Oil & Fuel Fuel crud Problem on Kama TS354C

[zogman]

I have read many posts on the fuel trash problem associated with the Kamas. I did not realize how big a pain in the @SS it is to try and clean this crud out. Does anyone have a good solution to getting it out for good? I have flushed the tank out 5 times with deisel fuel and more keeps coming out (just for the record I believe this substance is rust flecks - not paint or anti-corrosion coating as I have read in previous posts). I thought I might try a heavy dish washer scrub brush that I can bend around and scour the top and sides to break any loose debris free. Any experience or ideas are welcome. Thanks and keep up the posts!

 

[greg_g]

Dont think they even paint the inside, so not sure where you read that. Any paint making it through is probably chipped off the filler neck. Rust is a documented problem though, but what you're most likely seeing is organic. Since it feeds on diesel fuel, you're not going to kill it with (untreated) diesel fuel. I can't speak for the safety of this, but there's not many organic things that can stand up to chlorine. There are however, commercial tank cleaning preparations for this stuff that are probably safer. Check with heavy equipment and/or marine supply locations for a BIOCIDE.

//greg//

 

[DwayneB]

I've seen this stuff in larger fuel storage tanks but never a small tank. I do know once the bacteria starts growing it's **** near impossible to kill. A biocide or draining the tank and letting it dry out should kill it though. He could remove the tank and flush it with bleach I guess.

 

[DwayneB]

he he it wouldn't let me say d _a_m_n, now ain't that cute.

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

zogman,

qoute;[(just for the record I believe this substance is rust flecks - not paint or anti-corrosion coating as I have read in previous posts).

May be you can use a magnet to see if anything or all of the trash will stick to it?? to help ID it.

Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I've seen this stuff in larger fuel storage tanks but never a small tank. )</font>

The fuel in these arriving Chinese tractors has been repeatedly described to be of dubious quality. I suspect diesel bugs are already in (some of) the fuel added at the factory. The tractors then can spend a lot of time in the sun at the plant awaiting transport to the docks where they spend more time in the sun before they float across the Pacific in salt laden conditions before being stored for who knows how long in what kind of American conditions until eventually ending up in the hands of a consumer. Believe me - by the time Chinese tractors actually get into the hands of the owner, diesel bugs have had plenty of time to propagate.

To clean out my KAMA tank, I used chlorine and kerosene (not simultaneously) and compressed air to agitate both. And I'd like to note here that it's VERY important to remove the internal drain tube/screen before cleaning. Before, the sediment bowl was 1/4 full of the crap every three days. Now I barely get a 1/4" in six months.

//greg//

 

[zogman]

Thanks for all the inputs. I'm pretty certain my issue is rust and I am using a long flexible brush and kerosene to clean it out. I did remove the entire sediment bowl assembly and the inlet tube was completely clogged. I think if I can get the surface scale off the tank then the diesel fuel will prevent any further rust from forming.

 

[greg_g]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm pretty certain my issue is rust )</font>
The advice to confirm that with a magnet is important, and has a direct bearing on the correct treatment of this problem

//greg//

 

[kidney]

zogman, I have a 2004 kama ts354c. I have had problems with the fuel. At 60 hours I have removed the tank and the fuel sender to clean the tank with diesel sprayed with an engine cleaner attachment on my air hose. I had a little rust at first but to my surprise there was a rag in the tank. The tank is baffled and I don't think you can get to all of the inside of tank without removing it. I have not had any more problems after cleaning the tank. I now have 130 hours on tractor. Hope this helps Kidney

 

[zogman]

OK, I spent an entire day ripping the instrument panel and cowling off to get the sending unit out so I could clean the tank with muratic acid. I tried the kerosene cleaning and thought I had gotten most of the loose stuff but after an hour of discing the garden - same old fuel starvation problem. I think I got it this time! It is silver inside the tank once again. I have reassembled and did a test run to see if everything still worked (it did - even the instrument panel). If it acts up again I guess I go looking for a rag - I sure wish I would have read that last post before I put it back together!