Kalmar Ottawa Terminal Tractors — Technical Legacy Guide

Summary

The Kalmar Ottawa T2 is a terminal tractor, also called a yard tractor, used to move trailers through yards, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. According to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, a hydraulically powered boom under the fifth wheel lifts a trailer high enough to move it without raising and lowering its landing gear. The same manual covers the 4x2 and 6x4 versions, each built either as an off-highway tractor or as a DOT/EPA certified tractor for road use. This guide also covers the Kalmar TL2, described in the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) and in the manufacturer's TL2 brochure, and the earlier Kalmar terminal tractor of the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual.

According to the manufacturer's manuals, all three tractors have a diesel engine, an Allison automatic transmission, pneumatic brakes with spring-applied parking brakes and a fifth wheel carried on a hydraulically operated lift boom, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. The engines named are Cummins diesels on the Ottawa T2 and the TL2, and Cummins, Caterpillar or Detroit Diesel engines on the earlier tractor, according to the same manuals. The sections below follow the manufacturer's documentation on identification, engine and driveline, brakes, boom and hydraulics, cab, operation, workshop safety and maintenance, and close with key data and the related T1, 618i and OT2 EV models.

Model identification

The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) tells the standard DOT/EPA tractor apart from the off-highway tractor: the DEF gauge, the DEF and DPF lamps and the exhaust aftertreatment apply only to DOT/EPA tractors, the voltmeter only to off-highway tractors, as recorded at HIT SRL. According to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, tractors intended for road use conform to FMVSS 121 and to the applicable Canadian standards (CMVSS), and a semi-trailer tractor on the road must have ABS, which is optional on tractors that stay off the road. The standard vehicle data of the same manual give the Cummins QSB6.7 for the off-highway 4x2 tractor and the Cummins ISB6.7 for the DOT/EPA certified 4x2 tractor.

The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual places the vehicle identification plate inside the cab, on the top corner of the rear door opening, with the model, the serial number and the date of manufacture, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. The same manual fits a certification label only to vehicles qualified under EPA/DOT regulations, on the post behind the driver's door, with the VIN, GVWR, axle ratings, wheelbase, tire and rim sizes and tire pressure. According to that manual, the vehicle serial number is also located on top of the left frame rail, inboard of the cab air spring, and is quoted when ordering parts or requesting field service. The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual both put the serial number on an ID plate inside the cab, to be at hand whenever parts or service are needed.

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) applies to all variants of the Kalmar TL2 and is arranged in function groups 0 to 12, from the complete machine to the common pneumatics, followed by error codes, schematics and technical data, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. According to the manufacturer's TL2 brochure, the TL2 can be ordered with a 2946 mm or a 3200 mm wheelbase, two Cummins engine ratings, three front axles, two rear axles in its data table and three fifth wheels.

The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual charts the dash controls for four tractor configurations: standard off-highway, Cummins ISB/ISC, Caterpillar 3126 and Detroit Diesel S40 E, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. The same manual splits its preventive maintenance forms between electronic engines other than the QSB-155 and the QSB-155.

Kalmar Ottawa T2

Terminal tractor · Also written as: Ottawa T2, Kalmar T2, T2 4x2, T2 6x4, Ottawa T2 4x2, Ottawa T2 6x4, Kalmar Ottawa T2 DOT/EPA

The Kalmar Ottawa T2 is a 4x2 or 6x4 terminal tractor that moves trailers with a fifth wheel on a hydraulic lift boom, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. According to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), it works in spotting, moving trailers through yards in operations that run from 10 to 24 hours a day. The standard vehicle data of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual give the 4x2 tractor the Allison 3000RDS transmission and an FW 3500 fifth wheel. The same manual gives both 4x2 versions a 116 inch (2,794 mm) wheelbase, a chassis weight of 14,500 lbs (6,577 kg) and a GCWR of 81,000 lbs.

Kalmar TL2

Terminal tractor · Also written as: TL2, Kalmar TL2 terminal tractor, Kalmar TL2 Terminal Tractor, TL-2

The Kalmar TL2 is a terminal tractor with its fifth wheel on a hydraulic lift boom and a Cummins diesel engine, according to the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition), the HIT SRL technical desk notes. According to the manufacturer's TL2 brochure, the TL2 has a bolted rigid chassis, which the brochure describes as easy to repair and less likely to crack than a welded frame. Published sources state that the TL2 was built for the Asia-Pacific region and launched in November 2017 on a proven platform. The 2018 manual gives it the Cummins QSB 6.7 Tier 3 / Stage 3A engine, the Allison 3000im transmission and a Hande rear drive axle.

