Is a clutch pump right for you?

There is a lot to consider when planning the optimal way to power a vocational truck application, such as cost, available space, and system power requirements, among many other variables.

While it seems the vast majority of hydraulically powered work truck applications today utilize a power take-off as their primary power source, a common alternative is a hydraulic clutch pump.

A hydraulic clutch pump is a belt-driven pump that can be used instead of a power take-off for some applications, such as wreckers and bucket trucks, and is necessary on trucks without a power take-off aperture on the transmission.

A clutch pump is mounted to the engine compartment of the truck utilizing a mounting kit to secure in place. It is important to make sure there is enough space under the hood to accommodate the appropriately sized pump. The pump is belt-driven from the crankshaft pulley through an electric clutch, similar to what may be found on an automobile air conditioner compressor. Most applications will use a Poly-V serpentine belt or two V-belts to drive the pump.

RELATED: Types of Hydraulic Pumps

When considering a clutch pump, one critical aspect is to understand the horsepower requirements of your application versus the limitations of the engine belts. Most engine-type belts can only drive somewhere between 7–18 horsepower which prohibits the use of large displacement pumps and may not provide enough displacement to effectively power the application at hand. With that said, clutch pumps remain a popular option for hydraulic applications requiring flows up to 15 GPM.

Muncie Power currently has clutch pump options and mounting kits available for most popular truck chassis including current models of Chevy/GMC, Dodge/Ram, Ford, International, and Freightliner.

Reach out to our customer service team or utilize our clutch pump online builder module to review available options and determine the best product for your unique application.

View the PH Series clutch pump