KAMA 554 not all is happiness

[Mels]

KAMA 554 not all is happiness

My happiness was short lived with with the new tractor. One look in the fuel tank and I thought I had found a rust mine. Gascolator was full of rust particules. I Have read a lot about using Muratic acid to clean the tank, but there are many warnings about using it. would like to coat the inside after clean. Another new problem reared its head today. I have been trying to break it in a little at a time and today the tackometer and hour meter took a dump. Will check tommorow, but no information of any kind in the books. I also expected and found to be true that there are all kinds of oil and hydraulic fluid leaks. Most have just need tightinging. Hose connections ETC. If anyone has suggestions on cleaning and coating the fuel tank, I would appreciate some advise. Thanks Mel

 

[tinytractors]

Re: KAMA 554 not all is happiness

I had an 8N fuel tank that I had cleaned and sealed at the local radiator shop. Whatever they used to coat the inside of the tank reacted with some "dry gas" that I put into the tank to get rid of a bunch of water in the fuel. Turned the coating into a thick syrup and by the time I caught it, the damage was done all the way to the carb. Should have just drained the gas out of the tank and been done with it.... I don't coat tanks anymore or add "dry gas"... Hindsight is wonderful.

 

[greg_g]

Re: KAMA 554 not all is happiness

I got rid of most the rust and dead algae in my KM454 tank, by simply flushing the tank. The tank actually holds 16 gallons, but it rated at 14 because the upper end of the sediment bowl connector pipe extends nearly two inches into the tank. Most of the crud settles down in that 2 inches, rising with motion of the tractor. It's at that point - when suspended in the fuel - that it enters the sediment bowl via that drain pipe.

Wait till the fuel gauge reads empty, then park the tractor somewhere that makes the governor side of the tank the low side. Close the fuel shutoff valve. Put a 5 gallon bucket under the sediment bowl, and remove the fuel line. Open the shutoff valve, drain the tank through the sediment bowl. When no more comes out, remove the sediment bowl AND the threaded connector from the tank. Be ready with a 2nd bucket just in case.

There are baffles inside the tank that can impede the flow of the crud towards the drain. So compressed air through the fill neck helps "coax" the sediment toward the drain hole. Consider protective eyeware for this part. R

Repeat with fresh fuel as necessary, but one flush worked for me. Replace the fuel filter as part of this service too. Before I did this flush about six months ago, I had to dump the sediment bowl several times a week. Since then I've only dumped it once, and there's almost nothing in it at all now - except fuel.

I agree with the "don't coat" recommendation. If you live in a cold climate, you'll get anti-gel compound in your diesel fuel whether you want it or not. Plus, I believe the fuel itself is oily enough to inhibit further rust accumulations. If you don't use it in the winter, store it with a full tank of conditioned fuel.

If one of your hydraulic leaks is the inner hose on the steering cylinder, it takes a 22mm (or 7/8") crows foot socket end and a 1/2" drive torque wrench. The leak will stop at about 60 foot pounds, and hold at about 65.

//greg//

 

[bluechip]

Re: KAMA 554 not all is happiness

Mel,
Just curious, what name was on your tractor?
As, you have found, some retightening is normal. The rusty fuel tanks are a problem, I suspect the rust is already present when the tractor is assembled, so a good flush should work wonders. During the assembly process on our tractors we are removing and cleaning the tanks, we have found acid washing makes the cleaning easier, but it is wicked stuff and removal of the tank is time consuming.

The KM is a great value and once you get these initial conditions taken care of I think you will be very pleased with your tractor, we have had very few issues with th KMs we have sold, but we do have to do a little extra work during assembly.

The rusty tanks seems to have to do with time of year the tractors are built. the tractors built in winter seem to have rust in the tanks, but the ones that came in last summer/fall were pretty clean out of the box.

 

[Scozz]

Re: KAMA 554 not all is happiness

<font color="blue"> </font> Bluechip...."we have had very few issues with th KMs we have sold, but we do have to do a little extra work during assembly." <font color="blue"> </font>



After reading Mels post I sure appreciate the extra assembly time you put in. I've just rolled past 25 hrs without instance on my 454 ... thanks Chip! ...Scozz