Earlier Kalmar terminal tractor

Terminal tractor · Also written as: Kalmar tractor, Kalmar yard tractor, Kalmar port and terminal tractor, Kalmar terminal tractor before the T2

The earlier Kalmar terminal tractor is a port and terminal tractor, also called a yard tractor, for moving and spotting trailers, according to the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual, as recorded at HIT SRL. The same manual gives it Cummins ISB/ISC, Caterpillar 3126 or Detroit Diesel S40 E engines and an Allison RDS series automatic transmission with no park position. According to that manual, tractors with ABS produced after March 2002 also check the trailer ABS after coupling and light a trailer warning lamp on a fault. The manual describes work that can run 10 to 24 hours a day across rough yards.

Industrial history and parts supply

Published sources date the first Kalmar Ottawa terminal tractor to 1958, while one trade article gives 1959, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. According to published sources, the company began in 1943 as Ottawa Steel Products, and the Ottawa brand was used from 1943 to 1993. Published sources state that the Sisu terminal tractor plant in North America built tractors under the Magnum brand from 1987 to 2005.

Published sources give 1993 or 1994 as the year in which Sisu acquired the Ottawa tractor business, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. Two encyclopaedia entries give 1993 and the manufacturer's history pages give 1994, according to published sources. According to published sources, Partek took over Sisu Terminal Systems and the majority of Kalmar Industries in 1997, KONE acquired Partek in 2002 and Cargotec was formed in 2005. Published sources state that from 1 September 2006 every terminal tractor from the North American plant carried the Kalmar brand, and that Kalmar was demerged from Cargotec on 30 June 2024.

Published sources record the 40,000th Kalmar terminal tractor in 2006 and the sale of the 60,000th, a T2, in 2015, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual carries the name of Kalmar Solutions LLC (Kalmar Terminal Tractors), the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual that of Kalmar Industries Corp. and the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) that of Cargotec Oy. The manufacturer's TL2 brochure was published by Kalmar, part of Cargotec.

Power unit and driveline as installed

The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual describes the engine as a diesel of the type used in fire engines, dump trucks and refuse haulers, offered with power ratings from several engine makers for off-highway and DOT/EPA certified applications, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. Its wiring diagrams are drawn for three Cummins engines, the ISB (2013), the QSB 6.7 T3 and the QSB T4F, according to the same manual. The standard vehicle data of that manual rate the Cummins QSB6.7 of the off-highway 4x2 tractor at 165 HP (123 kW) at 2200 rpm with 730 Nm at 1500 rpm, and the Cummins ISB6.7 of the DOT/EPA certified tractor at 200 HP (150 kW) at 2300 rpm with 700 Nm at 1600 rpm. According to the manufacturer's current product page, the Ottawa T2 4x2 gives 123 kW at 2200 rpm and 732 Nm at 1500 rpm.

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives the TL2 the Cummins QSB 6.7, a six-cylinder 6.7 dm3 low-emission turbocharged diesel with direct injection and intercooler, rated EPA Tier 3 / EU Stage 3A, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. According to the same manual, it is rated 129 kW at 2200 rpm net to ISO 3046, with a maximum power of 164 kW (220 hp) at 2000 rpm, 952 Nm at 1400 rpm, an idle speed of 700 rpm and a maximum speed of 2500. The manufacturer's TL2 brochure lists instead a standard Cummins QSB6.7 of 220 hp / 164 kW, giving 164 kW at 2200 rpm and 945 Nm at 1500 rpm, and an optional QSB6.7 of 173 hp / 129 kW with 800 Nm at 1500 rpm. Where the two documents differ, the figures to use are those in the manual of the specific tractor.

The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) gives SAE 15W-40 engine oil and recommends the CJ-4 (low ash) oil classification for the DOT/EPA engines, as recorded at HIT SRL. The fluids table of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual also gives SAE 15W-40 and allows only the fuel, coolant, coolant additives, diesel exhaust fluid and lubricants specified by the engine manufacturer. The lubrication chart of the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual gives SAE 15W-40 engine oil and No. 2 diesel fuel, both with a reference to the engine operator's manual. For the TL2 the 2018 manual gives 17.2 l of SAE 15W-40 classified API CJ-4/SL or CES-20081, for ambient temperatures from -15 °C to +45 °C.

The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) has the cooling system filled at the factory with 50% ethyl-glycol heavy-duty anti-freeze and 50% water, protecting down to –34°F (–36.7°C), as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. The fluids table of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual specifies a 50/50 propylene-glycol/water coolant instead, while the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual specifies ethyl-glycol, like the 2014 operator's manual. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives 30.3 l of 50% concentrate and 50% water to ASTM4985 or ASTM D6210, never more than 60% concentrate. The coolant to use is the one named in the manual of the specific tractor.

The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual gives a 50-gallon (190 liter) rectangular step fuel tank and a 5-gallon DEF tank with a blue DEF-only fill cap and electrically heated DEF lines, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. According to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), a stationary DPF regeneration on a DOT/EPA tractor needs a place where the tractor can idle safely for up to 50 minutes with the parking brake set, and neither throttle nor brake until the DPF lamp goes out. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives a 300 l fuel tank for ultra-low sulphur diesel to EN590, never filled beyond 90% of its capacity.

