"The factory made the change to make the engine even more reliable and more fuel efficient. The turbine in question was tested at the factory and the factory intentionally locked down the RPM because the engine was making the proper thrust at that RPM. If they left it higher, like Barry said per the customer, it is for safety reasons you don't want the engine over producing what it was designed to do. The good news about that engine is you are getting max performance and using less fuel, less wear & tear, due to lower RPM."
Above information were shared extensively with Hibbler during his phone call.
What I will admit responsible is the conversion and lack of updating of spec sheet on the manual and website. A K-80 is rated at 80 newtons of thrust at 15 Celsius, that equates to 8 kilograms, or 17.637 pounds at 59 Fahrenheit. We set up engine at its rated thrust, not RPM.
Regards,
Barry