Dads Sport Scout

[RichO]

Your father would be proud. Nice work! Now the fun part.

[joe fxs fxr]

Great job! Looking forward to the ride report

[FLFD7]

Well, she's a runner. Can't post videos here I guess but I posted one on my Instagram ( flfd7 on the gram ).

Key off, full choke, two priming kicks, half choke, key on, and she started first kick! ( believe it or not ).

Now messing with the carb and clutch hope to ride this weekend.

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[exeric]

Fantastic, Joe. You certainly earned a ride and you're getting plenty of good vibes from your Father for putting in all the effort you did. I spent today working on my Sport Scout which was a schizophrenic experience, but glad I got a lot done and can now sit back and feel good about the negative, and positive B.S. That is a nice camera angle and I can see the value in the color scheme. I also see how smart it was for someone at Indian to put the chrome strips in front, and behind the teardrop emblems for 1941. Happy for you.

[ChiefTwoKicks]

Joe- ajj you need now is a wardrobe outfit in white... You'd look great in a Memorial Day Parade !! A great "restoration" story, with a very personal emphasis on your fathers motorcycle. I think you've captured the essence of what this hobby means to so many of us. Thanks for taking all of us along for the ride. You deserve the compliments. C2K

[FLFD7]

Thanks everyone. Yes, while certainly patriotic the color scheme is, uh, unique. When my father purchased this bike back in 69 I think it was

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(here is a picture of it when he first got it, note the Commander horns!)

He got a package deal, two 41 Sport Scouts and parts for $650. The other bike is a mirror image of this one, Indian red bike with Seafoam blue skirts and tank panel. He called them his circus bikes cause of the paint jobs.

I was fiddling with the bike last night hoping to have it ready for a local car show this morning but in the end decided not to rush it, get it running just right. Also, I haven’t ridden it yet so don’t want to take any chances.

So I rode my Scout bobber (ex TROG bike) down to the show instead.

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Weather getting a little raw anyway. I’ll fiddle with it some more later.

[FLFD7]

Some before and after photos before my first ride report…

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Well, I did finally get the bike rolling down the road on its own power, after 53 years of resting. I must say I’m very pleased how she runs, easy starting, idles nice, oil return good. Shifts good, well good for an Indian. One thing I found out the hard way is the shift lever needs to be tweaked out a bit, I notice the threaded end doesn’t have the usual flare out away from the tank like it should resulting in the shift knob having little clearance when passing by the gas cap. If one isn’t careful they could smash their fingers in there while shifting (ask me how I know).

The maiden voyage was around town to a local park. As I live right outside the city (my driveway to Yankee Stadium is 15 miles) I don’t have many country roads to putt around on nearby, and I didn’t want to take her out on the highway right off the bat. But even local I can feel she’s got good pick up, not like a modern bike of course but still respectable. My other Scouts have 18” wheels and this one with the 16’s sits a bit lower. I wasn’t exactly throwing it around the corners but it went where I wanted and the ride seemed comfortable.

There were some unexpected noises but not coming from the engine or transmission. I think there are some clearance issues and some rubbing going on either with the chain and the plate I made to mount the chain guard, or the rear brake rod was bent a bit and may be rubbing the rear tire. Speaking of the brake rod I did forget to put the spring and clamp for the brake light switch (dooh!), so that’s on my to do list.

So as summer rolls on I hope to take her out for an occasional spin, maybe a local car show or two. I am going to Wauseon but I’ll be vending and no room in the pickup for the bike. But at least she’ll get used as intended and not rust away in a shed like she was.

[FLFD7]

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So I guess this brings this build report to an end cause, well, she’s built. It’s been fun posting all this (too long) time, and want to thank everyone for their input and encouragement along the way. This is the third Sport Scout I’ve done and took a lot longer then I thought it would, but life gets in the way sometimes and you deal with it. THANKS everyone!

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This won’t be my last build report, like the movies here is a preview of my next project, I’m thinking of calling it “Jules’ 101”

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Stay tuned…..

[pisten-bully]

Bike looks great, Joe! Enjoyed the whole build report ....and also learned some tricks along the way...so thanks!

[joe fxs fxr]

Yes, thanks for letting us follow along. Staying tuned...

[micmac]

Awesome thread, thank you sir.