Unofficial Royal Enfield Community Forum

Royal Enfield Motorcycles => Vintage Royal Enfield => Topic started by: SOCALWILLIS on November 03, 2013, 06:01:30 pm

Title: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 03, 2013, 06:01:30 pm
My father in law just passed away and left me a 1960 indian chief and i need a battery,can anyone lead me in that direction?
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: High On Octane on November 03, 2013, 07:25:39 pm
We need a little more info than that.  ;)
Is the bike original?  Is the bike still 6v positive ground or has it been converted to 12v?  Pics?  :)

And welcome to the forum!

Scottie
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 03, 2013, 09:33:21 pm
this is a pic i took last month
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 03, 2013, 09:34:56 pm
one more
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: High On Octane on November 03, 2013, 09:46:07 pm
That looks pretty damn original.  I'm guessing that is still a 6v system but I could be wrong.  Go to www.hitchcocks motorcycles.com and look in the online parts catalog for a 1959 Constellation 700cc twin.  That is essentially what you have.  Look at the battery listed and compare it to what is in the bike.  You can probably find one locally once you know exactly what you have.  Or you can alwaysdo a google search for vintage motorcycle batteries and find one somewhere stateside.

By the way, Hitchcocks will be your best friend when it comes to fixing that beast up.   ;)

Scottie
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 03, 2013, 10:21:07 pm
Thanks so much.I will go there and look it up.I noticed that he replaced the seat but I found the original seat in his garage.I am having a guy work on it now and hopefully i will have it running soon.I plan to take a ride up the coast and spread some of his ashes because I know he wanted to get this thing on the road but never did.He was a retired firefighter and I plan to have his name put on the back fender in memory of him.
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: ERC on November 03, 2013, 10:29:01 pm
Before you buy anything take a couple of bulbs out and check the voltage on them. That will give you a good idea if it's 6 or 12 volt.   ERC
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 04, 2013, 12:54:40 am
So all the gaskets i need are listed under the 59 Constellation also?
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: D the D on November 04, 2013, 01:42:09 am
Beautiful!  Hope you don't need much to get her going.
It's nice to remember your Father in Law, but one caution before you paint anything in case you pass it on or sell it; While you and family will think painting his name on the fender is honorable and valuable to you, unless he was a celebrity and signed it himself, collectors will just consider it ruined paint.  The story doesn't mean much outside your circle.  No disrespect intended here, it's just the way the market works.
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: High On Octane on November 04, 2013, 02:05:02 am
So all the gaskets i need are listed under the 59 Constellation also?

Yes
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 04, 2013, 05:36:19 am
I could give a rat's ass about what anyone else thinks,I am sure that the paint isn't original anyways.I wouldn't have this bike if it weren't for him so it's for my personal reasons and I doubt if I will sell it.I appreciate you looking out though.Does anyone have any idea what a fully restored bike like this is worth?It would be nice to have some idea.
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 04, 2013, 05:42:34 am
Yes
Thanks
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: D the D on November 04, 2013, 06:58:19 am
Might be worth getting a professional appraisal done for insurance purposes since it is so original and you don't see them for sale that often.  I usually see them either good to excellent condition for $7K to $14K or in parts and incomplete for under $2K and very, very seldom either way.
Good luck with her.  I hope she only needs a battery and some new fluids to run.
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: High On Octane on November 04, 2013, 12:56:00 pm
.........Does anyone have any idea what a fully restored bike like this is worth?It would be nice to have some idea.

I've been researching every aspect of these bikes for a little over a year now, so hopefully I can put some insight on this question.  I sounds like you aren't really interested in selling the bike but are just curious what it's worth, so hear it is.....

These bikes in perfect mint condition sell for between $7500-$9500, depending on where you live and who's buying it.  From just looking at the 2 pics you posted it's kind of hard to determine what exact condition your bike is in.  But to be fare, your bike is pretty rough around the collars, yet seems to be pretty complete.  I'd guess your bike as it sits right now, not running, is worth about $3500 to the right collector, maybe only $1500-$2500 to the regular Joe.  If you put a few thousand into you could get it up to that $7500 value level.

https://www.nadaguides.com/Motorcycles/1959/Royal-Enfield/INDIAN-700-TWIN/Values

And Just For Reference, I Did This Restoration in about 8 months.
(http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y217/lethalinj/58Before_After_zps96e90433.jpg) (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/lethalinj/media/58Before_After_zps96e90433.jpg.html)

Scottie
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 05, 2013, 04:32:02 pm
I ordered a bunch of stuff on Hitchcocks website and thanks for that tip.I found out that they cannot ship the battery overseas so I ended up buying the dummy battery cover.I had a question for anyone that might know.How big of a battery will fit in that dummy cover?I DO know that it is a 6 volt battery but haven't ordered one yet.
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: ERC on November 05, 2013, 08:38:57 pm
Which dummy cover did you order?  ERC
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: Tom 60 Chief on November 06, 2013, 01:28:10 am
To fit the box I use two B49-6 batteries wired in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative).  These machines don't need the extra capacity, but if you have the original box they fill the hole nicely.  For many years I used a smaller battery with appropriately sized wooden blocks to fill the gaps.  That worked well also.  I really like the leather belt hold down you have, a practical solution to the problem.  It almost looks original.  You may already know that your machine is positive ground.  More pictures are always welcome.  Regards.  Tom
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SRL790 on November 07, 2013, 05:03:27 am
If your case is the same size as mine (which is an original Exide 6V hollowed out) I'm using a pair of 6V batteries wired in parallel that I purchased at Home Depot.  Think I found them in the aisle with the alarm systems.  Been in over a year and seem to be holding up fine.

Andy
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: SOCALWILLIS on November 08, 2013, 05:48:34 am
Thank you guys for the help.I appreciate it.













Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: barenekd on November 09, 2013, 06:02:56 pm
There are several battery sources online in the US that should be able to handle that battery for you. The parts you're looking for would technically be a 1958 Constellation, although I doubt there is much difference between the '58 and '59. '58 was actually the last year RE produced Indians, although there were several left over bikes at dealers up into the early 60s. They were then titled for the year they were sold.
The quickest way to tell the difference between 6V and  12V batteries is the 6V will have 3 caps on the top where 12V will have 6.
Bare
Title: Re: Im looking for a battery for my 1960 indian chief
Post by: rotorwrench on November 10, 2013, 11:50:27 pm
AMC also purchased bikes from Royal Enfield since they had no bikes that big. The last Chief made By RE was in November of 1960 which was nearly a year after they bought out Indian Sales Corp from John Brockhouse. As a matter of fact that was 53 years ago today that the last one was built.