PTO Explained - New Parts Guy

PTO is power take off.
It’s used to drive accessories like compressors, pumps, and blowers.
Depending on the accessory, the pto must spin at a specific rate to drive it effectively and efficiently.
As an example, i can unload 50,000 pounds of plastic pellets in 50 minutes with truck a that’s optimized, but the same load with truck b takes an hour and a half to offload because it don’t spin up enough to build pressure the way it needs to in the trailer to push the product volume.
The pto is connected to the transmission, and there’s a switch in the cab used to engage or disengage it.
Never drive with the pto engaged though.
Engage the pto at low rpms, then spin it up to running speed.
When disengaging, reduce rpms to idle, then disengage it.
Grease your driveshaft to the pto accessory often.
What else would you like to know?

 

Can't add much ^, except, a power take off is universal in the industry, usually made by an outside company, not Peterbilt. All truck transmissions have an access hole to mount one, and usually a driveshaft powering the pump or compressor. PTOs can have different gear ratios, to spin whatever fast or slow, depending on the product. Most modern PTOs are air engaged, but many older trucks, like dump trucks, have a manual engagement with a lever.
All hail the PTO,,,it saves a lot of shoveling!