Kinetico 2080f OD repurposing

[LSCamel]

I've searched but didn't find a comparative article so if this has been covered I apologize!
Recently, I acquired a replacement for my Culligan Mark 89 which came with the home I bought. I have had it on bypass for some time but when a coworker told me he was updating his system he graciously let me have his Kinetico system that he was replacing. We live in different areas of the state and I don't have the same problems he was having to treat for.
So I received a Kinetico 2080F Over Drive green sand iron dual filter assembly with the potassium permanganate brine tank and a 2060S non overdrive softener dual filter assembly. I was just going to use the 2060S and replace the resin but then I thought maybe I could switch heads and utilize the bigger tanks on the 2080F. Then I thought maybe I can make the 2080F a softener as well by changing out the media and using it in combination with the 2060s.
At the end of the day I don't want to go down some weird Kinetico rabbit hole so I wanted to throw the question out to the professional improvisers here and see if what I'm saying makes any sense! Thanks for your time.

 

[LSCamel]

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Ryan Symons]

It could work by changing some parts and some guestimating. Is it worth the hassle? Probably not. If you want to do it it could be regeared, new control disc, new meter disc, new regen flow control, new backwash flow control. I would personally avoid kinetico altogether....to finicky and too expensive to repair because you have to call a dealer. A clack twin tank will do everything a kinetico will and alot more for a fraction of the price.

 

[ditttohead]

If a twin alternating system is even needed (rarely). A simple Clack or Fleck based system may make a lot more sense.

 

[LSCamel]

Thanks for the feedback! For the cost and the propriety of a new Kinetico I know personally I would never go down that road, I’m too cheap. However, for free hardware and some time to dismantle and thoroughly clean the heads and replace the tank resin I’ll only be into it for a couple hundred total. Reliability factor unknown at this point.

If I use the 2060s head on the larger tanks will I have any problems with backwash or regen not fully working due to the increased media and tank capacity?

 

[Ryan Symons]

The larger diameter tank requires a larger backwash flow control plus with kinetico the only way to adjust the length of cycles is with the control disc and regeneration side gearing. The meter gears would technically need to be changed to adjust for the new capacity but that could be fudged with some math to figure out the correct meter disc.
As far as price goes think about future costs too. If you need parts you must go to a dealer and most won't just sell you the parts so then you are paying for a service call. And if the tech isn't already confused about a kinetico to begin with your Frankenstein 60/80 will probably throw him for a loop.

 

[LSCamel]

Good valid points. I have been consuming as much data as I can find and agree with you. I will keep the 2060s together and just change out the resin for simplicity.
The 2080f I have been researching katalox light as a media substitute for the green sand. Still piecing together information and reading through different setups to see the feasibility. It has a number 2 gear setup currently. I’m the exploration phase learning about the different oxidizers/air/chlorine/CL02, etc.

 

[Kevin Wentworth]

I've searched but didn't find a comparative article so if this has been covered I apologize!
Recently, I acquired a replacement for my Culligan Mark 89 which came with the home I bought. I have had it on bypass for some time but when a coworker told me he was updating his system he graciously let me have his Kinetico system that he was replacing. We live in different areas of the state and I don't have the same problems he was having to treat for.
So I received a Kinetico 2080F Over Drive green sand iron dual filter assembly with the potassium permanganate brine tank and a 2060S non overdrive softener dual filter assembly. I was just going to use the 2060S and replace the resin but then I thought maybe I could switch heads and utilize the bigger tanks on the 2080F. Then I thought maybe I can make the 2080F a softener as well by changing out the media and using it in combination with the 2060s.
At the end of the day I don't want to go down some weird Kinetico rabbit hole so I wanted to throw the question out to the professional improvisers here and see if what I'm saying makes any sense! Thanks for your time.

I've been a technician for kinetico for some years now.
Heres my two cents. Don't modify the valves unless you've spent a good couple of weeks determining the small differences between them to feel confident. Its a highly engineered modular system designed to use the same pieces across multiple platforms. That being said...
You have a water softener, 2060s.
It is not an "od" or overdrive system. This means you have an 11 gallon max flow rate and the tanks alternate between standby and service. "Od" means both tanks are used in parallel. It is a system designed for hard water and dissolved iron/manganese.
Its is an amazing unit, i have some maintenance recommendations down post.
You also have a green sand system designed for heavy iron and manganese removal.
It works by oxidizing dissolved iron or manganese and then physically filtering/backwashing.

The 2080 can't become a softener without major parts changes.

In the first scenario, you are on a municipal water source and you won't need green sand at all since the city plant removes all of the things it is applicable for.
In this case I would, keeping the valve the same, replace the green sand with kineticos macrolite media. It is a very effective patented sediment filter media. Down to 3 microns at something like 6 gallons a minute. It is also very heavy and would be able to withstand the high backwash flow rates the 2080 valve has.

Plumb this before your softener and you'll never have to change a filter. I'd use a number 1 backwashing disk on a municipal water source. (Can be bought and installed at local kinetico hopefully, also youtube).
On a municipal source you can put a number 2 disk in the softener. This is a setup designed for very little repetitive maintenance.
NOTE you must remove the chlorine before the softener or you will be changing resin every 3 years.
Ask your local dealer about a 2030 carbon. And then make your own or ask for used parts. I highly doubt they will sell used parts but it's worth a try.
Kinetico uses purolite c100e cation resin

The second scenario. A well..
This depends on the well chemistry.
The 2060 can handle upwards of 5 parts of iron and 66 grains of hardness.. So if you have less than that, use the same setup as above.
However it gets a bit complicated when adding ph in. If your well is acidic, use calcite as the media in the 2080 It is a natural ph neutralizer and has a secondary function of being a 20 micron filter. (Purical brand)

With macrolite, use .8 to 1 cubic ft in each tank. It probably won't fill very high, this is ok. Too much will restrict the flow.
Calcite, fill until there is 17" of freeboard or free space.

NOTE all three medias need a gravel underbedding (1/8 x 1/4) pea gravel. 20 pounds.

Maintenance, have your local dealer replace the drain valves, control valve, and drain/control valve seals.
At my dealer it would be a total of 80 ish dollars plus labor.
This will make your life so much easier when your unit doesn't backwash right down the road and your scratching your head wondering if it all was worth it.