Oil & Fuel Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

Paddy · Mar 25, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

Greg,

Here is photo of the heater. I just discovered I have one so I don't know how long is optimum to energize it.

Hope this helps,

Patrick

Paddy · Mar 25, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

Try again

greg_g · Mar 25, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

(
Here is photo of the heater. I just discovered I have one so I don't know how long is optimum to energize it. )
The element itself looks very similar to the one I replaced in my Yanmar. Again, the length of time you apply voltage to the heater is inversely proporational to the ambient temperature. Starting a cold engine on a summer day, maybe 10 seconds. Starting the same cold engine on a cold winter day, maybe 40 seconds. It's just something that you're going to have to learn by trial and error.

But I'm still a bit put off by the fuel source. That's the #1 injector, right? I can't quite feature that upper return line as being able to provide a consistent supply for the heater. Besides doing it's job of returning excess fuel to the tank, what's left in that line is subject to evaporation and gravity. Just seems to me that a standalone fuel reservior would be more reliable.

//greg//

Paddy · Mar 26, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

I see your point. There can't be much fuel in the line from injector to heater. If it is gravity, from the high point of the looped line is even less.

First experiment would be to activate heater for 10-15 sec. Don't try to start but feel if heating is occurring. Proceed to 20-25 sec etc. If this continues so that 1 min creats much heat, your covered for the cold. If you see no additional heat even though you hold longer, you may need to increase your fuel supply.

A soln may be to have a line bulb of sorts just above the heater. Clear would be best so you could see how much is used.

Patrick

greg_g · Mar 26, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

( A soln may be to have a line bulb of sorts just above the heater. Clear would be best so you could see how much is used )

Might have to - if the return line approach proves unreliable. It will be hard to tell though, if you've got the direct injection engine. They start so much faster anyway - than the indirect versions. You won't really get into "test conditions" till the tractor's been sitting in <20 degree weather overnight. The day I sold my Yanmar it was +7F. I think what sold the tractor was that the buyer saw it start like it was a warm summer day.

The Yanmar used a small fuel reservior, bracket-mounted ~5 inches above and maybe 14 inches forward of the pre-heater. It was connected to the heater by plain old fuel resistant rubber hose - quarter inch I think - and a couple of little strap type clamps.

Even though the little reservior only held a couple of ounces, the ThermoStart consumed an amazingly small amount of fuel. I only topped it up about twice a year.

//greg//

bluechip · Mar 26, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

I believe you pre-heat the thermostarter, but the fuel is not introduced until you are cranking the engine. I'm not sure if it actually ignights the fuel or just heats it up. We have not had a unit in stock here long enough to play with it. I have another load coming in and I will play with this thing and get the details. like I said before, it was a surprise they showed up on the tractors, based on Schmalts' experience, I think they started putting them on the engines before they prepared the tractors for them.

greg_g · Mar 26, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

( I believe you pre-heat the thermostarter, but the fuel is not introduced until you are cranking the engine. I'm not sure if it actually ignights the fuel or just heats it up. )

Apparently you missed my post to you back on the 21st. Scroll up for details. It wouldn't make sense to actually ignite the fuel/air mixture inside the intake manifold. That would constitute an ignition source independent of compression. Introducing an already ignited fuel/air mix into multiple cylinders without regard to timing isn't much better than the indiscriminant use of starting fluid.

//greg//

bluechip · Mar 26, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

Yeh Greg, your right, wouldn't want to ingest the flame when the valve opens. I suppose, these things must just put some extra fuel while cranking, I am assuming it also heats it too as it is called a flame starer or thermostarter, but I really have not had a chance to play with one. With the way the fuel is plumbed, it will only have a fuel supply while the engine is cranking or the manual pump is pumped.

I think it is pretty moot for now, spring is finally here!

2000fxdl · Mar 27, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

OK guys....This is how these flame heaters work. Yes they do ignite the fuel off in the intake manifold and suck the heated combustion products into the cylinders. This added heat is all that is needed to fire them off when the ambient air temp is very cold. My military M35A2 truck has one and that is exactly what it does except it uses a spark plug ignitor to ignite the fuel off instead of the heated coil. On these Chinese devices, Using a push button switch the electric coil heats up red hot. The heat produced expands a small valve type device that the coil is wound around. This cause it to drip diesel fuel onto the red hot coil igniting the fuel. As soon as the engine is cranked the cool air rushing over this device cools the coil/valve device instantly which then stops the flow of fuel. This is how they work!!! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

bluechip · Mar 27, 2005

Re: Kama 554 fuel return hoses, anyone know where to

Thanks, that is what I thought, basically... I know the Guilin dozers use them and they are very fast starting in the cold compared to the Jinmas...