Indian Tadpole

GoldenMotor.com

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
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British Columbia Canada
We've been working on the garage, insulating the last of it and getting ready to drywall it. Heck, why do it in the summertime when you can put anything in your way outside instead of stacking it to dizzying heights and it's still in your way.

Another 10 days or so and we should be done. Brother and I are both old and slow so it takes 3 days to do 1 days work.

Thanks for bearing with me. I'll be back at it soon.

Steve.
 

NEAT TIMES

New Member
May 28, 2008
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PENSACOLA, FL
Steve

You think you guys are slow! I`m so slow, when I move it takes my shadow awhile to wake up and catch up with me!

Now that`s funny! Larry would say!

Will Email you the news here.

Ron
 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
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northeastern Minnesota
Not to worry, Steve.
We have plenty of winter ahead of us for our projects. I'm not exactly blazing along on my Indian, either. I'm still fussing with the fenders and am close to crying uncle and giving them paint. They look better than they did before and will be shiny anyway. Besides, these bikes are supposed to look old and a bit worn, right?
I have a question regarding the tri-car front end. How wide will the wheelbase be from tire to tire? I'm also wondering if I could swap that front end assembly from the Indian Hiawatha to the Orphan moped and back again... is that possible? Is it just a matter of setting up both bikes in the same way to receive the tri-car assembly? If so then I could use the front end for a Morgan 3 wheeler inspired velocar using the other half of my Grumman canoe as the body. Maybe.
Progress on my builds is limited by not having a good place to work whenever I want. I have to work outside other than Saturdays at the Tinsmith's shop. Better than nothing, of course. Good to have the Indian inside his shop. Pretty soon we'll start on the copper gas tank, the fenders will be in place and eventually Curtis will have the leaf spring fork done. Then we need to get our parts from Germany for the shift linkage and by spring we'll have these babies fired up and running. Woohoo!
SB
 

curtisfox

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2008
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minesota
Steve make sure you take the time to put stuff away and on shelving before you begain work. Or you will end up sufling boxes and stumbling over them. like my shop I did go through and reboxed and gained a lot of room But it is still a strugle getting there. Turned the furnice on a week ago low. I will be getting at the forks soon, the weather has been to nice and I keep working outside. I sort of can't wait to get the forks done it will be intresting to see the finished product,and how it will work. I will got look for sholder bolts this week..............Curt

PS take a Sharppi and mark the boxes........What a difference
 

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
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There were two piles of boxes blocking half the work bench and they have been there for well over a year. Not my house so I've worked around them until two days ago.
Since we are getting the last wall insulated and drywalled there has be a massive effort to clean things up that have been sitting around for years, in the way.

Eight boxes filled a large plastic tub and a small box and nothing was thrown out.

Steve.
 

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
7,470
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British Columbia Canada
Quick update for all you good folks who keep checking this thread. Thing are getting better in the garage.
We found something the other day that we hadn't seen in months. The floor of the garage. We have one last wall to do and it's small so with any luck it will all be back by next week and the build can at long last continue.

I'm more than ready for that.

Steve.
 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
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northeastern Minnesota
The work in your garage will be well worth the time and effort. Very much looking forward to the resumption of work on your Indian and some photos for show and tell. Dan and I made good progress today on the prototype gas tank for the Indian Hiawatha. Next week we start on the copper version. So once again, we'll both be moving along on our Indian builds. What great bikes they'll be!
SB
 

curtisfox

Well-Known Member
Dec 29, 2008
6,077
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minesota
AWESOME I am clad i have mine done. the only problum i see is putting it all back i am still doing that. Seems never ending
It will be good to see you back on the bike...............Curt
 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Yep, insulation&sheetrock make all the difference in the world.
Hey sb, what's this "orphan moped" I've ben hearin about? Sounds interesting
It's waiting in line for the Indian to get further along. I haven't done anything on it since summer other than make up dropout extensions so that it will now accept 26" rims. It has to get an extended axle for the Worksman drum brake wheel up front to fit a Suzuki fork which is extra wide. Tinsmith will be working on that later on in the machine shop where he works. Then things should move along.
http://motorbicycling.com/f28/tomos-amf-roadmaster-32625.html
SB
 

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
7,470
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British Columbia Canada
Here are the parts from Germany that came today, We ordered a shifting rod, exaust pipe nut, exaust gaskets, and cable adjusters.

The large part on the shifting rod contains a very stiff spring that compresses when you shift from first to second or neutral and pushes the transmission gently into gear so the shifting rod doesn't bend if it binds at all.

Fortunately while looking to see just what the spring was like I was able to put the duck and cover manuver learned in school as a youngster into good use as unfortunatly the afore mentioned spring was under more pressure than I thought. It did however land beside me under the computer desk.

Even more fortunate was the good luck that I was looking at Silverbears shifter and mine is still in good shape.

Yes, I'm kidding. All's well.

Steve

 

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
7,470
4,954
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British Columbia Canada
Wanted to preview the company before I said anything about him. He was forwarded to me by the chap Silverbear and I got our Sachs motor from so I was very confident that he was very reliable.

The company is www.velo-classics.de The owner is Heinz Fingerhut. Mr Fingerhut is fluent in English so you will be able to speak with him about parts and prices.

http://www.velo-classic.de/kat_2003.pdf

This should put you in touch with the catalog which is in German. Lots of early motorcycle/motorbike/moped parts except engine, transmissions and gas tanks and frames.

They are for the most part made for German motorbikes and mopeds but I'm sure that many of the parts can be adapted to our bikes.

The parts were packed to perfection. Getting into the box was like breaking into the German National Bank.

Steve.
 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Steve,
Glad the parts arrived safely. Good timing for me as the Indian Hiawatha is coming together nicely. Now I'll be able to do the last part of the gas tank, the shift lever housing which will bolt to it. Oh boy!
SB
 

fasteddy

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2009
7,470
4,954
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British Columbia Canada
I've gotten a start on the seat for the tri-car. Not overly impressive for the next few days but it's slow going.
Here are 4 photo's on photobucket to give you an idea where the top part is going.
Click on the photo to see the rest. I should have more photos tomorrow.

Steve.


 

silverbear

The Boy Who Never Grew Up
Jul 9, 2009
8,325
670
113
northeastern Minnesota
Good to see progress on the tri-car seat, Steve! Keep the photos coming...

Yes, I'd think riding up front would be spooky for sure. Slow speed in a parade perhaps. Good spot for the senior beauty pageant queen. Or my dog, Aaniimoosh, who would be less trouble.
SB