Who's got a KAMA?
- Thread starter KevinW
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greg_g
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2003
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- 6,126
- Location
- Western Kentucky
- Tractor
- JD3720 Cab, 300X loader with 4-in-1 bucket
Re: Who\'s got a KAMA?
Besides the obvious size and power advantage, I chose the KM454 because of the engine. Given a choice, I'll always take a three cylinder over a four. Same with my Mercedes; I prefer the five cylinder over the six. It's a primarily a dynamic balance thing, but I like the extra torque too.
//greg//
Besides the obvious size and power advantage, I chose the KM454 because of the engine. Given a choice, I'll always take a three cylinder over a four. Same with my Mercedes; I prefer the five cylinder over the six. It's a primarily a dynamic balance thing, but I like the extra torque too.
//greg//
Re: Who\'s got a KAMA?
I've got a 554 Kama and am currently using it to haul trees. I've got a front end loader with forks. The biggest tree I've picked up is 24 inch diameter x 12 ft. long oak, which weighed about 2300lbs. It started to pick up one of the back wheels a little when it got off balance, but it handled it ok. I've not had any problems with it except it started to smoke gray smoke at 35 hours. I re-torqued the heads and changed the oil and filter and it doesn't smoke either gray or black now. It is a super little tractor. I really need a bigger tractor, but it was all I could afford.
Corsair
I've got a 554 Kama and am currently using it to haul trees. I've got a front end loader with forks. The biggest tree I've picked up is 24 inch diameter x 12 ft. long oak, which weighed about 2300lbs. It started to pick up one of the back wheels a little when it got off balance, but it handled it ok. I've not had any problems with it except it started to smoke gray smoke at 35 hours. I re-torqued the heads and changed the oil and filter and it doesn't smoke either gray or black now. It is a super little tractor. I really need a bigger tractor, but it was all I could afford.
Corsair
Re: Who\'s got a KAMA?
I've got a TS254C, the three cylinder version of the TS354C. I purchased it used with about 25 hrs on it and have had it for about a year and now have about 50 hrs total on it. It came with a FEL and rototiller. I haven't used the rototiller much but the FEL is great.
I've had several problems that I would attribute to ineptitude of the importer and/or my inexperience. This is my first tractor.
When I first got the tractor, the manual throttle was inoperative. The cable was broken - it had been misassembled causing the end to break. A new cable properly installed solved the problem.
Originally, I found it very difficult to start when cold. I discovered that even though the engine came with glow plugs, they were not wired up and there was no provision on the key switch to activate the glow plugs. Replacing the key switch with a correct one and wiring up the glow plugs helped a lot. I ended up adding a tank heater to preheat the coolant and now it starts as well in winter as summer.
The biggest problems that I had were with the front drive axle. I first noticed a shimmy in the front end while driving at higher speeds on pavement. To make a long story short, the bolts holding the outboard gear assembly to the axle housing had loosened allowing the outboard gear assembly to move away from the axle housing eventually destroying a pair of bevel gears. Additionally, all of the front axle third member bolts were loose causing the gear lube to leak out. Also, the ball joints that connect between the steering cylinder and the tie rods had been installed/adjusted improperly resulting in bent ends on the ball joints. In all, I replaced a set of bevel gears and two ball joints. I just finished this past weekend so haven't had any time to enjoy the results.
Lessons learned: Check all the bolts for tightness. Buy your tractor from a knowledgable source to avoid these type of assembly problem.
I might suggest talking to BlueChip as a possible source for your tractor. He was very helpful in providing me with guidance on my tractor, even though he was not the original importer.
I've got a TS254C, the three cylinder version of the TS354C. I purchased it used with about 25 hrs on it and have had it for about a year and now have about 50 hrs total on it. It came with a FEL and rototiller. I haven't used the rototiller much but the FEL is great.
I've had several problems that I would attribute to ineptitude of the importer and/or my inexperience. This is my first tractor.
When I first got the tractor, the manual throttle was inoperative. The cable was broken - it had been misassembled causing the end to break. A new cable properly installed solved the problem.
Originally, I found it very difficult to start when cold. I discovered that even though the engine came with glow plugs, they were not wired up and there was no provision on the key switch to activate the glow plugs. Replacing the key switch with a correct one and wiring up the glow plugs helped a lot. I ended up adding a tank heater to preheat the coolant and now it starts as well in winter as summer.
The biggest problems that I had were with the front drive axle. I first noticed a shimmy in the front end while driving at higher speeds on pavement. To make a long story short, the bolts holding the outboard gear assembly to the axle housing had loosened allowing the outboard gear assembly to move away from the axle housing eventually destroying a pair of bevel gears. Additionally, all of the front axle third member bolts were loose causing the gear lube to leak out. Also, the ball joints that connect between the steering cylinder and the tie rods had been installed/adjusted improperly resulting in bent ends on the ball joints. In all, I replaced a set of bevel gears and two ball joints. I just finished this past weekend so haven't had any time to enjoy the results.
Lessons learned: Check all the bolts for tightness. Buy your tractor from a knowledgable source to avoid these type of assembly problem.
I might suggest talking to BlueChip as a possible source for your tractor. He was very helpful in providing me with guidance on my tractor, even though he was not the original importer.
Re: Who\'s got a KAMA?
Hey Guys,
Thanks for the replies thus far. So far looks like a good tractor. I'm getting quotes now. I've got to go with crate build, since there are no dealers in NC. I'll make sure I check all factory torques and change all fluids.
Thanks again....
Hey Guys,
Thanks for the replies thus far. So far looks like a good tractor. I'm getting quotes now. I've got to go with crate build, since there are no dealers in NC. I'll make sure I check all factory torques and change all fluids.
Thanks again....
Re: Who\'s got a KAMA?
I have a 2004 TS354C with over 100 hours on it. This is a great tractor for the money. I use this tractor for mowing(50 acres), snow plowing, loader work at times and material moving chores. The problems I have had are shorted alternator (my fault), power steering cylinder mounting bolts loosed up and cylinder was leaking after 80 plus hours, a few hydraulic fluid leaks, sediment in fuel tank in beginning, and a cloth rag I found in the fuel tank after 100 hours (it worked it's way on to the fuel pickup fitting.) I think these are minor for the way I uses the the tractor. My neighbor owns a 55hp New Holland tractor and is impressed with my tractor. He has said he has had more problems with his tractor than I have had with mine. I think you would be happy with a Kama. Good luck. Kidney
I have a 2004 TS354C with over 100 hours on it. This is a great tractor for the money. I use this tractor for mowing(50 acres), snow plowing, loader work at times and material moving chores. The problems I have had are shorted alternator (my fault), power steering cylinder mounting bolts loosed up and cylinder was leaking after 80 plus hours, a few hydraulic fluid leaks, sediment in fuel tank in beginning, and a cloth rag I found in the fuel tank after 100 hours (it worked it's way on to the fuel pickup fitting.) I think these are minor for the way I uses the the tractor. My neighbor owns a 55hp New Holland tractor and is impressed with my tractor. He has said he has had more problems with his tractor than I have had with mine. I think you would be happy with a Kama. Good luck. Kidney
