KamAZ-6580. Description, technical and operational characteristics

KamAZ 6580 (KAMAZ 6580) is a representative of the new flagship line of trucks from the Kama Automobile Plant. The series was created as a complement to the KamAZ 6520 model range. The development of the vehicle took quite a long time, and the final product received a design with parts produced in Russia, China and Germany. The Kama Automobile Plant was faced with the difficult task of creating modern and reliable equipment with low-cost solutions and the availability of domestic alternatives for elements (in case of sanctions). The developers decided to use imported components with a budget bias (axles and axles from the Chinese company Hande, a ZF gearbox and a jointly produced Cummins engine) and proven Russian elements.

The KamAZ 6580 premiered at the end of 2016, and sales of the car began almost immediately. The truck received 2 markings:

• traditional - KamAZ 6580;
• European - the first 2 digits indicate the total weight in tons, the second 2 digits indicate the power in “horsepower” without zero. For example, KamAZ 6580 was named KAMAZ K4141D, KamAZ 65801 - KAMAZ K5044D.

The KamAZ 6580 line was intended for use in the construction of large facilities and was positioned as a budget replacement for BelAZ mining dump trucks. A key feature of the machine was its ability to withstand heavy loads.

general description

The large-tonnage KamAZ 6580 vehicle belongs to the category of construction vehicles. The intended purpose of this flagship model range is to perform work on large-scale facilities where high maximum load and reliability of equipment are required. 6580 series trucks are used:

• on the construction of large industrial facilities;
• for transporting goods as quarry equipment (a cost-effective replacement for quarry BelAZ trucks).

Cars are used on temporary roads because axle loads exceed the maximum standard value established for public roads. When driving on such roads, KamAZ can damage the road surface.

Exterior design

The design level of the car is close to that of European truck manufacturers. The attractive exterior design of the truck is combined with a high level of comfort and reliability. Manufacturers created the truck using imported components. Therefore, in many respects the model is no different from European trucks and creates competition for them. The truck received a new reinforced frame and cab, borrowed from the Mercedes-Benz Axor, which is produced at the KAMAZ enterprise under license.

The external design is complemented by radial tube tires R24, which improve the vehicle's cross-country ability:

• high ground clearance;
• lateral stability;
• less deformation.

The locations for installing mirrors have been thought out to improve visibility of the road surface from three sides while driving. The cabin is located high. The designers have thought out convenient steps to climb into the cabin. The well-placed air filter and air intake do not spoil the design of the KamAZ-6580. Headlights add elegance and convenience to driving in the dark.

Table: technical characteristics of KamAZ 6580

Transmission

The gearbox is also imported: KamAZ-6580 dump trucks use European-assembled ZF 16S2220 and ZF 16S2225 gearboxes designed for higher torque (only ZF 16S151 and ZF 16S1820 gearboxes, designed for torque, are assembled at the ZF-Kama joint venture up to 1800 Nm). It is eight-speed, with a divider there are 16 gears.

Single-disc, diaphragm clutch, model MFZ-430, Sachs (Germany). The clutch drive is pneumohydraulic, and the effort on the pedal is moderate: it is not “empty,” but there is also no need to “trample” it with all your weight. Transfer cases are installed in two options: KamAZ’s own or from Steyr. The final drive ratio is 5.262.

Labeling changes

The KamAZ 6580 marking has a double index. The traditional marking has remained unchanged, and the European (MAN) type index contains the following information:

• the first two digits are interpreted as the total mass (the numerical value is expressed in tons);
• the next two digits indicate horsepower (hp), where the zero is ignored.

The basic configuration of the car includes a warranty of 24 months (150,000 km).

Cabin

In such machines, operating in difficult conditions, the comfortable silence and convenience for the driver are striking. The cabin is different:

• interior trim;
• comfortable seats;
• sound insulation;
• comfortable sleeping place.

The driver does not feel vibration or noise in the cabin. The control buttons are conveniently located on the steering wheel and dashboard. On the display you can see fuel consumption indicators.

The steering column is adjusted using a pneumatic clamp. Driver's seat on licensed Grammer air suspension. Thanks to the high seating position, the driver is provided with a full view of the road surface. There are two Era-GLONASS emergency assistance call buttons installed in the cabin. One is on the panel next to the parking brake button, the other is on the panel opposite the passenger seat.

