Bongo Fury

haydn callow wrote:

You will see 2 cracks on this tank......there is also a small partial crack......one of the 2 (on left) weeps under pressure.......none of these Bongos had LCA's fitted....that why the came to me ... to find a coolant loss and to have one fitted.

This tank was off a P reg and had signes of having overheated in the past....heavy staining

Ooh... the underneath of my tank doesn't look like that! Perhaps long term overheating bongo's with overly pressurised tanks go that way? The baffles look like they are straining to break through! At this early stage i'd suggest that normal none stained tanks may not suffer from cracks... Not if mine is anything to go by at least! (everybody breath a sigh of releif) AAHHhhh

5/6 out of 10 or so.....50% ..... 2 of which "weeped" I did see more in the early days of cutting them up etc and didn't really pay attention.....Only whe the first "weepy" one arrived did I sit up.

I will bring them to Stourport for anyone to examine.

bigdaddycain wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:
If we've fitted a nice little LCA, do we even care if/when a header tank cracks, or even if/when a hose starts to leak (bit risqué that last one )

I'll fetch me coat

Careful Mike! Having an alarm shouldn't mean you don't physically check the coolant level/hoses/connections from time to time mate!

Oh I do but frankly, with an LCA, I just do it as and when I happen to have the bonnet up, or the engine covers open (which is regularly enough). Without an LCA, I'd be forever worrying when Murphys Law might strike (i.e. the leak always starts just after you did your last inspection).

Can I put me coat on now?

Interesting.......Just examined the 3 tanks I have ......all have the 2 cracks in exactly the same position as in the 1st photo
1...just behind where the front mounting lug is.
2...just behind the larger rear most outlet pipe across the baffel.



One of the tanks is off a T reg V6....cracks but not right through..(not leaking)

mikeonb4c wrote:

bigdaddycain wrote:

mikeonb4c wrote:
If we've fitted a nice little LCA, do we even care if/when a header tank cracks, or even if/when a hose starts to leak (bit risqué that last one )

I'll fetch me coat

Careful Mike! Having an alarm shouldn't mean you don't physically check the coolant level/hoses/connections from time to time mate!

Oh I do but frankly, with an LCA, I just do it as and when I happen to have the bonnet up, or the engine covers open (which is regularly enough). Without an LCA, I'd be forever worrying when Murphys Law might strike (i.e. the leak always starts just after you did your last inspection).

Can I put me coat on now?

It's too warm for a coat Mike! Maybe that's the problem mate (not the coat) The fact that "you'd be forever worrying when murphy's law might strike"... Fair enough having an alarm as a precaution... But i think it's wrong to assume a leak WILL occur and the results WILL be catastrophic.... And that's coming from a pessimist!

Carn't find the post now ....in the last couple of days somone gave a link to a tank on sale on ebay......Guess what ???? had photos forwarded and the same cracks are there....I don't think I should post the photo's on here but I will send them to a email address if anyone wants to see them

haydn callow wrote: 1...just behind where the front mounting lug is.
2...just behind the larger rear most outlet pipe across the baffel.

Just taken a look at the tank I've been playing with. Got it from Mike at Wheelquick. It shows identical cracks to the one in Haydns pic. IDENTICAL. apart from the one I have isn't as clean.

And if memory serves me correctly Steve that tank is from a breaker with a cooked head. I wonder if the tanks with cracks have seen some "action"? Strange that it should only recently manifest itself... Stained? cracked? Correlation perhaps?

I don't belive it is a recent thing..just unobserved....how many peeps look at the bottom of a tank ??? I looked at at lot 3 years ago....never noticed them but I'm pretty sure they were there....Steve above didn't notice those untill he was prompted to look.

bigdaddycain wrote:And if memory serves me correctly Steve that tank is from a breaker with a cooked head. I wonder if the tanks with cracks have seen some Strange that it should only recently manifest itself... Stained? cracked? Correlation perhaps?

Not sure of its origin (except it came from Mike) ste. I was also wondering if the cracks may be associated with "action".

haydn callow wrote:I don't belive it is a recent thing..just unobserved....how many peeps look at the bottom of a tank ??? I looked at at lot 3 years ago....never noticed them but I'm pretty sure they were there....Steve above didn't notice those untill he was prompted to look.

That's a releif... If you've only had one that is actually leaking through the many tanks you've had pass through your hands, then it would appear as if the cracks could well be visual fissions that may never develop into a leak.

Bongo tanks seem to be a little "two a penny" these days, should mine develop a leak via a crack, i'm pretty sure i'll be able to get hold of another crack free example.

It'd give me an excuse to get a stainless tank made up via Bailey

Iv'e had two that actually "weep" under pressure as said above.

bigdaddycain wrote: It'd give me an excuse to get a stainless tank made up via Bailey

Way to go young man..... do ya think they could do one with the correct sized chambers?...if so...count me in..

would a stainless steel tank be classed as a pimp? In which case steve, count yourself out.

Haydn, Hi,

I'm a member of IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining) and would happily have the header tanks examined to determine the failure mode.

As you are probably already aware as an experienced and qualified technical expert, there is forthcoming legislation regarding 'Lightweighting for low emission vehicles' that is driving considerable research into the use of plastics, composites and other materials to not only reduce weight and therefore emissions, but the whole life recycle of materials used in vehicle manufacture.

As you know long term operating experience is beneficial to reinforce theoretical knowledge.

Would you be so kind as to send the header tanks to me. I'll advise the details in due course. Clearly any failures are of interest to us.

Would you be prepared to assist our research, which will involve meticulous record keeping and data validation. We can't have spurious data corrupting our research, you understand.

By the way, are you a member of an Engineering Council accredited Institution? Well worth the annual fee for access to technical reports alone.

KInd regards

CP

PS is there an email address we can communicate via?