Cat Pumps 290 Piston Pump 3 Frame — 3.5 GPM at 1200 PSI Triplex Design
The Cat Pumps 290 is a 3 Frame triplex piston pump built for operators who need steady pressure hour after hour without babysitting the equipment. It moves 3.5 gallons per minute at up to 1200 PSI while turning at a relaxed 1200 RPM, and that lower shaft speed is the whole point of the design. Slower strokes mean gentler loading on the seals, better suction at the inlet, and a pump that keeps its rated output long after faster-spinning units have started to fade.
Inside, three positive displacement pistons run in chrome-plated 304 stainless steel sleeves and cylinders, drawing through a chrome-plated brass manifold and 304 stainless steel valve assemblies. NBR piston seals handle standard water service to 160°F, with FPM and high-temperature options available when the fluid or the duty cycle calls for something tougher. The forged chrome-moly crankshaft and 10 oz oil-bath crankcase give the drive end the kind of margin that separates a service pump from a consumable one.
Because it belt drives or clutch drives from an electric motor or gas engine, the 290 slots into a wide range of builds — pressure wash rigs, car wash bays, misting and humidification systems, reverse osmosis boost loops, agricultural and industrial spray equipment, dust suppression, hydrostatic testing, and washdown duty on and off the water. At 12.1 pounds and roughly 10.83 x 8.79 x 5.30 inches, it fits tight skids and portable frames where a heavier pump simply will not go.
Key Features
- Triplex positive displacement design with three piston rods for smooth, low-pulsation flow
- Low 1200 RPM belt drive operation for strong inlet suction and extended seal life
- Chrome-plated brass manifold resists corrosion and wear in continuous-duty service
- 304 stainless steel valve assemblies for reliable sealing and long service intervals
- Chrome-plated 304 stainless steel sleeves and cylinders reduce piston wear
- Forged chrome-moly crankshaft supported in an oil-bath crankcase
- NBR (Buna-N) piston seals standard, with FPM and high-temperature seal options
- Multiple discharge ports plus an auxiliary port for gauges, unloaders, and bypass plumbing
- Belt or clutch drive compatible with electric motor and gas engine power
- Compact 12.1 lb footprint suited to portable skids and space-limited frames
- Fully rebuildable with readily available Cat Pumps service kits
Applications
- Pressure washing and mobile wash equipment
- Car wash and truck wash systems
- Reverse osmosis and water treatment boost service
- Misting, fogging, and humidification systems
- Agricultural and horticultural spraying
- Industrial parts cleaning and degreasing
- Dust suppression and odor control
- Hydrostatic and pressure testing
- Food processing plant sanitation and washdown
- Fleet, equipment, and facility washdown
- Marine and dock washdown where fresh water service is required
Specifications
- Model: 290
- Frame: 3 Frame
- Pump Type: Triplex positive displacement reciprocating piston pump
- Flow Rate: 3.5 GPM / 13.2 LPM
- Discharge Pressure Range: 100 – 1200 PSI / 6.9 – 83 bar
- Pump Speed: 1200 RPM
- Inlet Pressure Range: -8.5 to 40 PSI / -0.6 to 2.8 bar
- Inlet Port Size: 1/2" NPT(F)
- Discharge Port Size: Two 3/8" NPT(F) and one 1/2" NPT(F)
- Auxiliary Port Size: 1/4" NPT(F)
- Shaft Diameter: 0.650" / 16.5 mm
- Maximum Fluid Temperature: 160°F / 71°C with standard NBR seals
- Approximate Horsepower Required: 2.9 HP at rated flow and pressure
- Crankcase Oil Capacity: 10 oz / 0.3 liters
- Manifold Material: Chrome-plated brass (316 stainless steel optional)
- Valve Material: 304 stainless steel
- Sleeve and Cylinder Material: Chrome-plated 304 stainless steel
- Crankshaft Material: Forged chrome-moly
- Piston Seal Material: NBR (Buna-N) standard; FPM and HT options available
- Drive Type: Belt or clutch drive
- Dimensions: 10.83" x 8.79" x 5.30" / 275 x 223 x 134.5 mm
- Pump Weight: 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can the Cat Pumps 290 be direct driven off a motor shaft?
A: No. The 290 is rated for belt or clutch drive only. Its 1200 RPM operating speed is well below standard 1750 RPM motor speed, so a sheave and belt arrangement is used to step the speed down and deliver the correct flow.
Q: What oil does the 290 crankcase take and how often should it be changed?
A: The crankcase holds 10 oz of Cat Pumps crankcase oil. The typical practice is an initial change after the first 50 hours of break-in, then every 500 hours or three months of operation, whichever comes first.
Q: Does the 290 need an unloader or regulator downstream?
A: Yes. As a positive displacement pump it will keep pushing flow regardless of downstream restriction, so a properly sized unloader or pressure regulator plus a safety relief valve should always be installed to protect the pump and plumbing.
Q: How is the 291 different from the 290?
A: Both share the 3 Frame platform and the same wet-end performance. The difference is in the shaft configuration, which lets integrators choose the arrangement that matches their drive layout rather than reworking the mounting.
Q: Can it run fluids other than clean water?
A: It handles a range of light-viscosity fluids and mild solutions when the seal and manifold materials are matched to the chemistry. FPM seals and a 316 stainless steel manifold are the usual upgrades for aggressive fluids, and inlet filtration is essential in every case.
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