1946 Indian Chief Preservation

[jlammers]

4 more pics of the carb

[jlammers]

Carb and air clean re-installed and fuel lines hooked up. Almost looks like it never came off!

[jlammers]

Checked another "to do" off the list today....LH handlebar was bent down from when the prior owner laid the bike down on a local state route. This incident is what caused the bike to get parked around 1970. Fashioned up a 8 ft length of 2 x 6 with a ratchet strap around the LH grip. Had my brother stabilize the bike while I lifted. Took 4 or 5 attempts to get it the same as the RH side, but all good now!

[pisten-bully]

...nice job! Brothers can come in handy every now and then

[jlammers]

Moving on to the wiring. The original wiring is pretty tired with multiple bare spots. Would like to save it but think it would be better to just replace, don't want to burn it to the ground. Who is the best source for factory correct wiring? does someone sell the whole kit or do you have to buy individual sections?

[ammorest]

Jim, I've gotten decent wiring harnesses from Jerry Greer. Don'r remember if the tail light wire comes in the kit. It has a metal cover.
Dave

[ammorest]

Jim, I did get the individual wires to complete the "kit".
Dave

[bernhardt]

There are some cool details on your original wire harness, that you won't see on the repro from Greer. I'm talking about the asphalt loom covers at the coil, and fender light wire, and elsewhere. All repro harnesses these days come with the small rubber sleeves at the ends, which don't look factory on a 46 Chief. I cut them off, solder and heat shrink under the correct loom sleeves at the wire ends to make it look more orignal.

[jlammers]

There are some cool details on your original wire harness, that you won't see on the repro from Greer. I'm talking about the asphalt loom covers at the coil, and fender light wire, and elsewhere. All repro harnesses these days come with the small rubber sleeves at the ends, which don't look factory on a 46 Chief. I cut them off, solder and heat shrink under the correct loom sleeves at the wire ends to make it look more orignal.

Can you send me a pic of what you are talking about? I don't know enough to guarantee if all my wiring is "untouched" or not. Would definitely like to preserve those kind of details. Maybe I am better off to repair what I have? In the car world, the harnesses are exact reproductions, including paper tags.

[jlammers]

Spent some time testing continuity and labeling wires on some of the system today. I've found three types covers that Bernhardt was talking about.....take a look at the pics and give me some opinions.

[jlammers]

Here's some other pics of todays work. It looks like the ammeter mount was modified, which confirms to me that the gauge that was in the bike was not original. That handlebar chrome looks great under the horn button!

[jlammers]

and a few more with the headlight switch

[Jim]

and a few more with the headlight switch

Make sure you check the wires coming out of the handlebar going to your headlight. Mine were all crumbling and bare wires right where they come out. Nice job on keeping it original!

[bernhardt]

Agree with Jim - check the handlebar wires to make sure they are not frayed. Your wires look original to me. In your picture you can see the plastic sleeve on the ammeter wires, and some of the switch wires, where there is not much clearance. The coil ends have the loom sleeves - that's factory also. Someone added friction tape, most OP bikes I've seen just have the fabric sleeves.

[Jim]

Here you can see my wires as I found them coming out of the handlebar. I tugged on them and pulled them out just an inch or so and found this.


HORN wire.jpg
20231217_161637.jpg