Question to the Indian guys

[Chuck#1848]

I am not up on the Indian bikes and could use some help in these unchartered waters I am about to plunge in to...........

I may have a chance at a 1941 Indian scout not original by any means and pretty rough around the edges,the last time it ran was 15 years ago,it ran when it was parked and it was a daily rider then.

Could somebody shoot me a rough ball park idea as to what it may be worth.
Is there anybody that may have a photo of one to give me some idea as to what it should look like?
I will try to get some photos of it to post here

Thanks in advance

[Ohio-Rider]

NADA value is a good place to start but are normally considered as a low side prices. Here's what they say for a 41 Scout.
Excellent: $19,000.
Very Good: $10.275.
Good: $6,900.
Fair: $5,075
Poor: $3,300.

Sounds like a great winter project is coming your way Chuck.

[exeric]

Steve's figures are probably very close. I have a good friend that has a '42 Sport Scout that he recently took to a meet to go fishing with. He was asking $12 G's for a bike that needed quite a bit of work but had a finished motor. No one bought it but he did have a lot of interest in it. I've never owned one but I've had friends that have done them from basket cases and there are a few major things to make sure you get. The transmission case, main shaft, and rear hub are '41-'42 Sport Scout only and very hard to find if you're missing them. These items are wider/longer than rigid frame scouts due to the slipper rear end. Also, rare and desirable are the square base cylinders and heads which got robbed for racing Scouts. If it doesn't have any of this good stuff, you could put a 741 rear end on it and make it into a bobber and use rigid scout parts. If it does have the good stuff, by all means restore it right. The last Sport Scouts are great motorcycles and there aren't enough of them out there in restored condition. Steve McQueen had a '42 SS that was a treasured bike to him.

[c.o.]

Chuck if it was a runner/rider then you've probably got a good start. You may not have to do much other than get it running and then figure out what route you want to go. I would take pics of mine for you but it's not in the together stage right now. Eric is leading you the right way with parts differences for sure although I don't believe there are any differences in the transmission case itself. The '41 does have a longer mainshaft and different driver gear. It also has a different rear wheel setup than the earlier rigid models (again to account for the wider rear frame section). Steve's price list is close although I think a few grand low in most condition ranges (he did indicate that though). Here's one that Ziggy has for sale right now..... http://www.ziggysmotorworks.com/proj...kes/41ss3.html and here's another link to more photos........ http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en...gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

Let's see what else..... the engine number should start with FDA and the frame should have 641 stamped into it. The number is located below the left rear shock. Some pics would be nice when you can and I'm sure we'll all be glad to help you figure out what you've got.....

[Chuck#1848]

NADA value is a good place to start but are normally considered as a low side prices. Here's what they say for a 41 Scout.
Excellent: $19,000.
Very Good: $10.275.
Good: $6,900.
Fair: $5,075
Poor: $3,300.

Sounds like a great winter project is coming your way Chuck.

thanks Steve,

I haven't seen it as of yet but the way it's been described to me it sounds like it is in the poor to fair range.........

If it will run I would like to get it road worthy for now to give the 01 roadglide a breather it's getting close to 70,000

The VL for now is the project at hand I want to see completed

Thanks for your help Steve

[Chuck#1848]

Steve's figures are probably very close. I have a good friend that has a '42 Sport Scout that he recently took to a meet to go fishing with. He was asking $12 G's for a bike that needed quite a bit of work but had a finished motor. No one bought it but he did have a lot of interest in it. I've never owned one but I've had friends that have done them from basket cases and there are a few major things to make sure you get. The transmission case, main shaft, and rear hub are '41-'42 Sport Scout only and very hard to find if you're missing them. These items are wider/longer than rigid frame scouts due to the slipper rear end. Also, rare and desirable are the square base cylinders and heads which got robbed for racing Scouts. If it doesn't have any of this good stuff, you could put a 741 rear end on it and make it into a bobber and use rigid scout parts. If it does have the good stuff, by all means restore it right. The last Sport Scouts are great motorcycles and there aren't enough of them out there in restored condition. Steve McQueen had a '42 SS that was a treasured bike to him.