The standard transmission of the Ottawa T2 is an Allison automatic of the RDS series, the Allison 3000RDS with six forward speeds and one reverse in the standard vehicle data of the maintenance manual, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. According to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), its forward-to-reverse shifts are controlled by the ECM and it has no PARK position. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) names the Allison 3000im, an automatic with torque converter whose oil cooler sits at the engine radiator, while the manufacturer's TL2 brochure lists the Allison MY09 3000RDS or 3500RDS. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual also gives an Allison RDS series transmission without a park position.

The fluids table of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual specifies a TES-295 approved automatic transmission fluid, and the lubrication chart of the 2014 operator's manual names Transynd, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives 21 l of ATF classified Allison Transynd TES-295 approved fluid, for -30 °C to +30 °C and a maximum fluid temperature of 120 °C. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual gives Dexron III for the transmission in its lubrication chart, with the fluid requirements of the transmission operator's manual.

The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual gives the 4x2 tractor a Spicer 1710 propeller shaft, a Meritor FF961 front axle and Meritor RS-24-160 rear axles, and notes that a tractor may carry rear axles of several makers, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. The rear axle or axles have no suspension, the housings being rigidly attached to the frame rails, while the front axle rides on parabolic leaf springs with three steel leaves on each side, according to the same manual. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives a Hande 11.98 rear drive axle rated 16 000 kg, with an 11.98:1 final drive ratio, a 1860 mm track width and 420 mm x 185 mm brakes, and a Hande 5.5 or Hande 7.5 front axle rated 5500 kg or 7500 kg. The manufacturer's TL2 brochure lists the rear axle at 32000 kg at 25 km/h, adds a Sisu SRDP rear axle with a 12.28 ratio and a Meritor FF-961 front axle, and gives the Hande 5.5 front axle 400x150 brakes.

The lubrication charts of the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and of the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual give EP 85-140 for the rear axle differential, as recorded at HIT SRL. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives 13 l in the differential and 2.8 l in each wheel-end planetary gear, of SAE 85W-140 quality classified GL-5. According to the same manual, the TL2 runs on 11R22.5 tyres on 22.5 X 8.25 X 6.5 rims at 10 bar, checked cold, and each wheel is fixed with ten nuts tightened to 600 Nm. The torque table of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual gives 450-500 ft-lbs (610-678 Nm) for the wheel lug nuts. The options of the Ottawa T2 include ABS, automatic traction control on tractors with ABS and an air-actuated differential lock, according to the 2014 operator's manual.

Brakes and air system

The Ottawa T2 has a pneumatic brake system with two separate circuits, rear (primary) and front (secondary), and spring-applied parking brakes that need compressed air to release, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. The same manual describes the foot treadle valve as two valves acting in quick sequence, with the rear brakes beginning to act before the front ones. The standard vehicle data table of that manual gives S-cam drum brakes of 16.5x5 inch (419x127 mm) at the front and 16.5x7 inch (419x178 mm) at the rear, with automatic slack adjusters. According to the same manual, the front wheel ends have single brake chambers and the rear wheel ends dual chambers that work both the service and the spring parking brakes, with a push rod stroke of 2.25-2.50 inches (57-64 mm).

An engine-mounted piston compressor supplies the air, and its governor with an unloading valve sends it to the reservoirs or out of the exhaust port, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. The standard vehicle data of the same manual give a compressor rated 15.2 cfm (0.43 m3/minute) and 5,688 cu.inch (93.2 liter) of reservoirs, in two tanks on the off-highway tractor and three on the DOT/EPA tractor with ABS. With the engine at fast idle the governor limits the air pressure to 120-130 psi (8.27-8.96 bar), and in the leak-down check the pressure may drop no more than 2 psi (0.137 bar) in two minutes, according to the same manual.

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) describes dual-circuit drum brakes, each S-cam turned by a pneumatic spring brake chamber, and a spring-loaded parking drum brake on the rear axle controlled by an electric switch in the cab, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. In the same manual the air passes from an engine-driven compressor through a pressure regulator and an air dryer with a 6-litre water separator container to a four-circuit protection valve and two 30-litre tanks. The 2018 manual gives a nominal air pressure of 8.3-8.9 bar, while its technical data have the compressor control valve unload above 8.0 bar and its regulator pages use 8.1 bar as an example. The technical data of the same manual give the tanks as 89 litres in total.

According to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), the tractor needs at least 70 psi (4.83 bar) to operate, and the service brakes need the same minimum to work effectively, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual applies the spring parking brakes automatically when system pressure drops below about 43 psi and releases them only when it is back at 70 psi. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual gives the same 70 psi minimum and the same automatic application below about 43 psi. In the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual, the low-air buzzer and indicator come on below 70 psi in the descriptions and below 90 psi in the buzzer test of the maintenance forms. The air pressure values to use are those in the manual of the specific tractor.

