Been trying to start my new ram 500 last 2 days with nothing but a single pop of propane today. Had problems with it blowing plugs but kinda have that solved. Getting lots or ign timeouts. It will ramp the fuel sometimes without ever having the propane ignite. Please help. Ill be here all night. A phone call would be greatly appreciated from someone. 402-639-6866

Ahhhhhhhhh

Rich,

Give Dean Wichman or Tony Frakowiack a call. I know Tony's number is always posted on his posts. They can help. Good luck.

Rich, I learned two things about the RAM 500 at Florida jets with Carlos from RAM. First, the latest ECU gives superb starting and running, faultless. Second if the battery voltage is below 7.6 it wont start, regardless of the default value set on the GSU. !I had instant light ups in Florida using 45 as the plug setting. Last week I flew 5 flights with my BobCat RAM 500 combo and a few ground runs. It usually but not always starts first time and if it doesnt light on propane immediately you initiate the start sequence, it wont start at all, there is too much air through the engine which prevents the propane from lighting. Plug is Rossi 8 and Coleman powermax fuel, Make sure your plug coils are well exposed.Set up as per Tony Frackowiacks article on the BVM site the BobCat /RAM 500 combo is a pure delight. My JetCats (and AMT) have always started first time almost every time and I see my new JetCat 160s , just delivered, are now fitted with OS A3 plugs and Cat also recommend Colemans Powermax fuel. Hope this helps, Best regards, David Gladwin

Well it looks like we will have her running, Thank you everybody that called to help us get this thing working. I'll let you know tomorrow after we start getting some of the bugs worked out
Rich

JetmanRich

Can you let the list know how/what you did to fix it. Some people might learn from your experience.


......ghost rider.....out.

Ditto Ghost Rider's post.
Let us know what you find out

There are a half dozen things in the set-up that need to be pretty close. One overlooked item is the temp probe. If it's in too far you will likely not get past the propane start becuse of a over temp sitation. You may want to reduce the minimum battery voltage for the ECU a bit also. I have mine set at 7.0 V. With the newer batteries a couple of starts can deplete the voltage a lot and if your are using the factory settings that will not start sometimes.

JB

Ok guys here is whats up so far. WE got the engine running finally today just by starting it with air. Many adjustments were made to how much propane it was getting and the fuel ramping needed to be increased for us. Seems to run really well other then the fuel leaking out by the glow plug. Its runs at about 130,000. Does that sound good ? Now were trying to figure out how to make it start with the electric motor. All it does it make the propane pop then nothing. Any ideas on this one. Thanks again to all those who called to offer their advice too THanks again. Rich and Nick

Jetman,
had the same problem with my 500 and all it was is that the battery had to be charged to peak capacity (more than 7.8 volts) and it would start everytime. Also try spinning the motor up with air and let it drop to about 1000 rpm then hit the start button. that takes some of the load off of the battery and the motor.

Patrick.

Also, my 1000R and 500 leak a little fuel from around the glowplug fitting. It is nothing to worry about unless it is just gushing out.

Rich,
I am glad you were finally able to get it to run-sounds good dont it ? ! Anytime you need anymore help-just give me a call.



Jackjet

Had five flights with my BobCat/RAM 500 combo this morning . Engine started first time on four attempts, third try on one start. I am now plugging in the charger after EVERY flight, seems to be the answer.

The easy to repair the leak is to clean the area really well with min spirits and alachol and force a bit of red silicone under the lip and let it cure for 24 hours. Clean itup and you should be OK.

JB

Jetman,
I would also recommend purging the propane before the first flight of the day. Yesterday in Tucson, my 500 did not start on the first try twice. I purged the propane, refilled the canister and it started right up. Like Sirrom said, make sure you spin the motor up with air, let it deplete down to about 1000 rpm then hit run. Also, max rpm is 150000. You had mentioned it was up to 130000. Go into your parameters and make sure the hi rpm is set at 150000 for full output. Good luck. If you have any more questions please don't hesitate to ask. I think you'll find the 500 to be a gem of an engine!

Spencer Maze
CRCJA

Hi Gents

I've been following this thread for the last few days, and I'm confused. If the engine has an electric starter, isn't that supposed to eliminate the need for using air to spin the engine up? If so, then why would you have to use air to "relieve the load" on the battery and motor? Am I missing something here?

I'm not bashing here, I just can't understand all the playing around as it were.

Yours,
Ed

Hmmmm!!!

IMHO, starting it with air defeats the purpose of electric start.. To me that is UNACCEPTABLE.

I will recommend that you give RAM a call and explain your situation to them.

Maybe you have to send the engine in for them to look at it. That’s what I will do if I’m in your shoes.



…..ghost rider…….the straight shooter……..out.

I was just about to ask the ame question that Ed, and Ben asked. What is the point of the electric starter if you still have to tote the air bottles to get it to start?

David Reid

I think the confusion exists because there is a button on the GSU called "AIR" which spins the motor using the electric start motor. and does nothing else. As far as I know there is no facility on the ram 500 for starting it using compressed air. BV recommends that the engine is first spun up to 1000 using the "Air" button and then a full start is initiated. I believe this is to ensure that any voltage drop caused by the initial start current is minimised so that required voltage can go to the plug to optimise propanne igmition. Havng said that my RAM 500 was starting beautifully yesterday just by pushing the start button or using the throttle stick. My RAM 500 is number 22 but has the latest ECU. And according to Carlos make sure the EGT probe is only about 1/16th inch inside the tailpipe. Yes, it is a gem of a motor and sounds delightful when spoolong up or slowing down in the air .

Hi David

If it's the case that the button is labelled "air"(Which makes no sense to me), then how do you explain the above post by Sirrom? I'm not trying to be a pest, just trying understand.

Ed

I think that most of the problem is in the starter motor too-25 amps is alot of power to be using on a start-but the full size pt6 turboprop engine would draw almost 900 amps-so if I scale it up-I should not think that 25amps is too much................or should I ?



Jackjet

Well guys we go three more runs on it today. Okay the deal is I have the smaller battery pack, not the new upgraded one. So for now I must push the button labled air for a brief second, let it spool down to 1K, hit run and BAMMMM its running in two seconds flat. For sure one of the fastest starting turbines. I feel once I get the new battery I won't have to pre spin up the turbine and she will start up all the time right away.
I will try the red silicone in the top ring where the glow plug screws in at. I mean there is quit a bit of fuel gergleing out of the top even when the turbine is running. A good way to really entertain the crowd with an onboard fire.
I'm very glad all you replied to my need of help.
JetmanRich

RCAV8TR,
When I said "air" I did indeed mean the button marked air on the SDT or air from a rechargeable blower. I did not mean compressed air.

Also, I highly recommend the new battery back that ram is putting out. I switched over to it for my 500 and it works beautifully. You can see that the drain, while starting, on the new pack is not as bad as the old blue packs that originally came with the motor.

patrick.

As the owner of two RAM 500s, I am wondering what the difference is between the old (blue) and the new (red) batteries. In particular, what is the difference in MAh capacity?

Well,I am looking at my blue battery pack right now and it is a Sanyo KR-1400mah AE 6 cell pack.

Jackjet

Brian

The new packs that have the red outer covering are 1250 SCR cells.

Dean Wichmann
RAM Marketing / Sales
Canada

Can't we use a bigger mah (capacity) ?
Such as 1650 or 2700 mah ? Why ? If we use RC Car battery, they have sub C at 3000 mah.
Thanks a lot in advance.
brg,
NICK