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  • Re: Rotax 912 ULS - Fretted CrankCase

    by » 12 years ago


    Jonathan

    New oil analisis were perfect, my next step will be to slacken those cylinder bolts.
    I have contacted our Rotax center in BC but thay left me with nothing more than to perform resistance tests on cold engine. In their opinion it is OK to fly until those max. (150Nm) will be exceeding. My logics are different but I'm not going to argue with that at this moment, we are talking about hot engines, not cold.
    I'm going to fill up the consumer report and go from there.

    Cheers

  • Re: Rotax 912 ULS - Fretted CrankCase

    by » 12 years ago


    Hi All
    I am now experiencing the same issue, my engine has 1070 hours on it and was brought back in 2005.
    My serial number is 5645009, with in the same range as the other engines having this issue. Has anybody finished the rebuild and could give us an indication of the dollars involved.

    I am disappointed that even thought the serial number allows for the 2000 hour update, I can not see this engine getting to 2000 TBO.

    Has anybody had any assistance from Rotax in dealing with this issue?
    With thanks
    Phil

  • Re: Rotax 912 ULS - Fretted CrankCase

    by » 12 years ago


    Hi Phil

    And yet another 912ULS of the same serial number vintage that has the issue! I am starting to see a pattern here!!

    My engine is now back together again and has completed approx 10 hours flying and seems to be going well. I have attached a copy of the parts list that the Rotax Oceania agent supplied to us of what was required to rebuild our engine and turn it into a 2000 TBO motor (as it was only 1500).

    After a lot of research I found that the parts listed (especially the crankcase item) were significantly cheaper in the United States so I ordered these items from 2 different vendors in the US. Not only were they much cheaper they supplied them quicker too. I think the total cost of PARTS ONLY (no labour to repair the engine) was around $5000-6000 USD.

    I have been pursuring a path of trying to contact Rotax with no success. I submitted an enquiry through the form on their website which seemed to end up with Bert Flood the Oceania distrubitor who then contacted a local rep in New Zealand and there was some very brief talk of 'coming to an arrangement' right up until they found out I had ordered the parts from the US and now everything has gone silent. I have no idea how Rotax can run such a successful company with such terrible customer service. You can't even talk to the company which makes your engine which just seems crazy in my book. Especially when peoples lives are involved.

    I am not sure where you are based, but I suspect people based in the US may get more support as there are far more 'Rotax Agents' over there and surely someone has the correct path to getting a resolution over there. Down here on the other side of the world I suspect they will continue ignoring the one little person who is here making noise on this forum!!

    To be honest I have no idea what other path of action I can take, but it just doesn't seem right that there can be so many failures of this nature and the company won't even acknowledge us ....

    I am pleased to be back in the air again, just a shame it cost so much to repair a half life engine that should have never of failed in this way.

    Best of luck.

    Jonathan
    Parts.jpeg (You do not have access to download this file.)

    Thank you said by: Christopher Bieniecki

  • Re: Rotax 912 ULS - Fretted CrankCase

    by » 12 years ago


    Hi Jonathan
    Thanks for the update, I am based in Australia, and fear I will strike the same issues as you have.
    I to0 will buy parts from the US as they are cheaper for Rotax parts. It is unfortunate that our Australian distributors can't match the US pricing. :(

    Cheers
    Phil

  • Re: Rotax 912 ULS - Fretted CrankCase

    by » 12 years ago


    Hi Phil

    Yes you may have a similar issue since you are from this part of the world too. I cannot understand the Rotax pricing structure through the 'Oceania' dealer in Australia. Just take the Crankcase item (part #: 892-654), from Bert Flood that one item was quoted at $7812 AUS and all 3 dealers in the US I priced it from were $4500 USD. Work that out!! Both Australian and US dealers are sourcing their stock from Austria I assume and the Australian dollar is stronger than the US currently too!

    Either Rotax provide substantial quantity discounts to their distrubitors or someone is just being greedy. Even $4500 USD for a crankcase seems excessive, when I looked at a new crankcase for my Kawasaki 4 stroke jetski is $800 USD!

    I submitted a CSIR form on this website yesterday as a final straw at getting any response from Rotax since all other channels have fallen on deaf ears. Some liabilty must rest with Rotax as there appears to be a fundamental issue here. I must admit that I am annoyed and astounded how difficult it is to get assistance and support from Rotax. I really thought that such a large company would have been more approachable and proactive about standing by their product. Perhaps it is different in the US where there are lots of Rotax distrubitors and repair centers available. However out here on the otherside of the world things are a little bit different!

    All the best with your rebuild.

    Regards,
    Jonathan

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