Spring brakes are caged only with the engine off, the key removed and all wheels blocked front and rear, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. The caging tool's nut is tightened until the bolt stands about 3 inches (76.2 mm) out on type 2430 and 3030 chambers or 4 inches (101.6 mm) on type 3036 and 3636 chambers, never with an impact wrench and never above 50 ft-lbs (67.79 N•m), according to both T2 manuals. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual gives the same 3.00 and 4.00 inches and the same 50 lbs-ft limit. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) warns that the springs in the parking brake chambers carry a high force and can cause very severe injuries if released without control, and it does not describe caging or towing. The caging procedure to follow is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

Brake shoes are replaced or relined when the lining is 0.25 inch (6.35 mm) thick or less at any point, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual, as recorded at HIT SRL. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) replaces the linings when they come close to the minimum of 8 mm, checked through the inspection hole in the brake plate before every brake adjustment. According to the same manual, the lining thickness and the slack adjusters are checked and the S-cams lubricated every 1000 hours.

The optional ABS of the Ottawa T2 has wheel-end sensors, an electronic control unit in the left front wheel well and separate panel lamps for tractor and trailer ABS faults, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. The same manual offers automatic traction control only with ABS, applying the rear brake at the wheel end concerned and working only below 25-30 miles per hour (40-48 kilometers per hour). According to the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual, the service brakes are applied with smooth, constant pressure and never pumped, even in an emergency stop.

Lift boom, fifth wheel and hydraulics

The Ottawa T2 boom is pivoted to the frame behind the cab and carries the fifth wheel at its rear end, raised and lowered by two double-acting cylinders of 4 inches (100 mm), according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. The same manual gives a lifting height of 17.7 inches (450 mm) and a fixed-displacement gear pump on the transmission rated 10 gallons (38 liter) per minute at about 1200 rpm. It gives the two standard 4-inch cylinders a capacity of 48,500 pounds (22,000 kg), while its standard vehicle data table gives a fifth-wheel boom lift capacity of 50,000 lbs. for the 4x2 tractor. The maximum boom relief pressure is 2000 psi (138 bar) for all Ottawa T2 tractors with 4-inch cylinders, and the boom may drift down no more than 4 inches (100 mm) per hour, according to the same manual. The boom capacity to respect is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) lists the lift boom for 20 000 kg or 28 000 kg, both with a 430 mm lifting height and double-acting single-stage cylinders, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. The manufacturer's TL2 brochure gives the port package, a lifting fifth wheel of 430 mm and 28 t, in its data table, and 431 mm and 28 t in its list of options. According to the 2018 manual, the fifth wheel is a Holland FW35 with a maximum load of 32,000 kg, and the brochure adds the Holland FW 0E70 at 32000 kg and the Holland FW 2870 at 45000 kg. The same manual also prints the fifth wheel as FW 35 and as FW3500 on other pages.

The fifth-wheel jaws of the Ottawa T2 open by an air cylinder worked from a spring-loaded push button on the instrument panel and stay open until a trailer king pin closes them, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. The same manual expects the jaws to unlatch with system pressure above 100 psi when the dash control is pressed. According to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), jaws with more than 1/8 inch (3.175 mm) of free play on a fifth wheel jaw gauge are repaired or replaced. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) tests the lock with a steel plate carrying a welded kingpin, which must be gripped without clearance yet turn lightly, and asks for a kingpin diameter of at least 48.0 mm with a 2-inch pin and 86.0 mm with a 3.5-inch pin.

The Ottawa T2 hydraulic system has three subsystems, boom, cab tilt and power steering, which share only the reservoir, the in-tank return filter and the fluid, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. In the same manual steering and boom share one pump, whose priority valve sends the first four gallons per minute to the open-centred steering circuit. Its technical data table gives Dexron III for boom, power steering and cab tilt, 20 gallons (75.7 liter) for the tank and about 24 gallons (90.8 liter) for the whole system, while the same page opens with a 16-gallon reservoir. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives 75.7 l of hydraulic oil printed as Dextron III, ISO VG 32, in the common and working hydraulics tank, and 1.9 l in the cab tilt pump reservoir.

The standard power steering of the Ottawa T2 uses an integral recirculating-ball steering gear fed by the transmission-mounted pump, and the optional hydrostatic steering has an orbital control valve that can act as a manual pump if the hydraulic pump is inoperable, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as recorded at HIT SRL. According to the same manual, the steering gear box needs 4-1/2 to 5 GPM, and the pump must reach 2100 to 2200 psi at relief with the analyzer flow valve closed. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives hydraulic power-assisted steering with mechanical backup, fed by a fixed pump on the transmission PTO through a built-in priority valve, at a steering pressure of 100 bar.

Cab and electrical system

The Ottawa T2 cab frame is a fully welded roll-over protective structure of 2 x 2 x 1/4-inch square tubing, with 14-gauge steel walls attached to the deck at four points by grade 5 bolts tightened to 120 ft lb (163 Nm), according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. The same manual tilts the cab hydraulically to 45 degrees, and to 90 degrees only with a hoist carrying its weight and the lift cylinder disconnected. A three-point suspension carries the cab, with an air suspension unit, two shock absorbers and a height control valve at one rear corner, and the manual expects the levelling to finish in two to 10 seconds.

