Re: 1962 BSA DBD34 Gold Star barn find restoration
Thanks GP, Browns is pricey, but you get what you pay for. I may buy new from the UK for it is cheaper on some items.
I started preparing all the hardware for cadmium plating so I finally tackled the gearbox and finally solved the mystery of the "RRAT2" stamp.
I cleaned the exterior of the gearbox and removed 40 + years of New Mexico mud, grease and who knows what. The good news the gearbox turned over easy with no discernible lash or play.
Clean at last, clean at last...
I cracked the inspection cover was encouraged to see oil, no foreign matter or chucks or specks of metal. Pulled the front covers and all looked clean and good and it seems I am the first person to get in here. Everything was pristine and beautiful. Flawless!
Oily goodness.
After pulling the lay and main shafts I started counting gear teeth to determine exactly what I have.
With the aid of the BSA Service Chart listing all the A and B group gearbox ratios found here
http://bsa-a10.hailwood.com/images/gearbox/chart1.jpg (Courtesy of our BritBike's David Kath, thank you!) I started counting teeth.
It turns out this is an "ARRT2" gearbox used on B34 Gold Star Clubman and 1963 Gold Star Twins aka Rocket Gold Star. It does have two Torrington needle bearings. This is NOT an RRT2 extra close ratio road racing gearbox. So what to do?
For now, I have decided to restore this ARRT2 gearbox along with my STD gearbox while I research and choose which one I am going to use on my Goldie. Who knows what the factory was thinking when they slapped this together. I do not need a RRT2 gearbox for I will be riding in light traffic and the hills along the river. I may use my Standard gearbox and sell the ARRT2 box to anyone looking to restore their Goldie or Rocket Gold Star. Maybe I will ride both then decide which to keep.
The patient on the operating table.
I need to finish breaking everything down, cleaning and the proper hardware is going to be cadmium plated, new bearings, seals, gaskets etc along with vapor blasting the cases and polishing the covers and caps. Same for the STD tranny and both will look good as new.
Picking up the front wheel tomorrow from machine shop so I can mount and balance the tire and get one step closer to having a roller...