You can say that again

IMG_1750

Sometimes it’s not for a week either, many rides over a week-end sort the men from the boys. Riding a leaf spring Springfield model over 10 or 20 days can be quite wearing on man and machine, roads have improved substantially since the time these machines were made but the speed has gone up as those who ride early Indians on standard gearing will attest. Most early Indians are up a couple of teeth on the countershaft sprocket which makes the bike feel more pleasant a highway speed and cuts vibes and wear but it doesn’t help when you hit a large pothole at 100 kph and your machine can physically leave the ground!

Fifty-nine dollars for a 741 power plant

image image

INDIAN MOTORCYCLE CLASSICS AMERICAN IRON UK

indian factory

Not to often you find a really good and informative website on Indians, recently I have found this one and if you click on the link below you will find a very comprehensive on Springfield frame and engine numbers, its a lot of work setting something like this up and certainly a help for restorers thanks chaps

Serial Numbers 1901 – 1953

741/C344 MILITARY PAINT MIX

 

IMG_1177

Ever wondered about the ever so shiny military painted bikes at restoration shows I do, not enough handfuls of grit!

Army Paint (AU)

Product Code Desc’
516-31087 Gloss Olive Drab
516-31256 Semi Gloss Olive Drab
516-31088 Lusterless Olive Drab

The paint is made by Wattyl.

IMG_1385

Speedway in Australia

IMG_1505

When I was just a lad of eighteen summers my boss David Cottrell was Australian Speedway sidecar champion on a Vincent in the Allpowers and was the same on Junior Outfits (up to 650’s). Those days speedway was at Brooklyn, and later at Avalon and Saturday nights were spent in the pits with the “Herda’s” (HRD-Vincent) getting “high” on the smell of  Castrol R40, his Triumph 650 was supercharged and it went like the “clappers” out of the gate & in this class a old bloke (probably about 60 yo)called Allan Bolt rode a OHC Norton International to a victorious last every meeting. I enjoyed watching the old bugger as apparently he started racing just after the war on the same bike and in his day was a champ, as the years passed the rest of the field just got faster. Anyway I digress I asked my boss what other brands of machines raced except Vincent’s and Triumphs occasionally a WLA Harley turned up and so did a Ducati 750 they were hopeless, he told me that in the fifties and sixties at Tracy’s Speedway all number of makes were stripped down for outfits so I must assume the Indian above was one of these, it wouldn’t have stood a chance against a 1000cc JAP or a Herda but the rider are keen with a steely look of determination aren’t they?

Linkert Carb’s vs EJK fuel modulator

EJK-Fuel-Controller-Top

IMG_1619

Linkert Carbs love them or hate them, they have one good thing is they are not that over sophisticated & even simpler than a Amal carb if the butterfly shaft isn’t worn and you have chucked the cork float for a Rubber Ducky type they will last and are basically simple to adjust. So what about new Indian’s with injection, Power Commander is one system that can override your standard injection system but its expensive and you need a laptop to change its settings. Recently I bought a cheaper version EJK (Electronic Jet Kit) for my 2015 Scout and the most difficult part is fitting it, not hard but fiddly the beauty is that after fitting a watching the excellent YouTube clip its ridiculously easy to adjust in seconds, while you ride virtually you can adjust economy, acceleration and top speed on the road, it’s a 21st Century Linkert on steroids, these are available for all Indians 1999/2016 from All American Motorcycles one of our advertisers give Ric a call 03 98793322 and he will fit and set up your late or early Indian

EJK website 

Happy New Year Calendar 2016 , get the Indian ready

IMG_1057

2016 Is going to be a hoot and thanks to your new 16 month Association Calendar & the Events Calendar  you can keep up with whats happening this year.

January the 5th Midnight Express coming up on the 16th of this month and for the first time finishing as a camping night in Tallarook

February 20-21 we have the Sitting Bull Rally at Inverloch a great week-end on the coast book now at the Inverloch Motel

March 6-18 is really busy with the International Gypsy Tour of Tasmania incorporating for those who entered the famous Great Race in Launceston

April 3 is Bikes by the Bay in Williamstown always a popular event in the Autumn season and to round out the month on April 10 Zorro’s Show and Shine at Mordialloc

May is only the normal First Sunday of the Month ride day

June 11-13 the long week-end and the Chief Rain in-the-Face Rally at Myrtleford is always a popular Event not to be missed

July (Bloody Winter) who wants it but still a First Sunday Ride

August still horrible and Winter and another First Sunday Ride

September 17-18 The Crazy Horse Rally 2016 at Corryong, you beauty the best rally of the year I’m already looking forward to it

October 22-23 Tepee Rally at Llanelly near Bendigo a great week-end with the Bendigo Club

November Monthly Ride Day & at the moment but I’m thinking about a Rally to Stratford for this month now as we have had in the past

December 4th The Christmas Party possibly at Gisborne again this is being planned already

And every one of these months has a First Sunday of the month Ride we pretty well cover the four seasons this year again

 

 

And Another lot of brakes

IMG_1716 IMG_0964 IMG_0963IMG_0727IMG_0954

So whats new in braking, plenty another batch of post 1946 to 1952 version of heat-treated brake plates are ready to be CNC machined and I’ve also finished a batch of all Aussie brake drums unlike the previously German inferior cast iron brake drums with r/hand tread lockrings these are machined from a solid billet the advantage here outweighs the extra cost because they are dimensioned correctly and not adapted as they were previously with as original l/hand lockrings. Of course they are much stronger with less grain structure in the material, I decided that it was better in the long run to ensure a more satisfactory product and without worrying about fluctuating currency prices in currency exchanges and although dearer a better product for the consumer. All the brake components are LF Harris (UK) as I am the Victoria,S.Aust and Tasmania distributor for Triumph pre 1988 these parts I can buy in bulk to ensure a top quality components at reasonable cost I have both early and late types 1941/45 & 1946/52 ready for immediate delivery. The cartoon above shows a typical Indian rider pictured as a Veteran the braking is only insignificant and your kidding yourself if you think “My bike stops alright” it doesn’t and it will kill you!  You can buy direct from me 03 94996428 or from Mark at Zorro’s 0433106669 and if you need it fitted as you can’t fit it yourself then contact John at Antique Motorcycles 03 5839922

Manuals, Parts Books, and riders handbooks

9925953r02_IND_Scout_OM_Lo-ResIMG_1700

You now have your Scout/Chief and want to know were the conrod fits in your engine this can be any model from 1940-2016, well if you’re a financial member of the Iron Indian Riders its all easy with most manuals including some Clymer manuals, all the Springfield and Gilroy manuals in the Members Only Area. I have just finished putting the Polaris parts manuals for all Victory/ Indian / Sea Cat and Snow Cat and lots of other Polaris stuff in this area. Also the 2016 Scout Riders manual as well as some others all for your conrod finding mission you will only need your current Smoldering Embers password to access these free gems.

Scrap steel rates are falling

IMG_1692IMG_0548

Bad news for Harley Owners with a crushed Harley worth $15.00 a un-crushed one is still the same price so keep on kicking boys till you can afford a Indian.