According to the manufacturer's TL2 brochure, the TL2 cab has climate control for -20 to more than 45 degrees C, an adjustable steering wheel, seat and controls, and non-slip access surfaces with hand rails, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. The brochure lists a cab tilt pump with manual backup, trailer stops for cab protection and a fifth wheel jaw lock indicator lamp among the options. Published sources state that the Ottawa T2 has a larger cab than the T1, with better visibility, a wider door and entry only through the rear door.

The fuses, relays and circuit breakers of the Ottawa T2 sit on two power boards, one in the cab under the centre dash panel and one over the transmission on the left of the chassis, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. Its circuit tables give, among others, 8 A for the wiper, 10 A for the parking lights, 15 A for each trailer circuit, 20 A for the stop/tilt circuit and 30 A for the flasher and the ignition.

The TL2 has two 12 V batteries in series under the right-hand steps, each weighing 24 kg, and a 70 A alternator with internal regulator, according to the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition), as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. The same manual expects the alternator to charge at no less than 27 VDC and reads a charging light that stays lit with the engine running as a faulty alternator. According to the manufacturer's TL2 brochure, the common platform gives standardised error codes and a standardised driver control panel. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual provides an accessory location in the harness for equipment added after the tractor leaves the factory and forbids improper splicing of factory wiring.

Trailer spotting and operation

To pick up a trailer, the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) has the operator back under it with the fifth wheel fully down and the jaws unlatched, lift it until its supports are just off the ground, back firmly into the kingpin and tug forward to check the lock, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. The same manual then raises the fifth wheel to travel height, applies the parking brake, connects both air lines and the electrical cable and checks the trailer brakes with a very short roll. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual couples with 120 psi in the air system and the tractor centred so that the fifth wheel tail is below the skid ramp. The coupling procedure to follow is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

Both trailer air lines, the blue service line and the red supply line, must be connected when towing a trailer, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual, as recorded at HIT SRL. With only the red supply line connected, the trailer service brakes do not work and the tractor brakes do all the braking, according to the 2014 operator's manual. The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual has the yellow tractor parking brake knob and the red trailer air supply knob both pushed in with a trailer in tow, and the red knob pulled out in bobtail mode.

The boom is never raised or lowered while a trailer is attached and moving, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. Trailers are towed at no more than 15 mph (24 km/h) and lifted no higher than needed to clear the landing gear, and on public roads the fifth wheel is down with its manual secondary lock engaged, according to the same manual. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual gives the same 15 mph limit and links excessive cornering speed and a trailer raised too high to roll-over. The towing speed and lifting height to respect are those in the manual of the specific tractor.

The engine is started only from the driver's seat, with the parking brake set, the shifter in neutral and the service brakes held, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. The same manual limits each starting attempt to 30 seconds, with 3 minutes between attempts, and keeps a tractor that starts in gear out of use until the neutral lock-out system is repaired. Without a PARK position, the tractor is parked with the parking brake applied and the shifter in neutral, and a combination only with the trailer parking brakes applied, according to the 2014 operator's manual and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual. The lap-type seat belt is worn whenever the tractor is in operation, and the tractor carries only the driver unless built with a trainer seat, according to the 2014 operator's manual.

The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) has a qualified mechanic inspect axles, brakes, cab, seat belts, electrical system, exhaust, frame, fuel system, propeller shaft, steering, suspension, transmission and wheels at each scheduled interval or at least once a month, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. The same manual forbids operation without the proper front axle stops, with broken, worn or non-OEM steering components, or with badly worn tires or damaged wheels. No modification may be made without written approval from Kalmar, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual. The operator enters and leaves the cab facing the steps, with three of the four limbs in contact with the tractor, according to the 2014 operator's manual.

Workshop safety and towing

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) defines a service position: parking brake on, lifting frame lowered to the ground, engine and main power off, main switch vertical and key removed, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. The same manual depressurizes the brake system by switching the parking brake on and off until the quick release valve no longer sounds, and never opens a hydraulic connection that could lower the load or a component. The service position to use is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

Nobody works under the raised Ottawa T2 cab unless the safety prop on the tilt cylinder is locked, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual and the 2014 operator's manual, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. According to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), the electric tilt raises the cab to 45 degrees, where the prop drops onto the tilt cylinder, and after lowering the switch is held down for 5 seconds and the latch checked. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) forbids work under the cab without the mechanical safety stop, and asks for the mechanical support that keeps the lifting frame from lowering whenever the cab is tilted. The 2018 manual names that mechanical support without describing it, and the Ottawa T2 manuals give no emergency lowering of the boom; the procedure to follow is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) never lifts the tractor by the axle suspension or steering parts and supports it under the frame or the axles on axle stands, with nobody under a vehicle held only by jacks, as recorded at HIT SRL. Before welding, the 2018 manual disconnects the control units, turns off the main switch and removes the paint for at least 200 mm around the weld. The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual disconnects the batteries before welding on or near the vehicle and forbids welding or flame cutting the frame rails and drilling their flanges. The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) allows no welding on the frame rails unless Kalmar directs it. The lifting and welding rules to follow are those in the manual of the specific tractor.

