Hill Engineering Bearings/Ricambi America-Please Explain!!

I don't know. He did not actually call them out. He asked questions, seemed frustrated about the seeming conflicts about what he read about the bearings and what he got, and wanted to know what the reason was. I think in a forum like this it's the best place for the question to be raised, because Ricambi would learn about it quickly (as opposed to him going to a forum that Ricambi does not sponsor/frequent) and I think Ricambi's reputation is unscathed since they have answered the questions. While I think it's very possible people took the OP's first 2 posts out of context (or maybe I am), I do not really think he was out and out slamming the seller on purpose. Again, I have no bias either way, and as a company that sells online, I certainly am sensitive to Ricambi in this situation. Just trying to make sure we do not burn a guy at the stake for one post.

 

YOU WANT ANSWERS? ( Jack Nicholson impersonation )

This post is not a simple question to Daniel. These questions could have been answered in one telephone call. The post has a totally accusatory tone and questions Daniel's integrity. It seems to imply Daniel is doing something "sneaky" by substituting or hiding some fact about the components used to make up the Hill bearings.

I have called Daniel on several occasions. He is always willing to take all of the time needed to answer questions about any of the products he sells. I have met Daniel face to face and he is a genuine good guy.

Also, I wear my Ricambi hat with pride in public and sometimes in private

Regards,

Stew

p.s. I believe "wilsemail" should NEVER be allowed to wear a Ricambi hat in public again Lets vote on it !!!

 

I would pay an additional $40 just to DO BUSINESS with Daniel. I have bought many thousands of dollars of parts from him. I trust him completely. Never have I been mislead or let down in any way. I think the original poster will never be satisfied. One of those people who are happiest when they are unhappy. Next....

 

i agree

the OP seems to have started this whole thing with mal intent

that's my 2 centavos

 

1st: I have never bought anything from Hill Engineering or Ricambi-Not because I don't want to but I have never had a need. So I have "no skin" in this game.

2nd: I have a "small" bit of experience designing motorsports and high end "supercars". Probably more than just about anyone on this site. No bragging-just the way it is-as it is my job.

3rd: All bearings (save counterfeit) made around the world are made to a set of international specs. There are many standards but the most common are the ABEC, ABMA, SAE, ISO AND DIN. Some of these specs cover tolerancing/sizing/fits only (Like ABEC) but the whole idea here is too have uniformity in bearings, so that if a machine needs a 608ZZ ABEC class 3 (ISO P6) bearing, you can go to any manufacturer (NTN, SKF, etc.) and be sure to get a bearing that works.

4th: Ricambi/Hill Engineering are not going to do any bearing design or engineering-that is not there expertise-but then again Ferrari/Boeing/NASA don't do their own bearing design/engineering either. They buy what exists (From people like NTN!) or contract people like NTN if they need a bespoke bearing, which sounds like what Hill has done.

5th: The Hill engineering bearing tensioners (cam belt tensioners) use NTN bearings-Ferrari uses SKF. Big f'ng deal. I can assure you Ferrari will use NTN on some other car or on some other part of your car! Just depends on whole gave a better price to Ferrari that day-as long as the part (bearing) meets the spec!

6th: The real question is are the Hill pieces as good as or better than what comes from Ferrari and are they more less expensive than the Ferrari parts? As far as cost I can only imagine the Hill parts being cheaper. As far as quality-Well the bearings from Hill are a special spec they request from NTN. They subject them to testing with MIRA (A very good outfit.), etc. Maybe they have a special tolerance/clearance spec or a unique cage or race or all material. In the end the question is: Do they work? The subjective and statistical (but anecdotal) evidence seems to be a resounding yes.

7th: You could always have returned the parts to Ricambi for your money and gone out and bought "genuine" Ferrari parts, now couldn't you?

8th: Japan, India and Russia are now considered the world leaders in metallurgy and metals mfg.

 

9. What about the Ricambi hats ?

Regards,

Stew

 

How can you verify that your hat is original and not some cheap counterfeit?
I bet you have to check the stitching but I'm no expert!

 

I don't know about you guys but I went and reread the post again. I didn't see any attack on Recambi or Hill. Things didn't add up for the OP based on what he read on the their website and what was stamped on the product. All OP was doing was just asking a question and he had posted a warning about counterfeit bearings off of HILL ENGINEERING'S website.