Thanks Eric,

Those are the things that throw me off with any antique bike are the special or limited year parts on bikes like I mentioned to Steve still wating to see it then the we discuss the price discussion starts either way it would be interesting to have I just no knowlege about Indian motorcycles aside from the fact that they are good looking bikes.

[Chuck#1848]

Chuck if it was a runner/rider then you've probably got a good start. You may not have to do much other than get it running and then figure out what route you want to go. I would take pics of mine for you but it's not in the together stage right now. Eric is leading you the right way with parts differences for sure although I don't believe there are any differences in the transmission case itself. The '41 does have a longer mainshaft and different driver gear. It also has a different rear wheel setup than the earlier rigid models (again to account for the wider rear frame section). Steve's price list is close although I think a few grand low in most condition ranges (he did indicate that though). Here's one that Ziggy has for sale right now..... http://www.ziggysmotorworks.com/proj...kes/41ss3.html and here's another link to more photos........ http://images.google.ca/images?hl=en...gbv=2&aq=f&oq=

Let's see what else..... the engine number should start with FDA and the frame should have 641 stamped into it. The number is located below the left rear shock. Some pics would be nice when you can and I'm sure we'll all be glad to help you figure out what you've got.....

Thanks Cory,

The engine number is something that I want to be sure of that nothing was changed or as some refer to it as "massaged" getting it running is the first thing on the list and hopefully it won't cost to much to get it there.

Oh after seeing the photos,one thing I never gave a thought to...........right hand shift

Thanks again for every bodys help!!!

[Ohio-Rider]

Good luck working out a good price with the owner Chuck. Its always exciting to go look at a possible new project for the first time. At least for me it is. I love the dickering back and forth and imagining in my mind how I could maybe turn an old piece of iron back into something to be proud of. -Steve

[Chuck#1848]

Now I gotta explain it to the wife

Well looked at it last night and it turns out that it's a 1942 GDA and it's got a real good head start in the bobber class.
Both fenders are chopped the seat is mounted a little further back and not like what I see in the pictures in the books that were given to me by Jerry Hatfield.
The handle bars are bent but it comes with a exelant set to replace the bent ones with although I think I will keep the bent ones on till I get the hang of the left hand throttle/right hand shift..........just in case.
It last saw the road in 1992 and was owned by a woman for many years the left tank front mount is broke from the tank and is wired to the frame and right side tank needs a real good bath turns over real easy so there seems to be no problem with it being seized but most likely needs rings by looking at the fish tail exhaust pipe we took an air hose to it to blow the dust off and it appears that the rattle can clear coat was blowing off of the tanks along with some of the black paint.
Should be home tonight so pictures to follow

[indianut]

The fact that it is a 741 Greatly Decreases the values you have been given in this thread.

[Chuck#1848]

The fact that it is a 741 Greatly Decreases the values you have been given in this thread.

Thanks Indianut

From what I saw in Jerry's book it looks to be that it is a not to a desireable bike but he does say it is something to buzz around on at antique meets,I would consider it to be in pretty fair condition what would you think roughly for a price?

It also has the indian shifter head hand knob I believe these came with the black knob only yes?

[Ohio-Rider]

http://www.nadaguides.com/default.as...I&gc=AM&gtc=MC

[exeric]

I've riden a few 741's and I cringe to say it about an Indian, but they are dogs. If you buy it, I would crate up the motor and send it to Indianut because he knows how to get some horsepower out of them. As for value, a friend of mine sold one about 12 years ago. It was civilianized (i.e. defiled and buggered) but it was shiney and close to running. He got 5 grand for it and I thought he robbed the buyer.

[Ohio-Rider]

Eric, Are they any worst than the 45's?

[c.o.]

Eric, Are they any worst than the 45's?

I'd say slightly..... If your referring to Harleys. If you mean an Indian 45 then they aren't even close. Whaddya figure Eric?

Chuck if you just want to tool around the neighborhood or take your time on a slow back road and........if you get it cheap enough.... and don't have to high of expectations.......and like it.........then scoop it up and enjoy yourself.......