The KamAZ-6580 truck cabin is located high. To make it easier to climb inside, the designers have provided an additional flexible step that bends if the car is driving off-road. A folding ladder is provided for body inspection. Facilitates access to power systems, servo-driven cabin lift.

Additionally, the following can be installed in the cabin:

• air conditioner;
• heated power windows;
• sleeping shelf;
• drawers under the shelf for storing various things;
• fridge.

The car can be used in difficult climatic conditions, since the heating system is well thought out, and the engines have a heating function.

Truck modifications

All modifications are used for work in difficult climatic conditions, as well as for transporting and unloading heavy loads. Taking into account the operating conditions, the vehicle differs from truck tractors of other series in that it has reinforced brackets and more reliable principles for assembling the main components.

What they talk about on the forums: reviews from owners and drivers

Nikolay Pavlov, 50 years old, Vladimir region:

Two months ago I moved to KamAZ-6580 (before that I worked on a fuel truck). First impressions are very positive. I won’t even talk about the new cabin: compared to the old models, this is heaven and earth. My car has a Cummins engine, there is more than enough power, without a load I can easily move off from third speed. There are also no complaints about speed performance: the car travels 90 kilometers per hour without strain. The gearbox is impressive - speeds are switched easily and accurately. The only thing I had to get used to were the brakes; they are much more responsive than on the previous KamAZ.

Car device

The cabins of dump trucks and tractors of the eightieth series are produced at the Kama Automobile Plant's own production facilities. In fact, the cabin is a licensed copy of Mercedes-Benz's own design and replicates the cabin of the Axor family of trucks. The interior of the cabin is equipped with the following elements:

• ergonomic seats for the driver and one passenger;
• comfortable sleeping place.

There is enough free space between the seats and the sleeping bunk for a person to move. The cabin is mounted directly above the engine using pneumatic or mechanical suspension. Until 2017, the range of these large-capacity construction machines was equipped with U-shaped bodies, the manufacturer of which was NEFAZ.

The carrying capacity of the body did not meet the requirements for transporting high-capacity cargo, especially with the “heap” loading that has become traditional in Russia. Taking into account the comments, the manufacturer replaced the old body with a more capacious rectangular body marked BCM.

Cargo dump platform

The main supplier of dump bodies is the Neftekamsk Automobile Plant. For KamAZ-6580, they produce bodies of various designs, rectangular and U-shaped, with a volume of 16 to 20 cubic meters, with heated bottoms, and linings. The thickness of the steel used for the sides is 8 mm, and for the underbody – 10 mm. All variants of dump bodies are equipped with imported hydraulic mechanisms (HYVA or Binotto).

Since 2022, the 80-series chassis is also equipped with cargo dump platforms (Krasnogorsk, Moscow region) - BCM-290 with a volume of 16 m3, for KamAZ-6580; BCM-290.2 with a volume of 15 m3, for KamAZ-65802, and BCM-291 with a volume of 20 m3, for KamAZ-65801.

Features of the package

For the manufacture of the frame and side members, the manufacturer used high-strength steel (grade S600MC). To increase the strength of the side members, additional reinforcements are installed.

The lifting angle of the dump truck is 50 degrees, with a platform volume of 15 to 20 m3. The base model reaches a speed of 90 km/h, with a climb angle of 18%. The vehicle's passability in quarry conditions and on temporary roads is ensured by 12.00 R24 pneumatic tires.

The modifications are equipped with a low-leaf semi-elliptical front suspension with maintenance-free silent blocks (maximum permissible load up to 9000 kg). The rear suspension is balanced, in combination with wheel reducers and drive axles.

The steering system is equipped with power steering, the brake center has a pneumatic drive and a wet receiver that prevents moisture from entering. With a tank volume of 500 liters, average fuel consumption is within 2.7 l/10 km (with a compression ratio of 18.5).

The model range of dump trucks and truck tractors of the 6580 series is equipped with a 16-speed synchronized gearbox of the ZF 16S 2220 type. The gearbox is mechanical and remotely controlled.

Brakes

The trucks of the series are equipped with a dual-circuit brake center with pneumatic drive, and the following innovations have been made to the braking system:

• The KamAZ-6580 design includes a wet receiver that prevents moisture from entering the brake system;
• To speed up the brake response after pressing the pedal, the diameter of the pipe that feeds the system has been increased;
• The parameters of the brake pads have been increased;
• To improve braking performance, pads began to be made from a different material.

