Page 1 of 1
Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:05 pm
by catzi
Just fitted some blanking plates that arrived in the post today from Allan. Manged to fit the plates ok but when trying to remove the black tube below the green filter (to get better access to the first plate) I manged to break it off where it attached to the air intake pipe. I've managed to glue it back on but its a bit of a bodge and not sure how long it will last.
since I don't really know what it does, or how to sort out, now afraid to start the Bongo.
Any ideas or is it time to shoot the Bongo and then let the wife shoot me?
Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:09 pm
by Doone
Don't worry, lots of bongos come in from Japan with that pipe broken (without blanking plates) and many remain that way.
Here's a quote from a member who fixed his:
Fixed it, I reamed the inside of the valve and the broken bit out to a diameter that would receive a piece of Biro refill pipe to act as stub/spigot and then carefully glued the two parts together, checking that the valve still worked. Wrapped it in duct tape to add a bit of support.
Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:19 pm
by catzi
Brilliant!
That sounds like something I can bodge together!
Might go and start the Bongo now and see how it goes!
Thanks Doone!
Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:23 pm
by mikeonb4c
catzi wrote:Brilliant!
That sounds like something I can bodge together!
Might go and start the Bongo now and see how it goes!
Thanks Doone!
I'll be interested to get your assessment. This is a job I've not got round to doing.
Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:20 pm
by aitch
Yes please keep us up to speed on this one could be useful for many peeps.
Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 8:32 pm
by smac02
If you are talking about the little one way air valve then there is a cheap fix.
Go to an aquarium/fish tank shop and buy one of the none return valves for a fish tamk air pump. Find a new softer piece of plastic pipe to fit the taper of the air valve and the connection to the bongo and all is well. I used silicon pipe from a model aircraft shop as it won't harden from the engine heat and crack.
I fixed mine this way over a year ago and its still working ok.
Total cost less than two quid

Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:45 pm
by catzi
Very basic repair. Superglued the pipe back to the air intake and used repair putty to make sure the seal is good and to support the pipe. Looks a bit like a small white volcano on the air intake
Will keep an eye on it to see if it stays put. If not, I will try the Biro tube fix.
Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 11:14 pm
by dobby
Doone wrote:Don't worry, lots of bongos come in from Japan with that pipe broken (without blanking plates) and many remain that way.
Here's a quote from a member who fixed his:
Fixed it, I reamed the inside of the valve and the broken bit out to a diameter that would receive a piece of Biro refill pipe to act as stub/spigot and then carefully glued the two parts together, checking that the valve still worked. Wrapped it in duct tape to add a bit of support.
And that was a while ago and it's still stayed together

Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:09 pm
by catzi
Out of interest Dobby, what did you use to ream the inside of the broken bits with?
Your solution is better than mine

Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:31 pm
by dobby
I just used a drill bit, not a reamer. Twisted by hand
Re: Broken pipe - is my Bongo going to heaven?
Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:10 pm
by catzi
Thats sounds straightforward. Will have to add it to my growing list of things to do!