Bongo Fury

keefysher wrote:

helen&tony wrote:Hi
I've been thinking of a new tank for a while...just because i think a new one would look nice.
I'm in for a group purchase...but only if it's Mazda original.
Regarding failing of tanks..I suspect the tanks are HDPE , they are handling hot chemical liquid , under pressure at 1.1 bar, and they're old...so a failure rate at the 8-10 year mark would be normal.
If I can lay my hands on a new one, and it lasts another 1/2 dozen years, I'll be rather happy.
By the way, I asked Tony about the plastic...he agrees...he's a Dutch qualified plastics engineer at research level...worked at one of the world's largest companies...so I'm safe in my assumptions
Cheers
Helen

Helen

What a small world. I hold a LPRI. The PRI is now part of IOM3. I’m currently MIMechE, but am being persuaded by 2 of my sponsors to go for my Fellow. I sit on one committee, and am being asked to sit on the renewable energy one, but I don’t agree with some of the hype surrounding that particular subject. I just need to change my role to a direct Engineering responsibility one, as opposed to operations to then get my Fellow.

During my 20 years at the FTSE’s little known diamond I was involved in considerable research and development of polymeric materials and products. I spent time working with Akzo Chemie as they were at the time, as well as with Du Pont developing paraaramid (due to litigation it can’t be called Twaron or Kevlar). I was the industrial lead, taking the research done in Geneva in the case of DuPont, to commercialization, or otherwise. In the case of pararamid the primary objective of my then employer was to replace high tensile steel wire in haulage ropes with something lighter and stronger, hence paraaramid. That particular project failed in it’s primary objective, but a spin off was the failure mode allowed production of paraaramid into bulletproof clothing. Other spin offs and technology transfers included fibre optic cable production, tyre production, and co extrusion. Several patents were filed, as well as copyrights and trademarks.

The academics of the time were telling me I was defying the laws of physics, with what I achieved.

It was a wonderful time where knowledge gathering was incredibly fast paced. I worked with the major players in polymeric material, the likes of Bayer, Exxon, BASF etc developing myriad solutions to perceived problems.

An area of great success that I am personally very proud of was the identification of previously common practice and use of materials that were discovered to be carcinogens. To overcome the risks to health I was responsible for developing oil damped and polymer bound smalls as they are called. The small parts of materials that give the curing, protection, processing properties of polymeric compounds be they plastic or rubber. The secret is often in the processing methods not the final product service requirement. One major carcinogen was found to be the agent that gave the opacity properties of plastics. At the time, the cosmetics and retail sectors were seeking ever more ranges of clarity and colour of containers for their products. The identification of the carcinogen was a set back in the ‘image’ stakes and led to a change in reagent that led to leeching in applications such as industrial containers where the clarity of colour was not considered a primary concern.

This work was a primary driver in the COSHH regulations in the UK. It was also a time when my then employer was recognized as the benchmark for health screening, employee welfare, and safety of operations in chemical environments.

Other areas of involvement were short fibre reinforcing of plastics, rubber and concrete. What is commonly called glass filled nylon was quite a challenge as nylon absorbs up to 3% moisture dependant on grade, the fibre content is critical dependant on final properties required, as is fibre type e.g. monofilament vs. multifilament, fibrillation, fibre length, surface area. I challenged the world’s largest steel wire and tyre cord producer to move away from multifilament nylon to monofilament polyester for a weft-reinforced product that was unique to my employer’s product. From that development, and the knowledge gained from the paraaramid development, we worked in collaboration to develop short steel fibre reinforced concrete.

I’ve also been involved in automotive Tier 1&2 supply of rubber and plastic components, being awarded most improved performance in supply chain by General Motors Europe.

I wonder if your Tony and my paths crossed at some time. Lots of my contemporary peers are either retired or in their graves now. If we were coming to the Bulgaria meet we could have chewed the cud as it were.

Good heavens, it looks like I’ve caught the writing bug from mikeonb4c, must be the sun on my neck from the long weekend away.

I'm proud of my pedigree and heritage in my professional life.

bigdaddycain wrote:I'd go for the Alloy option! I've seen plenty on the show circuit with built in level sight strips.

The aluminium version would definitely take any pressure a bongo could chuck at it.

Now i'm no plastics expert, but i'd be VERY sceptical over a spurious plastic copy tank, sorry, but just my personal opinion.

I'd rather chance a good second hand original for a few quid i think.

I've only checked a few tanks, and there was an internal mark in the same place on each tank on the underside. The mark could not be felt by finger or nail, the surface was completely smooth. I'll stick my neck out and go so far to say that even if EVERY bongo tank has that "crack" then i doubt very much it'd fail in a healthy cooling system.

I know that Haydn has discovered a couple that have leaked here, i suppose that "crack" would be the weakest part of the chain... But to be perfectly honest, i'd be more concerned with what's going on in the coolant system to cause the inherent weak spot to fail in the first place!

You make an interesting point regarding the use of the Correct coolant Mikexgough.... Mine has always had OAT coolant in the system, is unstained, and appears to be crack free

bigdaddycain wrote:Just out of idle curiosity... I wonder just how many tanks it would take to qualify as a group buy? In other words, how many tanks needed for a worthwhile discount? Personally i wouldn't trust a spurious copy tank, i'd rather take my chances with my existing old tank.

I know brand spanking new tanks can be bought from JAS for £104, how many Mazda original equipment tanks would need to be bought to better that price? (as i'm sure JAS can afford more tanks than your average forum member! ) They'd need to work out at around £70 per tank (an original tank at that) to be worthwhile. That's no good if you have to buy 500 tanks to get that discount... You'd sell maybe 50 or so then lumbered with 450 odd tanks!

I suppose at least then they could be snapped up at a much more discounted rate?

bigdaddycain wrote:Good idea Mike... If it was my venture, (no thanks) then firstly i'd be wanting to establish exactly how many new tanks would definitely be bought by members before i even attempted to group buy at a discount that can be passed on. Personally, i'm happy taking my chances with my old tank anyway... It's a risky venture for sure, i know i wouldn't want to be lumbered with dozens of tanks that i'd have to chance my arm selling on ebay or wherever