However, the maximum deceleration of the wheels occurs in the middle of the pedal stroke.

Engine characteristics

The trucks are equipped with Cummins ISG12E5 and Mercedes Benz OM 457LA.V/4 diesel engines. Both motors are Euro 5 compliant and can be used in areas that comply with these regulations. The table shows the technical characteristics inherent to KamAZ 6580 engines.

The original Mercedes engine for premium cars runs on diesel fuel and is equipped with a turbocharging function with intercooling. Environmental characteristics are complemented by an exhaust gas neutralization mechanism.

The Cummins engine is a joint Russian-Chinese product and is installed as standard. The engine is equipped with a turbocharger, liquid cooling and a Common Rail system.

In the future, it is planned to equip the flagship line with a KamAZ 910.10 diesel engine, jointly produced by the Kama plant and the Swiss company Liebherr.

The cost of KamAZ-65801 on the domestic market

The price of the new KamAZ-65801 at the end of 2022 starts at 7 million 450 thousand rubles. You can find very few used cars of this brand on the secondary truck market, and they ask for about 5-6 million rubles for such a truck.

In general, during the development of this model and the entire family of modern heavy construction dump trucks, the Kama Automobile Plant did a tremendous amount of work. Its result was that a domestic dump truck appeared on the market, not inferior to its European counterparts, but at a more affordable price. Direct “classmates” of KamAZ-65801, with which it can compete on equal terms, are MAN TGS, Scania G-series, Mercedes-Benz Axor, Volvo FM, DAF CF, Iveco-AMT Trakker, as well as MAZ-6516.

Frame and suspension design

The frame of this saddle is original. It is assembled from imported rolled steel using modern technology: all brackets and traverses are fastened with special high-strength bolts. An underrun protection bar is mounted under the first cross member, and a massive integral bracket is installed on the front left side member, combining the front spring brackets and the cab mount. The power steering is also installed on it.

Such integral brackets began to be used even in Europe relatively recently. These brackets reduce movement and twisting of the side members in this area. As a result, the vehicle's handling improves. The frame is also technologically advanced and multifunctional: on its basis you can build a long-wheelbase tractor for a road train with a trailer with a central axle arrangement.

In the European Union, the length of such couplings is 18.75 meters, and in the Russian Federation twenty meters are allowed: with such dimensions, the volume of the cargo compartment increases from the usual 86 (93) to 110 cubic meters. This means that the truck will pay for itself much faster.

The front suspension of the tractor is a small leaf spring, and the rear suspension is pneumatic with an ECAS control system. The drive axle is mounted on air suspension, but if the restyled KamAZ-5460 tractor used a four-cylinder design, here it is a two-cylinder design, like on a Mercedes.

About the history of the model's creation

Our cargo carriers widely use equipment of a similar design. And these are all cars of the “big European seven”. There were no domestic trucks of this class in mass production until 2013. The Kama Automobile Plant could not build a competitive two-axle highway based on components and assemblies used in the company’s classic line of trucks. Therefore, they took the path of creating a fundamentally new model, which became the KamAZ-5490. It also has an industry index “in the European style: M1840. The letter “M” denotes the truck’s family – long-haul, 18 – a load capacity of 18 tons, and 40 – the first two digits of engine power (in this case – 401 hp).

KamAZ-5490 next to Mercedes Axor.

This car was created in collaboration with, in the image and likeness of the previous generation Mercedes Axor. The car's premiere took place in 2011 at the ComTrans exhibition. And by October 2013, the fruit of cooperation between German and Russian specialists was put on the assembly line. In 2013, they managed to make 96 of these production vehicles. In 2014 – 600. And in 2015, KamAZ-5490 took first place in sales in the truck tractor segment on the Russian market and has since confidently maintained its leadership. The number of produced saddlers of this model has reached 2.6 thousand per year.

There is obvious commercial success of the new trucks in the domestic market. They are increasingly found on the roads. And the Kama Automobile Plant continues to create other promising models on the same unit base. In the KamAZ-5490 truck tractor, the share of domestic components is about sixty percent, and the rest is imported. Including driving components - engine, gearbox, drive axle, and much more.