On the same note Ben, what happened to that endorsment when RAM started having problem after problem with their engines? You also saw several BVM factory jets get the RAM's pulled out and a different brand put in.

As far as problems with the engines you are absolutely right, anything mechanical can break. I don't guess you were there the first two days of Superman 2001. We installed 2 different 1000's on a Bobcat, both fresh back from "repair" (blade shed episodes) one blew up on the first run, and the second ran for about 10 runs before letting go. I personally did not see all the blade shedding incidents, and bearing problems until the 750P/1000 was introduced. BTW what you percieve as bashing is not always bashing for the sake of bashing, it is the truth. Some of us had a lot of problems, some of us had few, some had none.

FWIW. I have a RAM-750 air start with more than 500 flights on it. I’ve sent it in twice for bearing repair/service and as of today it is still running like the energizer bunny. My RAM-100 had more than 300 starts and I’ve sent it in twice because the rear bearing got messed up and it lost few blades. I’m not saying that some of the RAM engines did not have some minor problems but overall, RAM built good engines.

Let me say that some of us including myself contributed to the fall of RAM. When we sent engines in for repair and we were told not to worry about the cost of the repair, including overnight shipment, we contributed to the downfall of RAM. When you get to a Jet event and wanted a festo connector and Rei or Albert will get one out of their box and give it to you without asking for a dime, you contributed to the downfall of RAM. When you send your engine in for repair few days before a major event and wanted RAM to get it repaired and have it delivered to you at an event, you contributed to the downfall of RAM because you applied too much pressure on them and consequently received an engine that was not thoroughly tested after repair because they wanted to do everything humanly possible to satisfy their customers. I could go on and on , but this is not the time to lay wreath for yesterdays mistake.

Again Rei and Albert IMOHO are the real trailblazers, and with time history will prove me right.

A torrent of passionate indignation boils through my veins whenever I read this entire diatribe about RAM.

This is my opinion, and I’m sticking to it.

Ron

I'm stuck up her at the mall trying to help the war department with her end of year business books.

I will call you when I get home this evening.

Later bud.

Ben

Quate
(Johnny sorry bud no need for me to talk to Carlos I stopped flying RAM's after the second dead stick one afternoon left me with a damaged Bandit. That and the fact that we went through 3 engines on one Bobcat at Superman 2001......and the list goes on. Good price or not I would not own another RAM even if you gave one to me.)

Ghost Rider is right , All these guys are guilty of is trying to make
there customer happy. when they try to have your bobcat going
at superman. They are trying to help you on the spot but you are bashing them for trying to help you. No other manufacture will ever do that, But probably that what they need to stay in business.

Ben is definitely correct when he says that rei & Albert were trailblazers. That they were. All of us that fly turbines, especially here in the USA, owe a debt to Rei & Albert. They advanced our portion of the R/C sport quite a bit.

Unknown,

Obviously you were not there and I did not explain myself very well. The engines all belonged to us. Two were owned by one of my buddies both of theose had been in for repair. One of which caught on fire in the air and destroyed a Bandit. Why did it catch on fire??? Because the fittings in the front of the engine had not been properly installed. It was repaired and sent back (BTW the repairs were not rushed as the engine was sent in in May and recieved back sometime in August) Engine number two blew up in a Phantom while we were flying an airshow. Mid air shed a blade. Engine was repaired (it happened mid june the engine came back mid July) it was installed back in the Phantom where it blew up on the first start. I loned the guy one of my 1000's that was running fine. Both of the other engines were sent in then while the guy flew my engine in his Phantom. Both were received back in September. One was mounted on the Bobcat, it blew up on the first run. The second one was going to go back in the Phantom but was put on the Bobcat instead, it had a noticeable vibration at high throttle Rei told us it was no big deal, 5 or so starts later it almost burned the airplane up. Engine three was mine out of his Phantom and it ran fine. I can go on and on, I have a pile of Bandit parts right now from RAM quiting at the worst possible time. If this sounds minor to you drop me a PM and I will tell you the REST of the list of times we got engines back or new engines came in that shed blades, or blew bearings, or caught on fire.

Rei and Albert were pioneers sure I agree but they were piss poor business men. They put products into the hands of modellers when they weren't ready. I owned three RAM's and had what I felt like were major problems out of two of them. Turbine wheels shedding blades, bursting or engines catching on fire are NOT MINOR PROBLEMS. Rei and Albert were good guys and they tried their best to support their product. But they did themselves no service by sending out products that were not ready.


I get passionate too Ben when people try to tell me I have no right to be mad when I spent thousands of dollars on these engines that had problem after problem. Engines that ultimately damaged airframes, that could have hurt someone.

