Steve that could be some sort of typo on the second page? They refer to model 74? The military designation for the 1200cc Chief was 340. 3 is some sort of model number and 40 was the year of design. Likewise, the 500cc 741B (Scout) was a model 7 design date 1941, 'B' for battery (coil ignition) Is there any other information or reference to model 74 in that book Steve? Ron
Ron, the designation "74" is common US parlance for 1200cc motorcycles, dating prior to WWII. The 1936 Harley-Davidson OHV EL model was called the "61", for 61 cubic inches, rather than the 1000. The H-D FL models, 1200cc, were 74's. Perhaps you head the Beach Boys song "My 409", referring to the cubic inch displacement of its Chevy engine.
We were metric illiterates in those days, racing 40 inch Triumphs against Harley 74's at each stoplight.
Jeff Bandola, builder of a 1944 WM20 44 special (44 cubic inches!), with a tip of my cap to Ian Wright.
Ron, 61 cubic inches to the liter. Five hundred cc engines were 30.5, but usually called "30 inch." 250's were 15 inchers. The last Indian Chiefs were 80 inches, in a vain attempt to keep pace with the OHV Harleys.
Can't forget the derisive laughter I got at my local US hardware shop when I showed them a stripped bolt from my Honda 90 for a replacement. "Ha Ha, that's METRIC! Good luck, Kid!" r
Quote"Can your 30 inch Indian keep pace with a WM20?" Jeff
I doubt a standard 741 can keep up with a standard M20. Hampered of course by the foot clutch and 3 speed hand change box......It's why I built that special.
However I've got two mates who are bloody good riders on their big bore 741's (600cc) and they give me a run for my money on my 600cc WD M20. My BSA/Indian special will piss all over them.....Except for the fact that I usually chicken out before they do.:persevere:
Here's the other side Bruce. Predominantly it's BSA and Indian with a few other makes thrown in:relaxed: Ron
I bought a running wreck of a 1946 Indian Chief 74 when I was 18 and turned it out as a bobber, with a 21' front wheel, minimal mudguards, small seat on the frame. Had to sell it to finish my education, but rode it hard for 4 years. It backfired through the Linkert carb and caught my trousers on fire before I re-lapped the intake valves.
Hi Ron,can only find one other ref to 74 in the manual,its on the lube chart,533 BASE WK/SHOPS was in Abbassia which is a suburb of Cairo,did a google search on it,its a large barracks,British army left in 1947,there is a video on youtube.
Cheers Steve, but Jeff explained about the Cubic Inch rating that is a US thing and had me confused.
The illustrations seem to show the 340 outfit that were supplied to France (Engine/frame prefixed CAV) I restored one as a solo for a mate. This is one of the 300+ that were reallocated to UK after Paris fell.