This thread got way out of hand people rush to judgment without even reading carefully. Some people love to start bashing others any chance they get. That's how alot of problems in this world start. I am still with OP and his concern. The only problem here I see is that HILL should educate all of their customers about their superior quality bearings being made by a third part in Asia. I'm new to the Ferrari world but I have been reading alot about maintenance issues on the 360 and almost every place I read mentioned replacing the Ferrari's tentioners/bearings with HILL ENGINEERING'S products.

OP posted here where Hill and Recambi are vendors and they can clear up any issue anyone has with their product out in the open. That way everyone of us benefits. It's gets more attention to their products. I bet they will have a few more sales just from this thread. Just like the Stolen Lamborghini thread where one of Cat's exotics customers got pulled over and detained briefly and got his Lamborghini taken away from him. It came out in the open, the customer made as hell, kind of bashed on Roy of Cat's exotics for a little bit. Roy came back and explained things, Roy is going out of his way for this customer in the process. Just on that thread Roy has sold at least 3 cars to one collector who would not have bought from Roy previously.

This is what makes these Vendors (Recambi, Hill, Cat's, etc...) on this site so great. They have good products and superior customer service. They are not hiding from anyone here. They stand behind everything they sell. And if you have a problem with them. Post it here or call them. They will go out of their way to solve it. Personally if I were the vender's I would like it if customers posted issues on here. It would give me a chance to show not only that I have a great product, but I have superior customer service.

Lets all take a couple of deep breaths and a chill pill.

Peace

 

Good point. I sure hope the Ricambi hat is not made with inferior thread from Japan.

I don't care ! I love my ricambi hat so much I wear it to bed.

regards,

Stew

 

Sorry,

Where can i buy the Ricambi hat ?
I want to wear one from now on.

Greetz,

Dirk/Marbella

 

I talked with Daniel last week about spacers for a car. He didn't give me a sales pitch, but he simply explained in simple terms the advantages and disadvantages to what I was considering. I came away concluding that these guys live up to their stellar repuation.

BTW, I need to get one those hats!

 

I am with you on this one. I am getting ready to order from Ricambi this week. This thread did nothing to change that, but I think the OP had valid questions and I think Ricambi/Hill did answer those concerns. Some clarification on their site might have avoided this, but 99% of us would never had bothered to give it much thought .


PS- I am getting a hat too!!

 

OP: The bearings have been received back at Ricambi. A 100% credit has been issued, and the bearings have been destroyed.

 

Hey wait!!!! Where did you say they went????????? Thrown out ?????????
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Hope he finds what he's looking for. Next thread from the OP : tensioners failed, belts broke.....where do I buy valves?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I heard Osama was building some tensioner bearings in a cave in Pakistan to fund his terrorism network...not the quality of Hill bearings, but $40.00 cheaper.

 

I see..but what about the HAT!

 

It most certainly *is* an open forum, and indeed you gained an enthusiastic following with your "clutch replacement thread" (Very informative, thanks btw.)

However, and maybe this wasn't your original intention, it *appeared* to many that, possibly emboldened by your support in the clutch thread, you were attempting to trash a very well respected, long term sponsor of the site. That's why many chose to "climb out of their prams" in response.

As to "looking for helpful feedback or answers" I believe Daniel stepped up in a timely fashion and provided the answers you sought.

It appears that you had already made up your mind however, and nothing Daniel (or indeed many others who praised the bearings) said was going to change your mind.......

As always, just my 02c,
Please don't quit on your clutch thread!,

Cheers,
Ian

 

Actually Boeing, NASA, JPL, Raytheon, Northrup Grumman................ do indeed design/engineer some of their bearings depending on the application (space explorers, satelites, mars landers/rover, rocket booster fuel pumps.... etc.) they then usually outsource the manufacturing to a competent supplier. But you are correct in that most of time for cost reasons, they try to spec an OTS part.

 

You should have kept this between you and the vendor. You posted this without allowing them to reply to the email you sent them.

 

Exactly and now please crawl back under your rock!

 

Just proves once again how thorough and careful Daniel and Ricambi are. Why take a chance on someone else getting a bearing that was abused or improperly installed by its previous owner?

Better to destroy it than to sell it to someone else.

That should, in and of itself, tell you gobs of information about his company and his policies.


DM

 

Spot on!!

 

He could have least saved them for the RAT he drives hehehe.

 

Posting a legitimate concern is fine - but your netiquette and passive aggressive tone deserves all you got.