Product Overview
The PFM6 is Flo-tech’s self-contained portable hydraulic tester — a compact, lightweight gauge instrument you carry to the machine and read directly, with no external electronics to set up. A fast turbine reads flow on a large 3½-digit LCD, a platinum-RTD probe reads fluid temperature, and a dual-scale helical-tube gauge reads pressure to 6,000 psi — all from a single connection. A built-in loading valve with fingertip control and internal pressure-surge relief lets you sweep a pump or motor across its curve safely. It comes in five flow ranges from 1 to 199.9 GPM in SAE 12/16/24 or BSPP threads, runs about 50 hours on 4 AA batteries, and holds ±1% of full scale with ±0.2% repeatability. It is strictly portable — for recorded data, transients, RPM, or computed power, the electronic MC4000 is the counterpart. The PFM6BD is the same tester with bi-directional measurement on the SAE 16 and 24 sizes (see Variants).
Other Flo-tech testers & sensors
MC4000 Handheld Analyzer — the electronic counterpart — datalogging, transients, RPM, HP/kW
F6100 Sensor Array — fixed-mount array with an integral load valve
Classic Turbine Sensors — FSC/FSB/FSD single-rotor bodies for your own electronics
One tester, two directions
The PFM6 and PFM6BD are the same self-contained gauge tester — same turbine, platinum-RTD probe, helical-tube gauge, loading valve, 3½-digit LCD, and 4-AA / 50-hour power. The difference is whether it reads flow in one direction or both.
PFM6
uni-directional, 5 ranges
- Reads flow in the forward direction only
- Five ranges — 1–15, 2–30, 3–60, 4–85, 7–199.9 GPM
- SAE 12, 16, or 24 straight-thread, or ISO 1179 BSPP (G 3/4 to G 1-1/2)
- Accuracy ±1% of full scale
PFM6BD
bi-directional, SAE 16/24
- Reads flow in both directions — for closed-loop hydrostatic drives
- Three ranges — 3–60, 4–85, 7–199.9 GPM
- SAE 16 or 24 straight-thread ports
- Accuracy ±1% FS forward, ±2% FS reverse
Both share the 6013-T651 anodized-aluminum housing, the ≤200 ms turbine and T416/440C/T303 stainless wetted parts, the 6,000 psi rating, the −4 to +300°F fluid range, Buna-N seals (Viton/EPR optional), the fingertip loading valve with internal surge relief, ±0.2% repeatability, and the optional NIST-traceable 5- or 10-point certificate. Only the flow direction, range set, and port choice differ.
Key Features & Benefits
- Self-contained — nothing to wire or set up — flow, pressure, and temperature read directly on the tester’s own LCD and helical-tube gauge, off 4 AA batteries; a single toggle switch powers it and swaps the flow or temperature reading. Carry it to the machine and read.
- Load the circuit with fingertip control — the built-in loading valve applies pressure under fingertip control, so you can drive a pump or motor through its full operating curve; internal pressure-surge relief and the high-overpressure helical gauge keep the test safe. Reach the operating point without a separate load valve.
- One connection, three readings, to 6,000 psi — a fast-responding turbine (≤200 ms), a platinum-RTD temperature probe, and the dual-scale helical pressure gauge all read the same point at once — one line break instead of three instruments — rated to 6,000 psi for high-pressure hydraulics. Diagnose a circuit from a single tap.
- Five ranges and a choice of ports — spans from 1 to 199.9 GPM with SAE 12/16/24 straight-thread or ISO 1179 BSPP threads to drop into mobile and stationary plumbing; a CE-certified build is available, and the PFM6BD reads flow in both directions. Match the tester to the line you are testing.
Specifications
- Measurement principle
- Turbine — the passing oil spins a bladed rotor at a speed proportional to flow rate, and a magnetic pickup counts it; an integral platinum-RTD temperature probe and a dual-scale helical-tube pressure gauge read the same point, so one connection returns flow, pressure, and temperature at once. Self-contained — no external electronics to set up.
- Measured parameters
- Flow (3½-digit LCD), pressure (helical-tube gauge), and fluid temperature (LCD), read simultaneously from one point. A single toggle switch powers the unit and selects the flow or temperature reading.
- Flow ranges
- PFM6: five ranges — 1–15, 2–30, 3–60, 4–85, and 7–199.9 GPM (4–757 LPM on the BSPP models). PFM6BD: three ranges — 3–60, 4–85, and 7–199.9 GPM (see Variants).
- Accuracy
- ±1% of full scale. A gauge instrument — the rating is full scale, not of reading. The PFM6BD reads ±1% FS forward, ±2% FS on reverse flow. Flow-readout linearity and zero shift ±1 digit.
- Repeatability
- ±0.2%.
- Turbine response time
- Turbine response ≤200 ms.
