Kama 554 arrived this AM!

[Brad_Blazer]

It does have the dual rear remotes. If someone is able to post a pic of the PTO shield it would be a big help. I have some 16 gauge steel that I can use to fab one up.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Attention to detail? I bought a "best value" tractor from a low cost provider. Of course I can hope for excellence but in the end I have to check everything out for myself anyhow. I have a few Chinese shop tools and I am used to giving them a good once over before putting them to work. So far i have gotten pretty good service. I made sure my planer blades were tight before I turned it on. I checked the bolts on the ROPS before I installed the seat belt. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Brad_Blazer]

3RRL - Thanks for the comfort on the gear noise. I had your valve lash series bookmarked before my tractor arrived - thanks for putting together some excellent documentation. That owner's manual is really devoid of good pictures. I did get a nice parts catalog with my tractor though, along with a few tools including a decrepit grease gun, a bag with a bunch of replacement seals, and a set of filters.

Brad

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Chip,
Thanks for all the great advise. There is not any EPA info on the tractor. I put the ty wraps on the loader quick connects. I did notice a little oil on the botton of the remote valves.
My 3-point is acting a little strange. With no load and the outer draft control lever all the way up, the arms slowly drift to the fully up position. If I put weight on the arms they settle back to the set position which I can adjust with the inner control lever. Could the draft mechanism be a little out of adjustment and cause the arms to drift up? It does not bode well for hooking up implements.

 

[bluechip]

the mysteriously raising lift arms is a common characteristic. many have done that. It seemed to start when we asked for more hyd flow, perhspd too much flow throught he lift valve (all the flow ends up there) and a little back pressure fills the lift piston. with weight on the hitch it works perfectly normal and will hold the weight up also, just a little leakage into the lift cylinder when in the hold position...

 

[psj12]

As Bluechip said my 3ph does exactly the same thing.

 

[3RRL]

On occassion, mine does too. Pushes down easily though.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

I got in some seat time.

After spending a couple of evenings mostly checking everything over, I got in a little seat time. Did some light bush hogging and a little dirt moving. The tractor rides nice and seems MUCH more stable than my Belarus that has a freakishly high seat mount. The ergonomics are decent and the gear selections available work out nice. I especially like bush hogging with the 1000RPM gear and running the engine at about 1100RPM. I ran mostly in 2 high. When the terrain got rough depending on severity I could shift to either 2 Low or 1 high with a straight throw of the respective shifter - very nice. The shifting does have the new tractor roughness. Of course position control of the 3-point is much better than the momentary control on my Belarus. I was able to push the lift arms down to hook up with no problem. Braking is excellent - another big help in manuvering over rough terrain. The quality and power of the loader are very nice.

Overall it seems to be an excellent tractor for my needs. Pretty much what I expected both in fit & finish and performance based on what I have read here and on the other forums. My heartfelt thanks to all contributers.

I am also quite satisfied with the dealer. He may not have torqued every nut and bolt but everything was assembled correctly. He had the tractor I wanted at what I felt was a very good price and he offered prompt and convenient delivery. He has been available to talk every time I called so far and he gives straight answers.

When I shopped around, the basic tractors in the 40+hp range from any country but China seemed to start at around $20k w/loader. The only one I actually test drove was the NH TC40 at Tarheel Tractor - 15 minutes from here. It was a real nice unit (in the parking lot anyhow) but the price of 20,500 did not include sunshade or rear remotes. That would have been another $1500 or so. Kubota had about the same deal. The tractors from Korea and India were in the same range. Some look like nice units, some are "no heavier than a popcorn fart"

The Kamas seemed a little scarce with EPA and all so I was looking at the Fotons. My dealer seemed to have a nice package -an FT404 with 8x8 shuttle at $14700 w/ Koyker 190 loader. Then I saw he had the KM554 for $300 more and I jumped on it. Lots more power and a beefier 3-point, similar features but supposedly not quite as polished.
I've driven quite a few tractors starting from my teens - Intl. 300, M,W-6, 706, 856. Brand new White 2-85, Leyland, Fords, John Deeres, and of course my Belarus. I like a gear transmission - I want to know what I've got when I let out the clutch. I like strong hydraulics. I'm not a big fan of plastic on a tractor.
I like my Kama.

I hope I didn't get too boring here -
Brad

 

[MrFixit]

I also bought my tractor from Gary at Walnut Knoll and was quite happy with the price, and especially the support I received after the sale. Mine is the smaller KAMA, 354C.

Glad your happy with the 554, I think you will be hapy with the service if you ever need it.

Tim

 

[jacktractor]

Thanks guys for the informative replies.

PSJ12: I got it from Walnut Knoll Farms & Supply in Flemingsburg, KY. He keeps a few tractors on Ebay. It was $15,000 delivered. The oil bath air cleaner was re-positioned by the dealer. According to his employee who delivered it, the normal position interfered with the loader. The attached picture shows the flex hose coming from the normal mount.

You spent how much money ????