Aluminium washer bottle

[LeeT350c]

Hi all. Well for a while now I have been working on an aluminium washer bottle for my T350 as I feel the plastic one lets the view under the bonnet down somewhat. I now have one finished which I am happy with and thought I would let you have a look.

Some stats - empty it weigh's just 110g more than the old one. To achieve this I have lowered its volume from 1.6 ltr down to just under 1 ltr. This also means when full it saves nearly 0.6kg in weight compared to the original.

I have also incorporated a recess into the back to hide the pump away and give a better look to the bottle. I have polished it but this does not come out very well on the pics. Will take some more pics after I have fitted it back onto the car.

A few pics below. Hope you like and ask away if you have any questions. Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Hi all. Thanks for the thumbs up.

I may change the screw cap for a flat topped one that's knurled round the outside (like the oil filler) but the one that's on is aluminium anodised in black. Will have to cost it.

Well I see we have a list! Luckly for all those on the list from number 2 onwards the guy that starts a list also has to pick up all the development costs! Only kidding Bob

Ok I will produce these (even though I will get yet another ear bashing from the other half for spending all my spare time making 'stuff' for you lot!)

Could we keep the list going and add your name if interested? As for cost, if I know I need to do 10 then I can get more discount and save on postage etc. Also I assume you would want me to polish it up for you so its finished. Oh and you use the pump and bung from your existing bottle, I don't supply a new one. I do send a stainless bolt with washers for the fixing and an O ring that fits round the pump to give it a snug fit in the recess.

A finished item polished would be around £75 plus about £5 P&P. I can firm this up once I know the numbers. If you want it unpolished (if you have a machine polisher etc then I can take some off this). Please let me know what you think but I have put a lot of time and material into this already.

Cheers. Lee.

P.S. YES I can do one for a Sag. I would need to have a Sag so I can take some measurements etc and visually see what would look good as its a big bottle. Will see if I can do this over the next month or so.

Edited by LeeT350c on Monday 18th April 19:38

[LeeT350c]

RedSpike66 said:

What part of the country does a Sag owner have to be to be 'near enough' to you for a measuring session ??

Hi Mike, thanks for the offer mate. I have a couple of Sag owners not to far from me who I will ask first but will let you know if I get stuck. The main issue is my time to be honest, its a long process not only measuring etc but putting pen to paper and designing something that looks the part and is functional and appealing.

So if you Sag owners don't mind waiting a little while that would be great and I will keep you posted. If you do want to add you names to the list though and put Sag in brackets next to your name I will be able to judge the interest, like Willtvr has whilst I have been typing this!

As for the guys on the list I will start to send you all a message / email with details etc. As there is enough interest I will start to place some orders.

For those of you that have not had items off me in the past please bare with me. This is something I do in my spare time so it will take a couple of weeks for me to start rolling these out but I will keep you updated as things progress. For those of you who have had other items off me before I hope you don't mind the wait and thanks again in advance for your patience.

I am just waiting for a reply from the supplier of the caps but it looks like I will go for the aluminium ones with the knurled edge (like the oil filler). I will polish the top and this way you can either leave it with an aluminium finish or have it anodised any colour you want later. I will confirm and take a pic when I have one.

Cheers. Lee.

Edited by LeeT350c on Tuesday 19th April 20:12

[LeeT350c]

Targarama said:

No problem waiting Lee - make sure there is a little something in it for you too (or at least to buy the wife a pacifier ).

How will they be mounted? the one in the pic doesn't have quite the same slide-on thingumy as the original.

Thanks.

To keep it simple I have done away with the slide-on thingumy (like that!) If you look at the pic showing the back of the bottle the rectangle shape fits in your existing upstand and the fixing on the back of the bottle you can see is an M6 thread. I will send you a stainless M6 caphead bolt and washers with the bottle. I have added a couple of pics below showing it fitted in my car.

Mattt said:

How easy is fitting? Does it require bonnet removal and lots of messing with the pump?

Easy really. Mine is fitted at the front over the rad and I swapped it with the bonnet on. The old one comes out between the oil tank and AC drier and then out the engine bay side. The new one goes back in the same way just easier as its smaller. If your tank is under the bonnet it would be easier still.