Batteries give off explosive gas, contain corrosive acid and can deliver enough current to burn, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual, which asks for safety glasses and no open flames or sparks near them, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) ventilates the battery compartment before service and removes the negative cable first and connects it last. Jump starting needs both systems at the same voltage and polarity, positive to positive and negative to negative, and the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual forbids jump starting with welding equipment, push starting and tow starting. Hydraulic leaks are never felt for by hand, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual and the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition).

The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) never opens the radiator cap with the engine hot, while the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual removes it with care on a hot engine, turning it first to the first detent, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) waits until the coolant is below 50 °C (120 °F) before opening the cap carefully. The radiator rule to follow is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) handles tyres as pressurized containers: damaged tyres, rims or rim lock rings are never repaired, and the tyre is deflated before any work on the wheel, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk. The same manual leaves tyre repairs to authorized service personnel and asks for a protective screen, hearing protection and safety glasses.

A disabled Ottawa T2 is best towed with the rear wheels lifted and the steering axle locked straight ahead, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. The same manual does not recommend towing with the front wheels lifted, which needs a rigid tow bar, the driveline disconnected or the axle shafts removed and the rear spring brakes caged with the wheels blocked. The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual tows at no more than 55 mph (89 km/h) from the tow hooks or eyes of the frame, never from the bumper, and allows towing on all wheels only with working steering and a tow bar. The earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual gives the same preference for lifting the rear wheels, while the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) does not describe towing. The towing procedure to follow is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

Recurring failure points — field reports

Published reports of recurring failures on these terminal tractors are rare, and the published sources consulted for this guide describe none, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. The checks below are those that the manufacturer's manuals give for the most frequent faults.

What the documentation says to check

• If the low-air warning and buzzer are still on 5 minutes after start-up, the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) shuts the engine down and looks for the reason the air system is not charging.
• The brake tables of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual link pulling to one side to brake adjustment, front end alignment, unequal tire pressure, uneven loading or loose front wheel bearings.
• Hard steering is traced in the same manual to an overloaded axle, underinflated tires, misalignment, worn linkages or weak pump flow, and a pump below 4-1/2 to 5 GPM at idle may have a sticking priority valve.
• A boom slow to lift is tested with a 3000 psi gauge on the test port, the cylinders deadheaded at full length, expecting 2000 psi and 23-25 GPM at maximum engine speed, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual.
• If the cab tilt motor runs but the cab does not tilt, the same manual looks for low fluid or line leakage, and a dead tilt motor points to the 20 A stop/tilt breaker, the switch, the solenoid or the wiring.
• The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) starts troubleshooting with battery voltage and fuses, then the engine oil, coolant, fuel and hydraulic oil levels, and only then the function description and the circuit diagram.
• After an engine oil change the TL2 manual expects oil pressure on the gauge within 15 seconds of starting, or the engine is stopped at once.
• The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual leaves engine and transmission error codes to the engine and transmission makers' manuals, while the TL2 manual lists Cummins faults by SPN and FMI and Allison codes such as P0218 for fluid over temperature.

Maintenance interval summary

The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual schedule A inspections every 250 hours, B every 500, C every 1000 and D every 2000 hours, as maximum intervals in normal operation, as recorded at HIT SRL. The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual adds a calendar limit, every month for the A and every three months for the B inspections, whichever comes first, and states that harsh use may call for shorter intervals. The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) sets an initial maintenance after the first 150 hours and then works at 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4500 hours. The schedule to follow is the one in the manual of the specific tractor.

Every 2000 hours the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual drains and refills the hydraulic tank with Dexron III, flushes and refills the cooling system, changes the differential oil and re-torques the axle mounting bolts and the kingpin draw key nuts, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it. The 250-hour lubrication of the same manual covers the rear door rollers, the steering slip joint and U-joints, king pins, tie rod and drag link ends, slack adjusters, driveline U-joints, the fifth-wheel jaws and pivots and the boom pivot and cylinder bearings. The daily checklist of that manual covers the fluid levels, draining the air tanks, the fuel water separator, the trailer lines, the fifth wheel and its secondary lock, the cab latch, the lift cylinders, the tires and the lights.

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) checks the coolant level every day on the sight glass of the expansion tank, adding coolant with the cab tilted, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards. Every 250 hours the same manual inspects the radiator and hoses, the cooling fan, the intake piping, the charge-air cooler, the air cleaner restriction and the compressor mounting. According to the manufacturer's TL2 brochure, all service points of the TL2 can be reached from the ground and the cab lifts easily. The brochure also states that smart programming and the driveline can cut fuel consumption by up to 15%.

