battery/tool box extra tabs?

[mattward]

Hi All,

I have just started to do the resto of my 1962 Model 31(not sure if its a DL yet John is yet to confirm).

My first encounter of something weird, I was starting the stripping of the rust and kack off my battery/tool box body when I thought I had best see how it fits before I get too carried away. So I sat the body into the rear frame loop and immediately became suspicious. There are potentially two extra tabs welded onto my toolbox body, both on the top, the rear one looks like it would line up with the inside of the grab rail, as it is about an inch shy of matching the loop, and the front tab does not match anything.

I also noticed that there was red paint under the black which also makes me wonder whether this might be a Matchless part. And, therefore something the previous owner may have found.

I have attached a couple of pics to explain my relatively mumbly words. Does anyone know whether these tabs are standard or should I remove them before doing any of the painting.

As soon as I became suspicious I trawled through the pots here and only found the very useful one about the bottom bracket mount, which of course I am missing. So I thought I would ask the brains trust about the above.

Thanks in advance,
Matt

[dave16mct]

Those extra tabs shouldn't be there. I can only presume a previous owner thought they needed to be the same as your oiltank and welded them on. By the way that's a 1956 toolbox with hinged lid. Has the lid got the same raised pips either side of the transfer? The original '56 type was plain without the pips. I think the 1962 toolbox didn't have a separate battery carrier inside as the battery was a modern flat type. They all look the same when you close the lid!
Dave

[Steven S]

The toolboxes did revert to a hinged lid for 1960 (you can see them in the 1961 Vic Willoughby road tests) and they reintroduced a separate batttery carrier for 1962.

If this is your police bike, I wonder if they copied the oil tank rear mounting to give it extra strength for police equipment. The front bracket might also relate to some kind of specialised use.

[Steven S]

And just spotted that it is a 1962 battery carrier because there's no horn bracket.

[mattward]

Cheers Gents,

As I thought, some extra bits. The covers do have the pips, and unusually they are chromed. The parts list suggests the battery cage is correct, so I will keep as is. I am going to remove the tabs as they are really of no benefit.

Many thanks for the responses,
Cheers
Matt