David Reid

When do we get to quit hearing this same story beat into the ground. 95% of the RAM horror stories come from the same source. I'm starting to think that RAM didn't like you and wanted to sabotage you. I think they purposely sent you dud engines. Why is it you always seem to show up on these RAM post? Just so you can tell your story again?
Its very easy to get on here and slam Rei and Alberts products now that they are gone. What good does it do? Things are in place to take care of RAM products and customers. I think it would be more constructive to talk about problems and solutions here. Why is it so easy for people to come on the internet and tell stories of past, but none of present. You very rarely here of problems being vocalized of companies that are still open. Is this making sense? LIKE "hey I was flying my Y brand today and it shut down and the ECU said Bla Bla." "Has this happened to anyone and how did you fix it." NOT " My brand Y is the best and it is perfect and never hickups ever." Bullcrap!!!! They all have problems!!! Every last one of them.
I think Ben is very correct in his analysis that people *****ed about getting their engine back before the big show, like SM 2001, and they rushed to get engines out that weren't properly tested. They also had way to many freebies, including complete engines. They showed us a mountain of generosity, just to be stabbed in the back with it. At least by some of us.
How about telling about all the great things they did for us. Rei was a great guy who would help anyone, RAM or not. He was always at the shows helping everybody. Try digging up some of those stories. Or how Carlos has a shop set up a mobile shop and can repair your RAM or whatever engine at the show.

I guess RAM's are the only engines that dead stick too, right?
Scott Marr

Jetpilot is correct. Rei was a great guy (and still is no doubt). But David is also correct, there were a lot of issues with RAMs after the 1000 came out. Perhaps 95% of the horror stories here on R/C U do come from the same source. But that does not mean that those who are not typing it did not have tons of problems with the 750Ps and 1000s. A few of you know about how I almost got hit with a hot inner 1000 tail cone at Superman 2001. It was actually quite funny at the time. I thought it was Don Kanak playing a joke on me, but Jack's Raphael apparently only landed with one tail cone intact. You guys please don't hammer David about this. I know some of you think he is telling these things cause he's a JetCat rep now, but not so. He is just stating the facts and is not making any of this up. Once again, RAM really did us all a great service, but that does not mean that all was perfect.

I commented early in this thread about the 750F which was a good engine. I was surprised to hear someone stating that it had the wheel issues. I have not made anything up, I don't need to. I fly a lot and run my engines hard, if there is going to be a problem I am going to find it. You are also correct in that Rei would give you the shirt off his back at an event. They certainly supported the Mississippi Gang and kept us flying.

As a long time RAM owner, I think the truth is somewhere in between the opposite ends of the spectrum, as it often is. Some seem to feel that RAM made nothing but junk, others feel that they made great engines but were bad businessmen.

My view, for what it is worth, is that they made a lot of great engines, but some that were not so good. The "bad" ones tend to be 1000s and maybe some 500s that flame out or are hard to start.

All of us who knew them seem to agree that Rei and Albert would do almost anything to keep our engines running. I saw the kind of support they provided at jet rallies and decided that RAM was the engine for me. So I bought a 750F and have never regretted it. My 500s have presented some problems but are now running OK, at least once I get them started.

I suppose you could say that they were bad businessmen in that their business went under, but it was not because they didn't care about their customers. They did. It seems to me that they got in over their heads when they branched out from the standard KJ-66 technology, as represented by the 750.

It is not really bashing to acknowledge that RAM had some problems and made some bad engines. It is the simple truth. The other half of that truth is that they made a lot of good ones, too.

Some RAMs with the Artes wheel did come apart. My 750F now has a Wren wheel which, I hope, will NOT come apart.

I had considered going straight to the RAM forum, but I doubt I would have gotten all the background that I got here, so fast too. Once I know enough to ask Carlos a specific question, I will.

'Course we wouldn't have gotten the soap opera rehash either. :stupid:

So, I believe I understand the differences. On to the next question - If a 750P is dialed back to 750F thrust levels, would it likely get the same level of dependability?

No worries John ... I wasn't in any way suggesting that you can't ask the questions here - just trying to avoid some of the "Why won't Carlos answer me ?" kinda questions that have cropped here occasionally, because some people forget that not everyone reads every post in all forums !

Glad you managed to get some useful info in amongst all the other stuff.

Gordon

Bigstick.

I agree with you 100% that you have the right to be mad with regards to your engine dilemma.

The only thing I'm saying is that "we should let the sleeping dog lye". I'm aware of the problems you had with your RAM engines and if I was in your shoes, I would feel exactly the same way you feel

Later bud

I think it is entireley possible that simjet, amt, swb etc. Have all had their share of problems, some minor, some major. It just didnt happen to the general public at the local field. I am thinking of picking up one of the used rams because i think they will be serviceabe for years to come. BTW does anyone know how much RTI generally gets for a standard bearing change and checkup?? Russ