| Power Take Off for the Sprinter
I understand there is a Power Take Off available for the Sprinter in Europe, but I cannot find anything on it in the States.
A PTO is vital to my decistion to purchace and modify this panel van for my uses.
Presently, I have a direct drive carpet cleaning setup, that is powered by the van engine and uses the coolant heat exchanger to take the heat off the engine before it goes to the radator. It's an effecient setup and rarely needs service, but the fuel consumption is putting me out of business. I carry 200+ gallons of water and sometimes 400, plus the weight of equipment. With this 305 chevy setup, I get 8 to 10 mpg.
With what I hear and can see, the Sprinter will be perfect for my uses, and help me be profitable. I've spoken to many who have a Sprinter and cary lots of weight and I hear that they are getting 20 to 25 mpg. If this is true, and it sounds like a fantasy, I really need to do this.
The manufacturer of my equipment is not interested in this conversion as they tell me they are building as many rigs as they can and do not wish to retool for a different vehichle. I know they will only be interested after I am successful. They are willing to give me some specs, but that's about all.
What I have now is an old Checy Van which uses a belt & air conditioner clutch mechanism actuating a direct drive shaft drive which goes through the engine cover to my machinery behind the drivers seat. With the current configuration, the engine runs at 1,750 rpm when my equipment is engaged.
As there is no room for the shafts, I can see no way to use this same hookup on the Mercedes Sprinter, so I need to investigate the PTO options that would be taken from somewhere off the transmission under the vehicle.
I am willing to import the parts myself to make it possible. I just need some specs so I can work out the design.
Our local dealership in Charlotte, NC has been useless in finding any information for me. He just knows its available in Europe.
Wandering the interent, I found a service manual page that mentions the PTO for that drivetrain. However it was unclear as to what kind of design it is.
I need to know if it's designed for a belt, or gear, or hydraulic or whatever. I'd need to know where it's located so I can design a way to use it.
Another detail I will need a chart showing the HP ratings at a variety of RPM's and knowledge of what is ideal for this engine if it runns at a steady speed for extended periods of time.
I am told that a diesel engine does not produce the same high heat that a gas engine does, so I will need to also modify how I transfer heat to my equipment. I need to operate at about 195 degrees, but I have options to boost the heat, should I need. There are several options to boost the heat. Taking waste heat off a blower mechanism which runs at 300 degrees, or a simple wrap of the exhaust pipe.
Is there a BTU rating for this engine I can use that will help me figure out what to modify, or if I need to at all?
Any information you can provide may be helpful.
Thank you,
Tom K
Charlotte, NC USA
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