Skinny front

Built it up during the week, fitted an old Firestone ribbed tyre  from the stash and swapped it onto the Scout this morning

Fat front

Finished building the 19" front wheel yesterday ready to fit tomorrow morning. Today i set the fat 16" wheel up on the trueing stand and centred the hub, had to move the rim over 3mm then trued it to a 10 thou side throw. The old Borrani has been through the wars a bit with a couple of flat spots and some kerbing damage but it runs true now!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Evening test run

Torqued down the heads, reset the mag and went out for a 10 mile run






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wakey Wakey

Up early this morning, fitted my number plate and tax disc, adjusted the chain, topped up the fuel and checked the oil.
Choke on, started first kick...... just realised how loud it is 8-D


15 miles of backlane riding and home, a few adjustments to make but running well and pulling strong




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

All legal........... ish!

Apparently, the man withe the clipboard reckons its an electric flathead !!!

Progressive

Picked up a pair of unused progressive springs on ebay for the Triumph forks on the Scout, should help the ride :o)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Got my MOT today

All my paperwork in hand, insurance, fresh MOT cert, dating letter from the Indian club, V(whatever) form all filled out and signed and dated, I loaded the Scout back into the trailer and headed round to the LVLO in Inverness. First one there ready for opening at 9am I took my ticket and got called before the stoney faced government official. i presented my paperwork and told her that the bike was outside in the trailer ready for inspection. Her response floored me...... due to changes in policy and budget constraints, the Inverness office no longer has the facility to carry out registration inspections!!!
I would have to leave my paperwork, pay a £55 fee and wait to be contacted before making an appointment when an inspector was available to check the bike over, this may take one month or more depending on the availability of inspectors!
Why does our government insist on making life so fucking complicated???
Useless, timewasting anally retentive twats!

Another day in the office

Stripped the tanks off again and sorted a couple of small leaks with some ptfe tape. Changed the front wheel to a 19"er to see how it afffects the handling..... massive improvement! acouple of 2 to 3 mile road tests, reset the tickover, and checked the crank breather is working ok - all good 8-)

Suicide is painless

Decided to fit a spring, found a proper sized one at the farm, works a treat 8-)


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A few jobs done over the weekend

Plumbed the oil lines to suit the Junior Scout tanks, swapped the front end round to get the brake on the LHS now the rear is on the RHS and made up some temporary lock stops

First few road miles today

Private road, honest guv!

Sorted some oiling issues, fitted a rear brake arm return spring, painted the mudguard (then rubbed it down with an oily rag - see oiling issues!!) All in a great morning out in the sunshine fettlin and riding 8)

Back from Foss Fab

Big thanks to Richi Foss for all his help, the work he has done to the bike has really lifted it to a level I couldnt have ever achieved.
A change of tanks back to the Junior Scout ones I started with yesterday due to finding a crack in the green 741 tanks, hope to get them repaired and back on there with some fresh paint.

Ready to have a roadtest

Still a lot of small jobs to do but all the essentials just where they should be, hope to get it ready for MOT next week

First Ride

Just back from Richi's workshop where we got the tanks back onto the Sport Scout, rigged up the temp oil lines and a few kicks later had a running motor..... sounds great through the new pipes!
Disengaged the clutch with the new Fossbilt pedal assembly, eased it back into first, hooked the clutch back slowly with my toe until it start...ed to bite, a wee paddle and we're off ........ absolute magic 8o))

Updating the Strathbran Speedshop website

all tucked in 8)

Seat mounting under construction at Foss Fab

Getting there

Stroker Scout coming together now, its been wintering at Richi Foss's workshop getting all the finishing bits and pieces done, exhausts, controls spacers etc etc

. Also getting a bit of a sprirtual lift with this highland  'Spirit Catcher' 8o)

Cam comparison pix

Here's what I have in hand at the moment

Mystery Cams

Bought via ebay as aftermarket Chief cams they look like Scout gears and shafts to me???

Naming the beastie

Its a bit of a tradition to name Indian specials with a suitable Indian name. In amongst my friends' and the bikes that I know of we have a Geronimo, a Cochise, a 2face, theres a Running Bare, Blue Smoke. Iknow of at least 3 Pochahontases (should that be Pochahonti???)
I've held off from naming the Stroker Scout until now, mainly because until it was running i thought that would be a  bit premature. I wanted a name that was a bit of a cross over between the native American tradition and also something that reflected the place where the SS was conceived - Achnasheen (from the gaelic achadh na sine Field of Rainstorms) So I was looking for the Souix  word for rain when i foud this fella - Ité Omáǧažu Chief Rain in the Face of the Hunkpapa Souix, he fought against Custer at the Little Big Horn

can't think of a better name for an Indian motocycle running around Strathbran with no front guard!

Vintage Scout Racer pic

Cant remember where I copied and pasted this from!!

Indian 741b motor basket for sale

All the main components, a great start for either a standard or stroker special!

Get in touch if you are interested  - steveATstrathbranspeedshop.com

Detail

Front brake from a 1948 Big Base 648 race bike

Shifters

Work in progress

Stainless steel head steady with built in manifold hanger under construction by Richi at Foss Fabrication in Inverness, steady will also support the cable guide for the SU carb

Tank Graphics???

Just playing about with photoshop

Trial fit

Took the lhs Chief tank in to Dr Foss's workshop tonight and tried it for size, exactly the same profile as the 741 Scout tanks but the front mount sits the tank about one inch lower, bringing the underside of the tank down to run parallel to the cross bar. The cut outs at the steering stem casting and rear frame casting line up perfectly too, so the tales of late Chief tanks and Sport Scout ones being the same (apart from the lower front mount) are true!

Chief tanks, for the SS

A pair of repop soldered late 40's Chief tanks, made in India (so genuine Indian 8) ) The top front and rear mounts are the same as the SS so might end up on there!