I'm looking to get the burman box rebuilt - can anyone suggest a specialist in Victoria for this task ? I'd like to get some mods done to it - I know Luigi in SA is known to rebuild many of these with the bearing modification in the base of the box which is what I'd like done rather than the standard bushing.
Panco,
Do it yourself. There is a rebuild guide on the BB. If I can you can.
Jim
Pretty sure I remember Scott (Akindrum) mentioning that a local was refurbishing on exchange in Melb., I think he put one in his Super
here is a link to the alfaBB thread on box rebuilds, some great info and photo's.
http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/suspension-brakes-wheels-tires/152689-burman-box-rebuild.html (http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/suspension-brakes-wheels-tires/152689-burman-box-rebuild.html)
I've got to say i'm more than a bit concerned about the possibility of a failed casting after looking at some of the photo's, could be a real show stopper on a targa stage or a race circuit, in more ways that one!. Adding some braceing is definitely on the list of upgrades for me now. I've never seen one let go before, has anyone else?
I know they can strip the threads on the 4 bolts holding the top cover on when overstressed - seen that twice on different boxes, but both times caused by reefing the wheel when parking + fat tyres + dry box. I think someone on the bb cracked one open across the mounts on a pothole - the US LHD ones are different manufacturer though, aren't they ?
Milano's here in Melb have someone rebuild the boxes - the one in my super was rebuilt by them - 12 months of 40km daily commutes to work and back and it's still very smooth, hasn't dropped it's oil (although I filled it with Wynns stopsmoke when I fitted it...) and haven't had the tell-tale shriek when parking you get when the ball bearing race / worm starts to wear. (I always used to think that was the indicator cancel collar making a racket - turned out it wasn't)
I think as long as they don't dry out - mechanically you get better load bearing through the original sintered bushes over ball races - the races are less friction I guess - sealed against gunk too and act as a double oil seal on the bottom of the box....
Alfaholics also do an Idler with ball bearings instead of sintered bushes. It's a new casting and smaller dia shaft I think. new bushings and shaft (or larger bushings and turned down shaft) in the idler with a grease nipple added seem to sort the idler permanently though too.
I think :)
Cheers,
Scott.