Key specification table

The table below gives the main data of the three tractors with the document that prints each value, and keeps both values where the documents differ, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk.

Related models

Published sources state that the Ottawa T2, introduced in 2014, succeeded the T1, introduced in 1993, and that for a time both models were still built, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk. According to published sources, the T2 brought a larger cab with better visibility, a roll-over protective structure as standard and a redesigned front suspension.

According to the manufacturer's product page, the heavy terminal tractors TT618i (4x2) and TR618i (4x4) pull semi-trailers, terminal container trailers and gooseneck roll trailers, while the low-frame TRL618i (4x4) pulls mega and jumbo trailers, the HIT SRL technical desk notes. The same page gives them a Cummins QSB6.7 Stage 3A engine of 194 kW at 2200 rpm with 987 Nm at 1500 rpm, a Dana RTE14822 transmission and Sisu SSDP12S front and SRDP30S rear axles, according to published sources.

Published sources state that the OT2 EV, also called T2 EV, is the third generation of the manufacturer's electric terminal tractor, the first dating from 2018, and went on sale in March 2025, as recorded at HIT SRL. According to the same published sources, it has no transmission, its traction motor driving the rear axle directly, three lithium battery capacities and charging at up to 150 kW.

Comparisons

The comparisons below set side by side only differences that the manufacturer's documentation prints, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it.

Coolant of the Ottawa tractors

The Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual specify 50/50 ethyl-glycol coolant, while the fluids table of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual specifies 50/50 propylene-glycol, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards.

TL2 engine rating

The TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives the QSB 6.7 129 kW net at 2200 rpm, with 164 kW maximum at 2000 rpm and 952 Nm at 1400 rpm, while the manufacturer's TL2 brochure gives 164 kW standard or 129 kW optional, both at 2200 rpm, with 945 or 800 Nm at 1500 rpm, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk.

Boom lift capacity

The Ottawa T2 maintenance manual gives the standard boom cylinders 48,500 pounds (22,000 kg) in its boom pages and the boom 50,000 lbs. in its standard vehicle data, while the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) lists 20 000 or 28 000 kg, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk.

Synthetic transmission fluid service

With synthetic fluid the Ottawa T2 manuals change the transmission filters at 3000 hours and the fluid at 6000 hours, the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual changes fluid and external filter at 2000 hours, and the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) changes oil and both filters every 1000 hours, the HIT SRL technical desk notes.

Low-air warning

The Ottawa T2 manuals and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual sound the low-air buzzer below 70 psi in their descriptions and below 90 psi in the test of their maintenance forms, while the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) gives a nominal air pressure of 8.3-8.9 bar, as recorded at HIT SRL.

Kalmar Ottawa terminal tractor terminology

The terms below are those of the Ottawa T2, TL2 and earlier Kalmar tractor manuals, each defined in plain words with the document that uses it, as HIT SRL's technical desk reads it.

Terminal tractor

A tractor built to move trailers through yards and terminals, also called a yard tractor; the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) calls this work spotting.

Spotting

Moving and placing trailers in a yard, the work for which the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) and the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual describe the tractor, often 10 to 24 hours a day.

Fifth wheel

The coupling plate that takes the trailer kingpin; according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual it sits at the rear end of the lift boom and its jaws open by an air cylinder.

Lift boom

The hydraulically operated arm, pivoted behind the cab, that carries the fifth wheel and lifts the trailer clear of its landing gear, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual.

Kingpin

The pin of the trailer that the fifth-wheel jaws lock onto; the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) asks for at least 48.0 mm on a 2-inch pin and 86.0 mm on a 3.5-inch pin.

Secondary lock

The manual lock of the fifth wheel, engaged by removing a hairpin clip so that it pivots behind the locking yoke, required on public roads according to the earlier Kalmar tractor operator's manual.

Caging

Releasing a spring brake by hand with a caging tool or release stud when the air system cannot be recharged, only with the wheels blocked, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual.

Spring brake

A parking brake applied by spring force and released by compressed air, which in the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual applies by itself when system pressure falls below about 43 psi.

Treadle valve

The foot brake valve, which the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual describes as two valves acting in quick sequence on the rear and front brake circuits.

Bobtail

Driving the tractor without a trailer; the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual then has the red trailer air supply knob pulled out and the yellow parking brake knob pushed in.

Glad hands

The couplings of the trailer air lines, whose seals are checked every day and which are disconnected for the air leak-down check, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual.

Tractor protection valve

The valve that cuts off the trailer air supply when the red trailer air supply knob is pulled or a trailer line breaks, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual.

DOT/EPA tractor

The Ottawa T2 version certified for road use, with exhaust aftertreatment and DEF and DPF lamps, as against the off-highway version, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition).

DEF

Diesel exhaust fluid, also called urea or AUS 32, carried in its own tank with a blue fill cap on DOT/EPA tractors, according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual.

