Features
Ductile Iron Bearing Cap - 117% stronger than gray iron, addressing vibrational effects from modern engine designs.
Enhanced Clutch Pack - steel discs are 80% thicker than the predecessor 280 Series to resist premature tooth wear.
O-ring sealing configuration between housing and bearing cap to improve clamp load and reduce vibration-related seal wear.
Nine speed ratios including low- and high-speed options for broad application coverage.
Wet Spline Lubrication option provides 7 to 10 times greater output shaft life.
Electronic Overspeed Control (EOC) and SmartStart feature reduce shock load at start-up and protect driven equipment.
Tech Specs
- Mounting Type: 10-Bolt
- Shift Type: PowerShift (Hydraulic) - hot shift, compatible with automatic transmissions
- Transmission Compatibility: Allison (10-bolt aperture)
- Continuous Torque: 390 lb-ft (529 Nm) - verify actual rating on application page
- Output Types: SAE B Pump Flange, SAE C Pump Flange, ISO 7652 Pump Flange, Driveline
- Output Shaft Options: 1-1/4" round (5/16" key, SmartStart), 3/4"-11T pump spline, SAE B 7/8"-13T pump spline, SAE C 1-1/4"-14T pump spline, DIN 5462 pump spline, 1410 companion flange, DIN 120 flange, DIN 100 flange
- Speed Ratios: Nine, including low and high speeds
- Shaft Power: 37 HP at 500 RPM / 74 HP at 1000 RPM (28 kW / 55 kW)
- Lubrication: Pressure lube or wet spline options
- Continuous Operation: Yes
Additional Information

The Chelsea 281 Series is suited for demanding vocational markets including fire and rescue, truck cranes, pumper cleaners, and refuse vehicles. The rotatable cast-iron flanges reduce interference issues during pump installation, and the positive stop for driveline outputs eliminates oil seal damage from coupling contact. Applicable Parker Chelsea documents for this series include the 281/288 Series Parts List (HY25-2281-M1/US) and the 267/281/288/871/878 Series Owner's Manual.
Parts Manual: Chelsea 281 Series PTO Parts Manual (PDF) — exploded views, item numbers and the full parts breakdown for this series.
