1943 Indian 741 Scout

Fred L - click this image to see my build

What was your intended objective when you started the build?

To build a chopper. Challenge myself. Learn.
Keep Idle hands busy!

What motivated you to start your project?

I started out with bicycles. BMX freestyle, chopping bicycles. It’s a natural evolution, muscle bikes to motorcycles. Plus after I heard this 1943 Indian motor fire up, I was motivated! Since I was a young man I have been paging through motorcycle magazines. Living In Tucson, AZ where I experience the life style first hand surrounding custom bikes, lowriders was a motivator . Walking down Speedway Ave when I was fifteen in Tucson to buy chopper magazines was interesting…. Speedway Ave was the real deal far as I was concerned. Lowriders, motorcycles. Serious business. At the time Harley Davidson and the Marlboro man movie was being filmed In a tavern on speedway. Bar fight scene with Don Johnson, Mickey Rourke and Branscombe Richmond. Motorcycles out front and actors in back getting all powdered up for the scene. I would hang around and watch. It was a great visual

What was the most unique and creative thing you did to the bike?

All of it I suppose. Dash, Headlight bracket on forks, Leaf Spring connecting links and rear fender struts. Shaping metal. License plate tail light braket cut using a water jet. I started with cardboard and duct tape to make Dash and headlight bracket mounting pattern. Then shaped metal to spec. Headlight bracket I mimicked after the original 1940 Indian Leaf spring forks. Shifting lever was a unique set up. Original 741 Indians shifted on right side and throttle on left. I needed to reverse this. It’s necessary to have a long shifting lever on these 741 Indians 3 speed crash box transmission. It takes few extra leverage pounds to crash in into 1st gear. Clutch plates don’t open up like on New motorcycles, especially in cold weather. Sometimes just hold steady to a brick wall and slam it into 1st.

What are you most proud of?

I built it, know one else. That Is runs like New. Reliable. The geometry Is good, Aesthetically pleasing. I built it In a 12×8 shed/garage. Proving people wrong. Build on a budget.

What do other people say about your motorcycle?

Lot of head scratching people, or people that know exactly what their looking at. The Old Guard always asks “where’s the paint? “Are you going to paint it?”
I reply nope, just WD40 to keep rust off some parts and WD40 to bring out the rust color in other places.
I was given advice a few years ago by a old timer Model A, T builder
“Stay by Your Build if you’re going to show it, people have question”
Another reminder is if you’re going to bring your (build) to motorcycle/Car shows. Keep in mind people pay to see you.

3 Comments

Fred says:

January 27, 2019 at 10:35 am

It’s a 1943 Indian 741 In a Harley WLA Frame with 1940s Indian front end.
Thank you.

Reply
Dale says:

June 16, 2019 at 2:04 pm

Nice build a cool bike with what u got & what works good job! Looks very cool

Reply
- Fred says:
  
  June 16, 2019 at 4:17 pm
  
  Thanks Dale!
  It’s featured in The Horse Magazine issue #181 Jan 2019
  This bike is in top notch running order! Runs as good as she looks
  
  Reply

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Submitted by: Fred L

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Specifics

Make, Model & Year: 1943 Indian 741 Scout

Fondly known as: Frankenstein

Time spent: 4 years

Money spent: few hundred maybe.

Engine: Indian 741 Military. 500cc 30.50. Factor pistons.

Intake: Linkert Carb original.

Transmission: 3 speed crash box.

Frame: WLA Harley 45 Military frame.

Suspension: 1940 Leaf spring front end. Pogo T-Bar seat spring. Ouch!

Wheels, tires and brakes: Tires 4.50×18 back Goodyear Firestone. 5.00×18 front. WLA back and front wheels.

Finish – Paint: No paint. All metal. WD40

Accessories: Military handlebar tool bag. Motor placement. Fixing stuck exhaust valve. Correct new points and wiring. Then mount oil and gas lines. It started after 2nd kick. So now I was in bussniess! Time to take apart and go through the motor and see what I need for parts. Fix unseen issues like old oil in oil pump breath and over all health. Clean sump pump. Front rim toasted. Needed a Harley WLA 45 front rim with the correct spoke placement and pitch. Wheels had original tubes and tires. I changed tubes and kept tires. Bought Indian Script ½ reach spark plugs. That made for a poor running motorcycle. Changed them out for original 3/8 Reach. Champion J6C. Now my Frankenstein Indian 741/Harley WLA cracks like a whip! Stripped layers of paint including OD green. I wanted to see the brazing that was used to fit frame joints. Right side internal throttle, left side foot clutch and left side suicide shift. After that it was time to reach out and ask questions. Friend sent me a copy of operational and maintence manual. Same manual for men during WW2 to mantanine in the field. Includes illustrated for the repair of all major and sub-assembly with factory clearance and specification. Next I bought Indian Parts list book online. Now all running order it was time to fabricate parts and make this Frankenstein look good, and ride safe. Original front rim was completely rusted out, you can see the tube throught the rim. Then I needed to make a leaf spring for front end fork. Some one at some point welded a single piece of steal as a leaf spring. It needed to be replaced and done right.