challenging parts of the configuration process is determining how fast of a power take-off you need. This is the question that a lot of people get hung up on, and with good reason. Most power take-offs come with multiple speed ratio options. As you can see in the chart below our TG Series and A20 Series have quite the selection.

Behind the numbers

The gear in the transmission that is driving the PTO dictates the exact percentage of the power take-off’s speed as it relates to the truck on which it is mounted. Therefore, the same PTO can have two very different actual output speeds on two different trucks even though the truck engines might be running at the same speed. In addition, the needs of what the PTO will be driving can vary significantly, so there’s no way to say use “X” speed ratio code in every scenario.

You must consider the requirements of your truck and truck equipment along with what your PTO will be driving. The kind of equipment you are operating can either be a mechanical or a hydraulic application. The process for selecting your PTO for each kind of application is similar but let’s take a closer look at both.

1. You must know the RPM you wish to operate your vehicle at while running your application. We find that most operators generally run anywhere between 1100–1300 RPM, but it can vary. 

 

2. If you already have a pump you must determine what its flow rate is. If not, select the pump that has a flow which best matches what is required for your give application.

Note: All Muncie Power Products' hydraulic pumps are rated at 1000 RPM. 

 

3. Determine the displacement of your pump or the pump you are selecting. Displacement is written as CIR or Cubic Inches/Revolution. Below is the formula to solve for this.

Note: 231 is the amount in cu. in., per gallon. E represents efficient, .90 or 90%. 

 

4. Figure out how fast the input shaft on your pump will spin at your given RPM. If the flow you wish to achieve is higher than your pump is rated, you will have to spin the shaft faster and vice versa if you need a lower flow rate. The formula to determine this is below.

Note: GPM listed is your desire flow rate, may be higher, lower, or the same used in pervious equation. 

 

5. The final step is to figure out how much faster your pump's input shaft is spinning than your engine. This figure will be in the form of a percentage. You then select the PTO. with the closet speed ratio.

Stay in the range

Hydraulic systems are not perfect; there is a level of inefficiency within every system. As noted to the left, we plan for about 90% efficiency for a brand-new pump. Generally speaking, a hydraulic pump’s efficiency increases as the input RPM increases. In other words, a smaller pump running at a higher speed is typically more efficient than a larger pump running at a slower speed, even though the output flow might be the same. Inefficiency is wasted energy, and that shows up as heat in the system, along with wasted fuel. That’s why you will usually see the recommendation to choose a PTO in the 80%–150% range.

A secondary consideration is that for two pumps in the same frame size or family, the one with a smaller CIR usually will have a higher pressure rating that it can withstand before damage begins to occur. An added bonus is that the price is generally lower for the smaller pump as well.

To save some leg work, we have provided a list of some of the most common hydraulic and mechanical applications and their average flow requirements, PTO speeds, and the most common PTO series used for the given application.

Need more formula help?

We've done the hard work for you. Check out this tool we created to help you calculate your PTO percentage, among other things, quickly and easily. 

Useful formulas

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