Rack adjustment for MORE HP on KAMA 554

3RRL · Oct 31, 2005

Has anyone had a chance to adjust the rack in the injector to gain horsepower as discussed in a previous thread? I'm trying to get more information before attempting to do this.
My KAMA is very sluggish in high range, although seems to have good power in low range when using the FEL and boxblade work on the dirt road....however, being a new tractor owner, I really don't know the difference. Since my instrument panel stopped working, I've had to log hours to keep track. I have about 35/40 hrs on it now.

hbaird · Nov 8, 2005

I had the same situation on my JM200LE. I could pull a 4 ft. box blade or a 4 ft. Rotary field mower in Low range first gear but no useful power in high range. Several postings lead me to advance the timing on the fuel injector. Big improvement BUT still not what I expected. H3 was really not usable. The recent Rack adjustment comments got me out today wrenches in hand. I screwed the Rack in several turns and got what I always knew there should be. The Rack was only held in place when I started by the safety wire and will not lock down. I screwed it all the way in for now but the locking nut doesn't. I get more smoke on acceleration than is probably needed but it goes away steady state. I can now take off in H3 and pull clean up to 2400 RPM. 2400 is the maximum I can get even with the governor stop full up.
Harold

3RRL · Nov 10, 2005

Well hbaird, that is GOOD news for sure.
I also got a PM from schmalts and he confirmed how to do it for me...nice of him. I can really use the extra power because the 554 sure is a dog in high gear. I'll be doing it this weekend and post the results or send a PM when I get back...depending on the results, of course. HA!

Here's a picture of my wife teaching me how to move dirt.

psj12 · Nov 11, 2005

I would appreciate some instruction as I had another thread on this subject.

3RRL · Nov 13, 2005

Hey psj12...
You'll have to ask her because she never tell me how to do it. But she sure got a nice bucket ful everytime!

hbaird · Nov 14, 2005

Is there a factory procedure for Kama or Jinma brand Tractor's rack adjustment? I did mine using the "puff of black smoke" method. Really improved torque was the only result I have seen so far. It would seem there would be a factory method. A writer in another forum made very negative comments about the "puff of black smoke" method, but gave no clue as to a better way.
Harold

schmalts · Nov 14, 2005

really i think the only other 2 ways is by sending it to a injection bench test repair shop, or put the tractor on a dyno to adjust it to the rated power.

3RRL · Nov 14, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Is there a factory procedure for Kama or Jinma brand Tractor's rack adjustment?)</font>

Not that I'm aware of Harold, nor have I had any other input besides schmalts and yours.

Last weekend I went through the sequence of adjusting the rack for more power (I thought) Cut the wire that holds the cap and also through the throttle stop. Then took off the cap that covers the adjusting rods. Well, there is a small screw about 1/8 Ø that is held in place with a 10mm lock nut. This screw and locknut are threaded into a larger screw and locknut.

I loosened the small locknut and tried several adjustments, each time trying it out in high gear. I screwed it in several turns and then out several turns in 1/2 turn increments and found no appreciable difference in the way the tractor pulled. I did notice that when I screwed it in there SEEMED to be more black smoke giving me (seemingly) more torque at lower rpm..but I just wasn't sure. the difference was just not enough for me to tell.

Then I asked my pal schmalts he told me that the adjustments are to be made on the larger set of adjustable scews, I think, because he told me the size wrench needed to loosen that locknut, larger than 10mm, about 5/8" or so. So I will have to try that next week when I visit my KAMA again.

schmalts · Nov 15, 2005

Guys, just a reminder... this adjustment is not idiot proof. You will continue to get more and more power as you turn this screw in until you either blow out your head gaskets or melt something down or shatter a piston.
So with that in mind.. do go ape-sh#$ adjusting this. Do it only if you really feel your machine is grossly under powered from the factory. My tractor actually could only pull a plow or rear scraper blade with as much power as my 284 did so i know for sure i had something wrong.
A good indication is lugging the tracter rpm all the way down to 1500 with no smoke, or having to downshift while going up small grades when running wide open on a road in high gear.
Turn the screw 1/4 turn at a time and do not go more than a full turn. If you do not get any major change something else is wrong.
This adjustment changes your max fuel displacement under each injector spray cycle. A diesel is always running under wide open throttle really since there is no throttle plate limiting air intake, and you are really only adjusting speed and power by how much fuel is being sprayed into the combustion chamber.
Fuel=power, and power equals heat, and heat=destruction if you go too far. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

hbaird · Nov 16, 2005

I could not get any smoke under any conditions before. H3 was really not useable under any load. I don't need max horsepower. The only HP load I have is a 4 ft brush mower that was useable before. The basic problem was very poor throttle response under load. I have been working for better throttle response and a useable H3. I did an hour or so work with my boxblade yesterday. I ran about 1600 to 1800 RPM in H1. Hard throttle would smoke then the exhaust would clear up. I know I am way too far in now and will correct the setting, more lean, before I run it again. I want to thank you all for the suggestions and comments about this and all the other issues raised in this forum. I know I would have damaged my 3PT by over lifting without the guidance I have gotten here. The wheels spin too easy to put too much HP to the ground. I suspect I got an EPA demo machine. The injector timing was retarded and the rack was very lean. It made for a quiet, smooth, engine with clean exhaust. With very low power.