The pump just clips out of the old bottle and the pulls out of the rubber seal in the bottle. You remove the rubber seal from your old bottle and put it into the new one. I will also send a rubber O ring that fits around the pump and sits in one of the recesses on it. This just holds it firmer in the aluminium recess. I used a little silicone grease on the end of the pump to help it slide into the rubber seal. Bolt in and job done. 15 - 20 mins.

Hope this helps. Cheers, Lee.

[LeeT350c]

1. Pursyluv
2. Darkmark07
3. NailedOn
4. Diablos
5. Targarama
6. benpink
7. thainy77
8. Getsis
9. Aubrey9160
10. Spoonman
11. rodge100 (Sag)
12. SteveO...
13. willtvr (Sag)
14. EvoOlli (Sag)
15. T350 Al (Sag)
16. Shep1001
17. NCC
18. Ironballs
19. Zippee
20. MikMak (Sag)
21. GlennT
22. Tailslide
23. Dumdum

Added MikMak and GlennT back on as Tailslide got a little happy and deleted you

[LeeT350c]

RedSpike66 said:

Lee, and all T350 owners,
I had the Sag plastic washer bottle upgrade to my T350, putting it in exactly the same place as your lovely new shiny aluminium one. The extra capacity was a god send. I think it would be a good idea to just make the Sag size replacement and all T350 owners have that one too. Means you only need to produce one model then?

Just my 2p worth..

Hi Mike. Problem is not all T350 bottles are mounted where mine is. A number are mounted under the bonnet. The Tam shares the same bottle and is also mounted under the bonnet. I have reduced the volume as like most I hardly use it and its just dead weight.

When I do the Sag one I will ask what the owners prefer during the design stage, high volume and weight or low volume and a weight saving.

Cheers for you input though. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

1. Pursyluv
2. Darkmark07
3. NailedOn
4. Diablos
5. Targarama
6. benpink
7. thainy77
8. Getsis
9. Aubrey9160
10. Spoonman
11. rodge100 (Sag)
12. SteveO...
13. willtvr (Sag)
14. EvoOlli (Sag)
15. T350 Al (Sag)
16. Shep1001
17. NCC
18. Ironballs
19. Zippee
20. MikMak (Sag)
21. GlennT
22. Tailslide
23. Dumdum
24. Extremekiter (Sag)
25. Mattt
26. konrad.holl
27. Jonesy
28. MPoxon
29. Pauldavies85 (Sag)

[LeeT350c]

Hi all.

Firstly I need to freeze the list for the time being. I have enough to do now and I go away for a few weeks at the end of May/early June. If you have messaged me or want one add you name and I will let you know when I am back and able to do some more. If you've messaged me direct I have your name down so there's no need to add to the list.

All of you on the list should have recieved a message from me. If you havent please let me know. Thanks to those of you who have already sent payment and for all the messages. I will keep you updated on my progress.

Thanks again guys.

Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Cheers Cliff.

1. Pursyluv
2. Darkmark07
3. NailedOn
4. Diablos
5. Targarama
6. benpink
7. thainy77
8. Getsis
9. Aubrey9160
10. Spoonman
11. rodge100 (Sag)
12. SteveO...
13. willtvr (Sag)
14. EvoOlli (Sag)
15. T350 Al (Sag)
16. Shep1001
17. NCC
18. Ironballs
19. Zippee
20. MikMak (Sag)
21. GlennT
22. Tailslide
23. Dumdum
24. Extremekiter (Sag)
25. Mattt
26. konrad.holl
27. Jonesy
28. MPoxon
29. Pauldavies85 (Sag)
30. dobbie (Sag)
31. dobbie
32. ajcj

Last two, YHM. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Evening all.

Thought I would give you a quick update as the thread has been resurrected!

J, got your payment cheers. Matt your not too late but I won't be doing the next batch until mid June after I come back off my hols (which I am looking forward too even more now!). I will add you to my list and contact you then.

I am waiting for some on the list to contact me still after my original message. If you could come back to me and let me know how you will be making the payment etc that would be great.

Well I have almost got 25 bottles fabricated so I am now starting the polishing and checking the pump fitment etc. I am hoping to send the first one tomorrow/Saturday and then one or two a day after that. I have changed the cap as per my earlier post and I will email you individually letting you know when yours has been posted.

