The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Odd PTO From '59 Viking C60

[img]https://imgur.com/a/949dYKo[/img]

Hello everyone, I am looking to find some information about this PTO that I found on a '59 Chevy Viking C60 that I recently purchased. It is mounted just behind the cab between the two drive shafts. I believe that this truck used to have an air compressor on it based off of the controls found in the cab.

Any information that you have would be greatly appreciated!

Hy JankyYank, I can't get your image to show me anything?

It worked for me.

Hello 3B, I compressed the images and attached them to the post itself. Pardon my difficulties, this is my first thread and I am still learning this site.

You don't need to compress the images. The software does that for you.

Hy YankyYank welcome, Thank you for making it possible for me to see your pictures. Your p.t.o. is in your driveline, so whatever it was driving the truck must be moving for it to work. I can see a lever which I presume is a clutch/shift lever for the p.t.o., the four belt pulley indicates whatever was being driven required a bit of horsepower to drive. Do you know anything of the history of the truck?

Thank you for your reply 3B,

I do not know much about this truck. I bought it from Colorado, and judging from the plates and parts (dates on tires and a few components) it looks like the last time this truck was in use was in the mid '70s. It was definitely used as a work truck, as the (I assume) original owner custom welded a shelf on the passenger fender to allow transport of 16-20ft long boards and pipes from the front fender to the flatbed without them hanging off the rear.

I believe the PTO is vacuum actuated, you can see the big cylinder in one of the pictures that moves that lever. I have yet to trace the hoses back to the engine bay to see how they mount up (I'll be honest, this will be my first time seriously working with vacuum stuff). Inside the cab I do see a switch that has "Air compressor Control" on it and there is an odd lever and manual solenoid valve attached to the steering column with a pressure gauge. I am just confused as to why you would want an air compressor that would only fill while on the road? I will try to manually actuate the PTO, maybe there is a setting that disconnects the driveshaft from the diff, but allows the driveshaft off the transmission to power the PTO.

I am working on getting the 261 engine running again, after having it soak over the weekend I got it to manually turn over. Ill address the ignition first then see if I can get it to go bang off starter fluid (after an oil change of course). With the engine turning I hope I can get a better idea of the function of the PTO.

🛑 STOP....... DO NOT TRY TO START the engine! Read our Tech Tip on bringing back a dead engine. Follow the steps, don’t skip any. It just may save you a couple of grand.

Not a fan of starting fluid, it can do lots of damage. I've driven many rigs into the shop on spray of carb / choke cleaner.

Where is "Tech Tip on bringing back a dead engine" located ?

found it...

Gents,

The part has been identified! Please start a separate post in engines. Also, I’m not sure where the PTO discussion needs to happen. Maybe engines? This forums is to Identify parts only.

Thanks,

Chris

I'm thinking your PTO is really a Power Transfer unit that disengages the rear axle when the compressor is engaged, fire trucks with mid-mount pumps use this type on set up. The lever in the steering column would be a manual brake line lock, you stand on the brake pedal and the pull the lever down to lock and hold the pressure in the brake lines. This is needed since the parking brake on the back of the trans can't be used while the trans is powering the compressor. The gauge shows the pressure in the system so you can keep an eye on it, they would leak down requiring a reset over time.

Make sure you chock your truck before you start playing with this unit to keep it from rolling away!

Maybe this thread should be moved to the Big Bolt or driveline section...

Mike B

For those who may still be looking,

Here's the Tech Tip on bringing a dormant engine back to life.

Many use the location of that unit to install a ‘Brownie’ OD unit to enable higher road speed. Brakes and steering should also be upgraded as well. If you are going to keep the 261, then there are also Watson OD units that would work. All these units are long out of production, no parts are available, so searching in wrecking yards is best. Many do not know what they are, so if one asks, frequently get a blank stare, must just look around. Look for another shift lever in cab.

Be aware, brakes should be mounted on rear of aux. transmission, otherwise, when in neutral, no main transmission brake will work.

Brownies come in sizes, first number, I. e. 5531 indicates ENGINE torque input. 5xxx and 6xxx series would work for your truck, 7xxx and larger would be too big.


Ed