ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Hello all,
Just joined up to learn and share and thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of photos of my ex-Canadian Army 1940 Indian Model 640. It's not perfect by any means and I'm still looking for one correct part specifically, but it runs well and is loads of fun.
Cheers!
Denis
Just joined up to learn and share and thought you might enjoy seeing a couple of photos of my ex-Canadian Army 1940 Indian Model 640. It's not perfect by any means and I'm still looking for one correct part specifically, but it runs well and is loads of fun.
Cheers!
Denis
- Attachments
-
- Indian 640 with new tires smaller.jpg (168.97 KiB) Viewed 1943 times
-
- IMG_7596 - smaller.jpg (237.2 KiB) Viewed 1943 times
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
One more pic from Monday morning's ride.
- Attachments
-
- IMG_7589 - smallest.jpg (203.23 KiB) Viewed 1942 times
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
- Johan WILLAERT
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1672
- Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2004 2:50 am
- Location: Belgium
- Contact:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Great bike, thanks for posting!
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Thanks, Johan!
This is what it looked like when I bought it. Found it on a now-defunct website called George's Worldwide Antique American Motorcycle Trader. It was in Saskatchewan, way north of Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
At the time I had no idea it was a Canadian military model. That came later as I discovered certain things about the frame and fenders. So that's how I ended up restoring it. I opted not to paint the tanks though because I liked they way they looked.
This is what it looked like when I bought it. Found it on a now-defunct website called George's Worldwide Antique American Motorcycle Trader. It was in Saskatchewan, way north of Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
At the time I had no idea it was a Canadian military model. That came later as I discovered certain things about the frame and fenders. So that's how I ended up restoring it. I opted not to paint the tanks though because I liked they way they looked.
- Attachments
-
- IMG_4972.JPG (85.98 KiB) Viewed 1936 times
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:38 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
It looks great Edo, and I really like those dented used tanks!
Don't repair those, just leave 'em be.
Don't repair those, just leave 'em be.
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Thanks!
I got those tanks as a set and I am pretty sure the right one was NOS. It even had all four oil tank plugs in it and they were all OD.
If you look carefully at the left tank you can see two crossed swords and a couple of numbers from OLD stencil work. Pretty sure they were on an American military 640, and it had the original data tag. Once I figured out those tanks didn't leak, there was no way I was going to repaint them!
I only painted the rest of the bike because I had to.
I got those tanks as a set and I am pretty sure the right one was NOS. It even had all four oil tank plugs in it and they were all OD.
If you look carefully at the left tank you can see two crossed swords and a couple of numbers from OLD stencil work. Pretty sure they were on an American military 640, and it had the original data tag. Once I figured out those tanks didn't leak, there was no way I was going to repaint them!
I only painted the rest of the bike because I had to.
- Attachments
-
- Indian 640 left tank.jpg (83.86 KiB) Viewed 1909 times
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
-
- G-First Lieutenant
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2013 5:19 pm
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Very nice bike!
This could had been a US Army motorcycle? The US Army used them in great number pre WWII and phased or replace them with the faster WLA's early in the war and sent them north to Canada to use.
I interviewed a wwii 113th Cav veteran that told me about the Indian they used pre war and we're replaced with WLA'S
They were later replaced in Canada with the WLC's
This could had been a US Army motorcycle? The US Army used them in great number pre WWII and phased or replace them with the faster WLA's early in the war and sent them north to Canada to use.
I interviewed a wwii 113th Cav veteran that told me about the Indian they used pre war and we're replaced with WLA'S
They were later replaced in Canada with the WLC's
☆42WLA Harley-Davidson #19,246 Type III
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Thanks!
These tanks came from a different 640. The tanks which came with mine needed a lot of work. I first got a set of repop tanks but the right side didn't fit the bike. Luckily for me these popped up and I grabbed them as fast as I could.
Canada got their 640s fairly early, along with some WLCs and the usual British Army bikes. Eventually they concentrated on using the WLCs and the Empire bikes, especially overseas.
The US Army did use some 640s but I'm not sure that many, if any ever went overseas to any of the theaters. Most likely they remained in the States for messenger duties. The US Army chose the WLA over the Indian 741, which was definitely slower. I'm not sure that a WLC was faster than a 640 which was basically an open fender Sport Scout. At the very least the two bikes were on par with each other.
If the US Army used many Indians pre-war and decided against them, sending them to Canada, it's a good bet they would have been the 741s.
Recently I found two books about Canadian Army Dispatch Riders and there are LOTS of cool photos. Canada even received two Harley XAs for testing and at least one Indian 841.
These tanks came from a different 640. The tanks which came with mine needed a lot of work. I first got a set of repop tanks but the right side didn't fit the bike. Luckily for me these popped up and I grabbed them as fast as I could.