Thanks again for your patience guys. Oh and here is one I have just finished! Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Guys, thanks again for all your messages and posts above. I am really glad that you are happy with the bottles.

I go away tomorrow but have spent every spare minute doing these over the last few weeks and have managed to get 20 complete and posted and have 5 more ready to be polished. Sadly I won't have time to polish the last 5 before I go on holiday now so there will be a little longer wait for a few of you (will drop you an email).

When I come back as promised I will start the next batch and the Sag ones but may have to put a limit on the number I do each week as I need some 'family and me' time!

Cheers guys.

Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Hi all.

Glad to see they all arrived and that you have been busy fitting them! Most of all I am really pleased you are all happy.

I am now doing the next lot so will email all of you who have shown an interest. I have made a note of the additional names above.

I will then be doing the Sag ones so will also contact you guys as well.

Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

paul1962 said:

Lee took photos and measurements of my Sag bottle on Sunday.
He has other stuff on at the moment such as finishing a load of Tam bottles.

Hi All. Sorry that I have been a bit quiet lately but I have been really busy with my day job and as Paul said am just finishing off another lot of Tam / T350 bottles.

I have measured up etc ready to start the Sag bottles. They will be of a similar design as the T350 ones but I just need to sort the mounting bracket design. The good news is that you will save around 2kg!!

I have attached a couple of mock up pics below. I will email all the Sag owners who have expressed an interest when I am ready to do the first ones which should hopefully be in the next 2 - 3 weeks after I have finished the others.

Any questions etc in the mean time please feel free to drop me a message. Cheers. Lee.





P.S. Paul promises he will polish the rest of his tanks!

[LeeT350c]

RedSpike66 said:

Lee,
Is the new bottle going to be the same/similar size as the original plastic (top pic), or small size as in the bottom picture?
Thanks
Mike

Hi Mike. The new bottle will be smaller like the one in the bottom pic. It will be a little wider, slightly shorter and not quite as deep as the one shown. I am just finishing off the bracket design.

I have kept it small (like the T350/Tam ones) as most people have said they don't hardly use it and to save a couple of KG's is an added bonus.

I do know that one or two people like to have a big washer bottle so I will do these separately for them. Same style just a lot wider.

Alex, I will add you to my list, thanks for your interest.

Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Hi all,

I will make one small and one large (once I have finished the designs) and then post up some pics. Will then email all who are interested and you can choose.

Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Don1 said:

Hello - a bump on the Sag washer bottles at all? My one now looks really crap....

pauldavies85 said:

Me too!

Morning gents.

Appologies for being a little quite recently, I have had to put these (along with other items) on the back burner as I have been really busy with work (which pays the bills) and with family (which make the bills!) so my 'spare' time has been very limited.

I will be able to give these some time over the next month or so and will keep you updated on my progress.

Thanks for your patience. Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Hi All. Thought I would let you have an update.

First good news is I am making the T350 / Tamora bottles again now so will drop you an email if you have shown an interest in these. Appologies in advance but I have had to increase the cost by £2 as everything has gone up. If your interested and don't hear from me please send me a message.

Second good news is the Sag bottle is now ready. I did a trial fit on Paul's Sag (thanks again) today and all went really well and got some good feedback. I already have a big list for these and again will send you all a mail. Please drop me a message if you haven't done so already if your interested in these.

Like the T350 / Tam bottle the Sag ones are polished aluminium with the pump recess formed in the rear to keep it out of view. They also come with an aluminium screw cap. I hope you like it, here is a before and a couple of after pics:







As usual if you have any questions etc please let me know.

Thanks for your patience and interest.

Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Yes thanks Buzz.

Many thanks all, I am getting loads of mails and messages and its hard to reply to them all. I will keep you informed of my progress.

Cheers. Lee.

[LeeT350c]

Hollowpockets said:

My Sag already had this tank fitted when I bought it, great wee piece to tidy things up, never knew it came from you Lee, that's two of your upgrades now on the car.

Glad you like it!

Hi Paul, hope your well mate and have fixed those brake lights!

I might be able to do a washer bottle for you this weekend. Will see how much time I have and let you know.

Cheers. Lee.