Indian 640 Canadian

[rob love]

At work (if you can call working on mliitary vehicles in a museum setting work ) I am trying to re-assemble an Indian 640 with sidecar. I believe it to be a Canadian or British service model as it does not have the US style lighting on the rear fender, but rather the single commercial type light. Is anyone here familiar with them, or have a parts manual for the Cdn model? I have a few queries that I can't find the answers to with what little I have found on the net.

[rwhovey]

Rob, Please PM as I have a friend that is knowledgeable on all things WWII Indian.

Randy

[welbike]

Hi Rob and Randy,

Have done some research into this subject, as I have one of these bikes too, they are very rare, as most were converted to civvy Sportscouts after the war, and raced also, as they were very quick!

There were Brit contracts, one for only 2 bikes, No's 640 4445 and 4446 the other unknown for now, my frame number is 4443, and since it was found on Ceylon in the 60's is believed to be from a British contract too, but no evidence as yet.

Canadian contracts were for the "early" models, so civvy airfilters etc. numbers ran from 640 1517 to 640 2067 numbering 550 bikes, please let me know if the museums bike falls into this category?

Have some Canadian pictures, but mostly whithout sidecar, (just looked, one is with sidecar) are you sure it's a 640, and not a 340?

Email me direct, and I'll send you the pictures.

Have most parts lists and manuals.

Randy, if your friend knows more about the contracts etc. please let me know.

Cheers,

Lex Schmidt

[rob love]

Lex
Thanks for the info, I have sent you a PM.

[welbike]

Rob, 4 emails sent.

Below a picture of the thing;

Still looking for an original saddle bridge casting, footboards and some more small stuff.

Cheers,

Lex

[rob love]

Originally Posted by welbike

Canadian contracts were for the "early" models, so civvy airfilters etc. numbers ran from 640 1517 to 640 2067 numbering 550 bikes, please let me know if the museums bike falls into this category?

Cheers,

Lex Schmidt

Lex
Forgot the camera today, but did check out the frame numbers. The frame is 640 1537 and the engine number is FDO 1537. Good to know it is in the Canadian block of serials.

[welbike]

Good news Rob! please don't forget your camera on Monday!!

Cheers,

Lex

[rob love]

I'll be in to the shop on Sunday...hard to stay away. I'll hopefully snap some shots then.

Would you be able to post a shot of the front forks diagram from the parts manual Lex? The front forks were taken apart and some of the hardware lost. That is one of the areas I am trying to re-assemble.

And of course, I am looking for a parts diagram or closeup of the axle stub on the sidecar. I am missing some form of spacer/retainer on the outer portion.

[DenisLutman]

Originally Posted by rob love

At work (if you can call working on mliitary vehicles in a museum setting work ) I am trying to re-assemble an Indian 640 with sidecar. I believe it to be a Canadian or British service model as it does not have the US style lighting on the rear fender, but rather the single commercial type light. Is anyone here familiar with them, or have a parts manual for the Cdn model? I have a few queries that I can't find the answers to with what little I have found on the net.

Basically, these were olive green Sport Scouts with open fenders. The lights were all standard civilian units.