- Calibration reference fluid
- Calibrated on 0.876 SG / 150 SUS (32 cSt) hydraulic oil; a NIST-traceable 5-point or 10-point certificate is an order option (see below).
- Functional viscosity range
- Functional over roughly 2 to 110 cSt (25 to 500 SUS); as with any turbine, calibration shifts as the fluid thickens, so a reading far from 32 cSt wants the operating viscosity confirmed.
- Operating / fluid temperature
- Fluid −4 to +300°F (−20 to +150°C); ambient −4 to +131°F (−20 to +55°C).
- Maximum pressure
- Up to 6,000 psi (414 bar / 41.4 MPa).
- Port / connection sizes
- PFM6: SAE 12, 16, or 24 straight-thread O-ring boss (J1926/1), or ISO 1179 BSPP (G 3/4, G 1, G 1-1/2). PFM6BD: SAE 16 or 24 (see Variants).
- Body / housing materials
- 6013-T651 anodized aluminum housing; cast-aluminum carrying handle; steel valve body (zinc-plate, dichromate finish); cold-rolled-steel electronics case.
- Wetted materials
- T416 stainless turbine rotor, 440C stainless ball bearings, T303 stainless rotor shaft, valve stem, temperature probe and magnetic-pickup housing; hardened steel poppet. Seals Buna-N standard; Viton or EPR optional.
- Display
- Large 3½-digit LCD for flow and temperature; dual-scale helical-tube pressure gauge with pulsation damping and high overpressure capacity; readout accuracy ±1 digit.
- Battery / run time
- 4 × AA alkaline, about 50 hours of service.
- Calibration certificate
- Optional factory NIST-traceable 5-point or 10-point calibration certificate (traceable to NIST, ISO 9001).
- Dimensions / weight
- About 11.3–12.3 in long × 3.6–4.1 in deep × 10.3–10.9 in high, 13.85–20.0 lb (6.3–9.1 kg) by range. Includes a fingertip loading valve with internal pressure-surge relief.
Common Applications
- Fast field troubleshooting of mobile and stationary hydraulic systems — a quick standalone check with no electronics to configure
- Pump and motor performance checks — load the circuit with the built-in valve and read flow, pressure, and temperature while sweeping the curve
- Valve, cylinder, and component diagnostics from a single line break
- Closed-loop hydrostatic-drive testing where flow reverses — the bi-directional PFM6BD
- Preventive-maintenance spot checks and commissioning verification on equipment in the field
The PFM6 is the self-contained, instant standalone tester — reach for it when you want a rugged field check with no setup. When the job needs recorded data, captured pressure transients, RPM, or automatic hydraulic-horsepower, step to the electronic MC4000 handheld analyzer; for a permanently plumbed-in array, see the F6100 sensor array with its integral load valve.
Design & Selection Considerations
- It is strictly portable — no datalogging or upload — the PFM6 shows live flow, pressure, and temperature on its gauge and LCD, but it does not record data, capture transients, read RPM, or upload to a PC. When you need recorded data, pressure-spike capture, computed hydraulic horsepower, or RPM, step to the electronic MC4000 handheld analyzer instead.
- Full-scale accuracy — pick the range to suit the reading — because the rating is ±1% of full scale, the absolute error is fixed by the range, not by the flow you read — so a reading near the bottom of a range carries a larger percentage error. Choose the range whose span sits closest to your working flow. Use the input form to send us the flow you expect to read and we pick the range.
- Viscosity moves a turbine reading — the tester is calibrated on 0.876 SG / 150 SUS (32 cSt) oil and is functional over roughly 2 to 110 cSt; a fluid well off 32 cSt shifts the calibration. For work far from the reference, tell us the operating viscosity so we can confirm it sits in range and set the right accuracy expectation.
- Bi-directional only on the PFM6BD — and on the larger sizes — the standard PFM6 is uni-directional. Reverse-flow measurement comes only on the PFM6BD, and only on the SAE 16 and SAE 24 sizes (±1% FS forward, ±2% reverse). For reverse flow in a fixed installation rather than a portable check, the Quad turbine sensor is the bi-directional option.
To size & select the right PFM6 tester:
Use the input form to tell us the hydraulic circuit, the flow range and port size, the working pressure and temperature, the fluid and its operating viscosity, and what you need the reading to do — a live field check, recorded data, or a permanent stand — and we’ll match the tester, sensor, and display, confirm the output and any NIST-traceable calibration, and price it — with programming and commissioning available as an optional, quoted service.
Flow Meter Application Sheet ›Talk to an engineer directly — Scott Prater, Principal · 917-580-0878 · scott@pratertechnical.com
Specifications compiled by Prater Technical Partners from Badger Meter Flo-tech hydraulic test & diagnostics product literature.