Burman GB gearbox bushes

[GaryK]

Hi all
I have just purchased two gear bushes from Draganfly for my GB gearbox fitted to a 1957 Ariel VH. The old bushes were a loose fit in the gears and presumably they should be a tight fit.
The new bushes have come as blank bushes, so do they need oil holes drilling and spiral oil ways as in the original bushes fitted?

[nevhunter]

I would do them as the god's did them originally. It's not easy to "do" spiral grooves neatly and you will get some 'burring" at the edges that you will have to carefully ease off. It's an oil filled gearbox, probably originallly recommending engine oil but these days, there would be something better available. Consider a Magnetic drain plug as well? .Nev

[GaryK]

Thanks Nev
I don't have the tools or skill to make spiral grooves. Are 'v' grooves easier to do and would they be as good?
I have also read that some use loctite to hold bushes in place if they are not too loose. Any thoughts on this?

[Mick D]

Hi

These gearboxes were common to several manufacturers in the day, you could try the folk that support these machines for accurate replacements.

AJS, Matchless, Norton to name but three.

Regards Mick

[nevhunter]

Tapered v grooves from each side should suffice but with that you can't use an expanding reamer to clean up the fit.. Nev

[MarkPhillips]

Hi Gary
I bought a 1959 Red Hunter last year with a very sorry GB gearbox I to found replacement bush’s from Dragonfly plain.
Having never done a gearbox before I had a go and quickly realised it was going to cost a fortune with Dragonfly.
So I consulted our resident gearbox Guru Geoff Brown, what doesn’t know about gearbox’s ain’t worth knowing. Very quickly exchanging emails and phone calls he sorted me out not just with advice but all the spares as well at very reasonable prices quick delivery too, a more helpful knowledgeable chap you won’t meet.
To add my own tuppence worth I found Castrol classic gear oil 90W much smoother than recommended 40w engine oil.
Cheers Mark

[GaryK]

Hi Mark
Yes, I have used the club gearbox spares recently as well, very good service and seems cheaper than Draganfly, but I had been given Draganfly vouchers so used them first.
I will try using 90W gear oil instead of engine oil that was in the gearbox.