Canada got their 640s fairly early, along with some WLCs and the usual British Army bikes. Eventually they concentrated on using the WLCs and the Empire bikes, especially overseas.
The US Army did use some 640s but I'm not sure that many, if any ever went overseas to any of the theaters. Most likely they remained in the States for messenger duties. The US Army chose the WLA over the Indian 741, which was definitely slower. I'm not sure that a WLC was faster than a 640 which was basically an open fender Sport Scout. At the very least the two bikes were on par with each other.
If the US Army used many Indians pre-war and decided against them, sending them to Canada, it's a good bet they would have been the 741s.
Recently I found two books about Canadian Army Dispatch Riders and there are LOTS of cool photos. Canada even received two Harley XAs for testing and at least one Indian 841.
- Attachments
-
- IMG_4986.JPG (170.92 KiB) Viewed 1898 times
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:38 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
The US Army didn't use the 741 for they were considered too underpowered for the job, they were set to Russia until even they sent them back feeling exactly the same..
The 640 was used stateside, but later replaced by the WLA.
Performance-wise I don't think there's much difference between the latter two, both being a 45", but the 640 was heavier.
The 640 was used stateside, but later replaced by the WLA.
Performance-wise I don't think there's much difference between the latter two, both being a 45", but the 640 was heavier.
- 1stCAVREG
- G-Sergeant Major
- Posts: 168
- Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 11:33 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Your tank insignia appears to be that from 4th Cavalry Regiment, Troop E, USA. The 4th & the 6th were half horse/half mechanized units with Troops A, B, & C horse reconnaissance, Troops E & F mechanized reconnaissance, and Troop G Machine Gun. No Troop D. The 4th did use 640s.Eldo wrote: If you look carefully at the left tank you can see two crossed swords and a couple of numbers from OLD stencil work. Pretty sure they were on an American military 640, and it had the original data tag. Once I figured out those tanks didn't leak, there was no way I was going to repaint them!
Is that a white or blue-drab used for the insignia?
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Fascinating information, thanks for posting! Please share anything else you can relate about 4th Cav and 640s!
It appears to be a white, but it's possible that's all that's left if it was a light blue. I wish it was a little more readable, especially the top text but the dent makes it hard to make out.
It appears to be a white, but it's possible that's all that's left if it was a light blue. I wish it was a little more readable, especially the top text but the dent makes it hard to make out.
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Lib45 wrote:The US Army didn't use the 741 for they were considered too underpowered for the job, they were set to Russia until even they sent them back feeling exactly the same..
The 640 was used stateside, but later replaced by the WLA.
Performance-wise I don't think there's much difference between the latter two, both being a 45", but the 640 was heavier.
How heavy was WLA?
The standard US military 640 weight in at 537lbs. The Canadian version didn't have blackout lights or an oil bath air cleaner but had a rear passenger seat and the associated hardware plus an auxiliary toolbox on the rear fender.
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
-
- Sergeant Major of the Gee
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Sat Dec 22, 2012 3:38 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
The 640 was tested against the 1940 WLA.
It came without oilbath airfilter, engineplate and luggage rack...
Knowing the 1941 WLA did had those items and still
weighed 540 lbs, the 1940 WLA was substancial lighter than both the 640 and its own successor..
It came without oilbath airfilter, engineplate and luggage rack...
Knowing the 1941 WLA did had those items and still
weighed 540 lbs, the 1940 WLA was substancial lighter than both the 640 and its own successor..
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
Well, the maintenance and operations manual for the US Model 640-B (which included blackout lights, oil bath aircleaner, etc) listed the weight as 537 lbs.
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
-
- G-Corporal
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2016 7:18 am
- Location:
Re: ex-Canadian Army Indian 640 - from newbie
A while back I posted that I was looking or the rear fender mounted auxiliary toolbox for my Canadian Army 640-B. A couple of leads turned up a couple of the boxes but neither owner would part with them.
Enter the Oley meet last week. Vendors often set up early so Wednesday morning I was walking around and spotted the very box I needed sitting on a table. I snatched it up and held it like a teddy bear! Not a tiger or hurricane or tornado would have torn that box from my hands.
Below is an original pic of one of the 640s with the box. And another with the box mounted on my bike.
Enter the Oley meet last week. Vendors often set up early so Wednesday morning I was walking around and spotted the very box I needed sitting on a table. I snatched it up and held it like a teddy bear! Not a tiger or hurricane or tornado would have torn that box from my hands.
Below is an original pic of one of the 640s with the box. And another with the box mounted on my bike.
1940 Indian Model 640-B Canadian Army
1941 Indian Model 841
1941 Indian Model 841
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 37 guests