RAM Turbine Problems
A bit harsh? I think not. I have held back for a few weeks before posting this so to give RAM a chance to resolve the issue with my engine but after many emails to RAM and also one to Toni F there has been no contact so here we go.
My ram 500 never ran right from new. After the first run it was howling very loudly so I contacted RAM and the said it needs to go back for minor adjustments, so i was sent back at a shipping cost of about $120 and when it came back I ran it again and after two runs it was howling the same. At this stage I had lost a bit of confidence in RAM and not wanting another $120 shipping bill I took it to WREN who are the designers of the MW54 which the RAM 500 is based.When we took it apart we found that the shaft hole in the turbine wheel had been bored of centre and to an angle so when it was placed in the tunnel 4/5 blades touched the NGV so in an atempt to correct there obvious error they got the dremmel out and partialy ground away 4/5 blades!! the problem is that the back of the blades is the thickest part of the blade so when running at high revs the blade stretched and rubbed on the shroud.It needed a new turbine , NGV and bearings and the repair cost me £300 ($425) after only 8 runs!
I now own a MW54 kit built engine and after 4 hours of building it starts and runs perfectly so I would advise anyone looking to get a 12lb class engine to contact either Wren in the UK or JD enterprises in the US as these engines are the real thing and are a supurb product which is something I cant say about RAM.
It`s a shame the the rumours that were swarming around just before chrismas were nor true as if they were then I would have had a lucky escape from buying a pile of trash for $2000.
If you guys from RAM happen to read this then my be this will make you think twice before sending out a product with the problems I've had like you did to me.
Here is a picture of the wheel removed from my 500, you can see where the blades have been butchered away.
And one last thing to the RAM reps out there, before you start posting how customer satifaction is important to RAM take a look at the photo and decide for yourself if this is a product of a company who is realy bothered about that at all.