DPF regeneration

Cleaning of the diesel particulate filter, which the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition) asks for within 2-6 hours once the DPF lamp lights, or as a stationary regeneration of up to 50 minutes.

A, B, C and D inspections

The preventive maintenance levels of the Ottawa tractors, every 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 hours, given as maximum intervals in the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition).

Safety prop

The arm that drops onto the extended cab tilt cylinder at about 45 degrees and must be engaged before anyone works under the cab, according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition).

Cab leveling valve

The height control valve of the cab air suspension, which according to the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual is good if the ride height comes back in 2 to 10 seconds.

Service position

The parked state for maintenance in the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition): parking brake on, lifting frame lowered, engine and main power off and key removed.

Port package

The lifting fifth wheel in the data table of the manufacturer's TL2 brochure, with a 430 mm lift height and a 28 t capacity, as against the stationary fifth wheel.

TES-295

The specification of synthetic transmission fluid with which, together with Allison high-capacity filters, the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual changes the filters at 3,000 hours and the fluid at 6,000 hours.

Priority valve

The valve in the pump that sends the flow first to the steering, the first four gallons per minute on the Ottawa T2 according to its maintenance manual.

Neutral lock-out

The system that stops the engine from starting in gear; according to the Ottawa T2 operator's manual (2014 edition), a tractor that starts in gear stays out of use until it is repaired.

How to: checks from the maintenance manual

The four checks below follow the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual and the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) step by step, and the manual of the specific tractor prevails, as set out in the HIT SRL technical cards.

How to check the air system pressure and leak-down of the Ottawa T2

The air system check of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual measures the governor setting and then the leak-down with the engine off, as logged by the HIT SRL technical desk.

1. Run the engine at fast idle and check that the governor limits the air pressure to 120-130 psi (8.27-8.96 bar), according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
2. Disconnect the trailer glad hands and let the pressure stabilize at 120 psi for at least one minute, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
3. Shut the engine off and watch the dash gauges, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
4. Accept a drop of no more than 2 psi (0.137 bar) in two minutes, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.

How to check the boom relief pressure and pump flow of the Ottawa T2

The boom check of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual reads the relief pressure with the cylinders deadheaded and then measures the pump flow, as recorded by the HIT SRL technical desk.

1. Fit a 3000 psi gauge on the test port at the back of the boom platform, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
2. Deadhead the cylinders at full length and read 2000 psi at maximum engine speed, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
3. Adjust at the control valve under the acorn nut with a 5/16 Allen wrench in 1/4-turn steps, clockwise to increase, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
4. Expect 3-1/2 to 5 GPM at idle and 23-25 GPM at maximum rpm, and replace the pump if that flow cannot be reached, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.

How to check the cab leveling valve of the Ottawa T2

The cab suspension check of the Ottawa T2 maintenance manual times how long the air spring takes to restore the ride height, the HIT SRL technical desk notes.

1. Make sure the air system holds at least 100 psi, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
2. Hold the cab entry handle down and time how long the air spring takes to raise the ride height, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
3. Read 2 to 10 seconds as a good valve, and under 2 or over 10 seconds as a damaged valve or a clogged filter, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
4. Set one inch (25.4 mm) between the suspension stop bumpers and the channel under the cab deck through the length of the leveling valve linkage rod, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.

How to check the fifth wheel lock of the TL2

The fifth wheel check of the TL2 maintenance manual (2018 edition) uses a steel plate carrying a welded kingpin, as recorded at HIT SRL.

1. Lock the jaws on a steel plate carrying a welded kingpin, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
2. Check that the kingpin is gripped tightly without clearance and can still be turned lightly, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
3. Check that the kingpin locking indicator light comes on, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.
4. Measure the kingpin, at least 48.0 mm on a 2-inch pin and 86.0 mm on a 3.5-inch pin, and replace the locking jaws and slide together, according to the manufacturer's maintenance manual.

Spare parts

HIT SRL supplies genuine, OEM and aftermarket spare parts for Kalmar port equipment, including the Ottawa T2 and TL2 terminal tractors and the earlier Kalmar terminal tractor, as an independent distributor that is not an official representative, affiliate or agent of the manufacturer. For availability, see the Kalmar spare parts page or send the machine model and serial number through the contact page.

Technical cards by system

HIT SRL technical cards, one fact per card, each with its source, HIT ref and fingerprint stated in the text:

• Identification and history (23 cards)
• Engine, fuel and exhaust (18 cards)
• Transmission, axles and wheels (29 cards)
• Brakes and air system (23 cards)
• Boom, fifth wheel and hydraulics (23 cards)
• Cab and electrical (14 cards)
• Maintenance intervals, Ottawa tractors (30 cards)
• Maintenance intervals, TL2 (17 cards)
• Safety and operation (31 cards)
• Workshop safety (31 cards)
• Troubleshooting and warning lights (22 cards)
• Related models and comparisons (13 cards)