Author Topic: Indian Chief build, looking for Information  (Read 101228 times)

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grumbern

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on: June 05, 2015, 01:28:26 pm
Hi erveryone,
my name is Andreas, I'm from Germany and currently restoring a 1959 Chief! Many parts are missing, but I'm positiv I'll get them. I can see there are some members here who own Chiefs and I'm hoping you can help me with one or another question, that I will surely have during this build.

First of all, does anyone have any further information about the history of the bike? The numbers are PC50007 on the motor and 4759 right / 8823 left oft frame. I assume it could be a police bike, since it has the 150mph speedo fitted.


ERC

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Reply #1 on: June 05, 2015, 02:29:19 pm
Join the REOC club in Britain they'll have info on what you own.  ERC
2-57 Apaches, 2-57 Trailblazers, 60 Chief, 65 Interceptor, 2004 Bullet, 612 Bullet chopped.


grumbern

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Reply #2 on: June 05, 2015, 04:51:47 pm
Just for the record, here's my 350, that I restored and was my first "big" bike  ;)



grumbern

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Reply #3 on: June 28, 2015, 12:34:45 pm
Thought I'd give you some pics of the current status of my Chief!

Started out with something like that:



The motor was taken apart:




A little cleaning:


New parts:


Some modifications to the crank case:




Soda blasting!




Fixing the speedo:




Bezel from a damaged aftermarket Harley speedo, which I got very cheap :)


I allso got back ma cylinders from reboring and honing, but the last weeks time just didn't allow any work on the bike. but I got lots of information from Phil, Charles and Graham. He told me my bike is from November 14th 1959 and was finished in polychromatic burgundy!
Now I am waiting for some more parts to arrive and some time to work on the parts I have ;D
Andreas


Adrian II

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Reply #4 on: June 28, 2015, 06:25:40 pm
It looks like this one is being restored to a high standard,  good work.  :)

A.
Grumpy Brit still seeking 500 AVL Bullet perfection! Will let you know if I get anywhere near...


grumbern

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Reply #5 on: June 28, 2015, 09:21:13 pm
Hi Adrian,
at first I wanted to build a mild Café Racer, since I only got the frame, motor, gearbox and some minor parts. The thought was, to just put a single seat, rearsets and some aluminum fenders on it and make it a nice, period correct souped up bike.
The more I found out about the chief, and how rare these are, I just couldn't do it. There are so much more Connies and Meteors out there for such a project, it would have been a shame, to not use the opportunity, to rebuild that bike.

Well, long story short: It's gonna be as near original as I can get.

I found a kick stand for it, the kind that mounts to the front engine plate. I saw many pics of Indians having that one, but none that show exactly, how it is mounted. Am I right, that an additional hole has to be drilled, somewhere between the lower and the middle stud?
Allso, has anybody a good pic from the bottom side of the seat?
Thanks,
Andreas


Adrian II

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Reply #6 on: June 29, 2015, 08:35:25 pm
This site might be of interest, if you have not already found it.

http://www.re-indian.com/

http://www.re-indian.com/bikes.html

A.
Grumpy Brit still seeking 500 AVL Bullet perfection! Will let you know if I get anywhere near...


grumbern

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Reply #7 on: June 30, 2015, 12:20:54 pm
Hi,
Phil's site is well known to me, since I am corresponding with hin for some time now ;)
Andreas


ERC

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Reply #8 on: June 30, 2015, 11:39:19 pm
I was told by a guy at Hitchcocks the front mount side stand isn't very strong for a bike that heavy he told me to use the center mount side stands that come on the Interceptors.  ERC
2-57 Apaches, 2-57 Trailblazers, 60 Chief, 65 Interceptor, 2004 Bullet, 612 Bullet chopped.


grumbern

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Reply #9 on: August 10, 2015, 09:48:57 am
Gearbox got new bearings and internals been put together:






Cylinders are rebored, honed, blasted and painted:






Last but not least, the Big hole in the nacelle welded. Don't know, if I just fill the remaining step, or weld some material on there to grind it down...




Right now I am waiting for lots of parts to arrive but can#t find the time to really work on the parts that are here. I just use some time to clean and polish and get some little things done.

Andreas


grumbern

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Reply #10 on: August 21, 2015, 07:17:33 pm
Worked some more on the speedo:























Unfortunately I don't have any red paint here, so the needle is gonna have to wait a little.
Andreas


ace.cafe

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Reply #11 on: August 21, 2015, 09:09:48 pm
Looks great.
Very nice work!
Home of the Fireball 535 !


ERC

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Reply #12 on: August 21, 2015, 11:04:56 pm
I agree with Ace VERY NICE.  ERC
2-57 Apaches, 2-57 Trailblazers, 60 Chief, 65 Interceptor, 2004 Bullet, 612 Bullet chopped.


mattsz

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Reply #13 on: August 22, 2015, 12:24:40 am
Holy crap!  All with a block of wood on a drill press!



grumbern

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Reply #14 on: August 23, 2015, 05:56:36 pm
Thanks! :)
I wanted to put new bearings in the motor today, but a friend had bad noise from his Bullet's motor, so we had to take a look at that. But I could do at least a little bit, now the needle is red and mounted:



Not so bad, considering it looked like this before :'(