1911 Indian

CF,

Gosh, are you gonna have fun!

...keep your eye on Craigslist... run a search on 'lathe' periodically...

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rc
 
This is sweet. I wish I knew how to use one of these it would really come in handy with my newest build. I am having a hard time figuring out how to mount my handle bars, and if I had one of these I'm sure I could make something.
 
For around $45 there is a milling attachment that will let you do light machining with this lathe. Once you have the lathe and the mill it's not a matter of what can't you do any more, it's what CAN you do. Considering what this tool does and how small it actually is, (2x1x1) and you can fit it on any bench, it transforms from a want to a necessity. A welder, drill press, and lathe are really the only power tools you need to make outstanding projects.
 
New additions. I was getting tired of the leather tool bag because I really didn't like any of the places I had to secure it at on the bike. It looked big and clunky. I decided to make a faux oil reservoir and use it as a tool box. I have a lot more room and it looks better in it's new place. It also fills in some of the "gap" that I had between the rear fender and the seat tube. I was going to use a brass latch but I thought it would look "older" if I used a leather strap and buckle. The side hinges down after undoing the strap. On the right side of the tool box you can see the indian logo brass badge I had on my old engine. It looked too nice not to put back on the bike. In this picture you can also see the new modification to the chain adjuster. The old spring set up was just not cutting it any more. Upon deceleration the spring was unstable and would loosen too much no matter how much spring preload tension I put on it. Now I use a turnbuckle to adjust the chain and it works out really nice. I can micro adjust the chain at any time, even when riding if I needed to, and without any tools. This alone makes life a little easier.
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The turn buckle is a good idea, I think. I'm wondering if it wants to turn on it's own under the stress of vibration. Might need something to keep it in place until the time you want to tweak the adjustment. How nice it would be to find an old on of brass. I wonder if there is some chemical process which would make steel look more like tarnished brass. Tool box looks good, too.
SB
 
Cobra, i thought after your new purchase we might have seen a billet tool box..... lol.
Looking real nice man!!!!!!!!!!!
 
silverbear said:
The turn buckle is a good idea, I think. I'm wondering if it wants to turn on it's own under the stress of vibration. Might need something to keep it in place until the time you want to tweak the adjustment. How nice it would be to find an old on of brass. I wonder if there is some chemical process which would make steel look more like tarnished brass. Tool box looks good, too.
SB
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I've ridden it for 40 miles and moved 1/8th of a turn. No big deal. I'll check the tension every day. So quick and easy it doesn't matter. I'm looking for a brass turnbuckle. I can age it in the meanwhile.
 
Hey CF thanks for posting the picture of the chain adjuster, I am trying to figure one out right now for my bike. I have lost the chain 3 times and every time it destroys something. The most memorable one is the last lap at willows in the lead with two turns to go.. lol
 
^^^ not only is yours bigger CF, but yours is also a lot closer in design to the originals, and you made it, and didnt buy it.... sweet!
 
My Son and I were talking about what to do yesterday and He said "Lets make the leaf spring fork working on the Indian". So we spent 8 hours on it. Welding, cutting, fitting, over and over again. Finally we did it. The front fork is a working leaf spring now. It doesn't have a lot of movement but you can feel it. It's less jarring to ride. Slightly more twitchy though. You can't take your hands off the bars anymore. Sacrifices for comfort I guess. It lengthened the wheelbase by 2 inches for a total of 77 inches from outside tire to outside tire. The bike is the proper length now. Worth the effort.
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The Indian is becoming a Board Track Racer, but with lights, horn, and mirror :)

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I was pleased with the 77" length so I decided to go for the long and low look. I cut off my seat mounts and started over and ended up with a seat that is 2" lower in the rear and 1" lower in the front. I didn't know that it would be much more comfortable that I was used to, so it is a big bonus. Another bonus is the bike handles very well now. When I lowered the seat the 2" in the rear little did I realize that because I lowered the center of gravity the twitchiness I had because I lengthened the wheelbase disappeared. Remarkable what little adjustments can do. I splurged and ordered one of Pats' (of Sportsman Flyer BTR's) Board Track Racing handlebars. I think it will look exceptional with the long and low bike. Can't wait till I get the new bar and mount it. Maybe I'll get it in a week or so. Oh, the leaf spring fork works great. Roads that I avoided due to harshness (cracks, potholes, unevenness) are fine now. The spring I have on my fork is from a full size pick up truck and is very thick, but I am confidant that it wont ever crack and make me do and endo and die. (one thing that worried me about leaf spring forks) This spring is so over engineered for the weight of the bike that it is probably twice as thick as it needs to be.
 
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Looking good CF. Those bars will be a nice touch. and i really like your toolbox in that new side pic you posted.
 
Hi cobrafreak. That's a good dog right there. He would be very sore for quite some time if, well sorry to think the negative. Is he a trouble maker? He looks like a real character. Your bicycle is beautiful. It looks every bit like a throwback to a simpler time. Is it finished? Wow. You have a cobra replicar? Was the 351W a small block or a big block V8? Do you think the big block is appropriate for a cobra considering handling and braking. Sorry for the twenty questions, you have some cool stuff. That dog must really like you to stand up there (as instructed).
 
Nice pic CF, but you should have put your googles on him..... if hed let ya.

Im thinking hed love a sidecar to ride in to come on your rides..... just sayin
 
zean said:
Hi cobrafreak. That's a good dog right there. He would be very sore for quite some time if, well sorry to think the negative. Is he a trouble maker? He looks like a real character. Your bicycle is beautiful. It looks every bit like a throwback to a simpler time. Is it finished? Wow. You have a cobra replicar? Was the 351W a small block or a big block V8? Do you think the big block is appropriate for a cobra considering handling and braking. Sorry for the twenty questions, you have some cool stuff. That dog must really like you to stand up there (as instructed).
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Thanks. That is my dog Killer. It's her real name. I like naming pet the opposite of what traits they actually have. She is a big chicken! Lol. The Bike is never finished. There is always something to do. I imagine i am getting closer to the end though than before. When I can't progress on this bike as a platform for creative ideas anymore I will probably begin another bike. Yes the Cobra is a Factory Five Racing MK1 replica. 2060 lbs with 350 HP. It moves quick. The engine is a heavily modified 5.0 mustang engine. The Cobra is set up for autocross and long distance driving. It gets 25 mpg highway and does low 12 second quarter miles with street tires. Lots of fun. But to be honest the Indian is more fun to ride when I'm by myself. I have beat big block cobras on track day events. The big blocks are more powerful and go faster but they are hundreds of lbs heavier in the nose of the car, exactly where you don't want extra weight.
 
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