Hunting Harley's, 1939 Indian Hillclimber

[@garygullikson6349]

As a 16 year old, I I once nearly slid off the back of my 48 Chief buddy seat while demonstrating how my new clutch and rear sprocket would burn rubber, managed to regain control while headed for a new Lincoln. Thanks for your intelligent comments about Indians. About to sell my second '48 Chief at 75.

[@blackbirdrc8348]

Anybody else love the sound of that old kick start?

[@dylanschulz2823]

Old Indian flatheads always have such a pretty kickstart.

[@woodey028]

@@dylanschulz2823 That thing must have been Hells Bells in 1939. Psychobilly!

[@shaunmark1]

I love the sound of that old kick start gear.

[@cooperkyler8077]

I know Im kind of randomly asking but do anyone know a good website to stream newly released series online?

[@mylesterrance5924]

@Cooper Kyler flixportal :D

[@cooperkyler8077]

@Myles Terrance Thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :D I really appreciate it !!

[@mylesterrance5924]

@Cooper Kyler happy to help =)

[@waynemetevia7983]

Sounds great! Hard to believe that an 80+ year old bike still looks and sounds so good. Really enjoy your videos.

[@slowpokebr549]

Sounds pretty wicked after you get it all lined out on timing and carb settings. I'd love to see it climb a hill. It would be scary as hell to it though!!!!

[@HuntingHarleys]

+slowpokebr549 and a lot of fun

[@carlkrebs1]

Its great to see you guys rebuilding and enjoying these older bikes . Really fun stuff !

[@tristannolan85]

man that things sounds nice...i could listen to that rev all damn day lol

[@juliolausell4399]

I hope this bike doesn't suddenly fail. It should be in some museum, and you guys are hittin it around. How much is this bike worth ? 50k, 80k, maybe much more, I don't know. You guys got balls.

[@HuntingHarleys]

People ride stuff much rarer in salt water when they do the Race of Gentleman, and worth a lot more. THAT is not something I will do.

[@Thrawnization]

It was made to be used, not collect dust.

[@HuntingHarleys]

+airboatkid1 factory racer, very special, only 18 made in 1938 and again 1939, total of 36 bikes for both years

[@itsapodcastrophe]

Hunting Harleys what is the feel of a compression stroke for the kick?

[@thrillerali3903]

Hey hunting harleys , can you export any bike if i want to import any bike gone through your hands , will you help me out?

[@HuntingHarleys]

nutmegger1957 You have to feel for the compression stroke before you kick a kick start bike. If you don't kick down on the compression stroke, with the right amout of gas, you will not start it. Thus, when cold, or semi warm, you also have to kick a bit before a starting kick to prime the motorcycle

[@johnwhitworth9739]

really liked the 1939 indian hill climber

[@Renatodonadio]

That's a bike "pimped" for quarry climb, they were driven on steep inclined sand quarries to see who made it to the top, that's why it has a short ratio and two gears with the selector in that awkward position, you had to select the appropriate ratio and open the throttle, if you made to the top, you won

[@HuntingHarleys]

+Renato Donadio This is a factory Hill Climber, number 8 of 18 made in 1939, the last year they were built by Indian. history since new, including day of sale photos and original title

[@daves4yah]

I ride a Indian Scout, not vintage but the power is a blast. That was a fun video, thanks! Cheerz!

[@HuntingHarleys]

Brett Brandstatt I've been involved with the antique motorcycle world for 35 plus years. Rick Najera, who at one time was my best pal, formed the Yerba Buena chapter. I know many from NorCal

[@CynthiaGreene-il1fe]

pretty kool how they used to hillclimb with that chain wrapped around the rear tire like that , wow!!

[@miguelsalami]

That little carb adjustment was all she needed. What a KOOL old Indian motorcycle. 👍👍💙

[@Patrick_B687-3]

I was instantly reminded of the brand new FTR 750 and exp FTR 1200 looking at this bike. Ultra cool old machine.

[@scottmichaels1764]

I saw an 80+ year old man ride one of these up the ski hill in Kewauskum about 20 years back. Very cool.

[@HuntingHarleys]

glad you like the vid! I don't play with those years, but should be easy enough to find on ebay or at the local swap meet, if you go to a swap meet, ask the vendor's, most have other bits at the shop they do not bring out

[@glytch5]

holy crap man that thing sounds like a freakin' demon

[@Grumpyoldbiker]

Harley, as a family-owned company, was much more careful and didn't squander good money that fast. After the Great Depression Indian had no money left to replace worn out tooling and had little options left but to keep selling old designs, praying for a profit to survive. When Rodgers came only a miracle could have saved Indian. So, the bikes were okay, but if business was too the Board of Directors was quick to bleep things up. Great footage of a fantastic rare machine in action, love it!

[@tristannolan85]

as far as vintage bikes go it doesnt get any better for me. what a sweet bike

[@HuntingHarleys]

Thanks! The motor design was 'taken' from a Sport Scout and the fork 'taken' from a Junior Scout. The heads seem the be unique in their design to this racer. I say 'taken' because the actual motor, frame and forks, and the trans, are unique to these flathead hill climbers. They are quite unique and powerful machines. I ran the spectrometer over the machine, it is absolutely original paint. We are fixing a stud issue on the bottom mount of the rear section, then we will re-video her running.

[@RememberWhen1989]

cool like to hear it again! Sounded like it was skipping a bit. It is awesome that you guys fired it up and ran it around the yard most people let them sit around.

[@credman83]

This video is a time capsule. It's great seeing those old bikes still runnin.

[@HuntingHarleys]

The Indian story is quite interesting. The company formed initially in 1901. George M. Hendee was a wealthy manufacturer of bicycles. (Bicycles were the rage during the 1870’s - 1900 and were bicycle races were quite in vogue at the time). During the late 1890’s, it became common for a new motorized invention to break wind for the riders. Essentially, it was a primitive motor strapped onto a bicycle frame, and most often used in Tandem bicycle races.

[@benbruker1610]

damn todd look at the size of the sprocket. I think the kick starter is neat as well because of the gears are exposed. all in all a very neat bike.

[@eddiecaplan1908]

I love indians!!, this was built 1939, and still sounds like one powerfull beast!!!

[@rddss8311]

Sweet bike!! The sound it makes is rad as hell.

[@michaeledwards5341]

Love it brother. Great video. Those guys had the balls to full throttle those beast up those hills. True riders or die baby.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Even in 1930’s advertisement’s and on Indian catalog’s of the 1930’s, Indian still called their machines MOTOCYCLES. In 1913, Mr. Hendee had the bright idea of making a new type of motorcycle with an electric start. He invested $500,000 of company money into this venture, finally producing the Hendee electric start special in 1914. The machine had a fatal flaw. The batteries of the time were not up to the task of continually starting a motocycle,

[@HuntingHarleys]

Oscar Hedstrom had the most reliable motor during this time and Mr. Hendee took note of this. They made an agreement, signed onto the back of an envelope, to form a company to manufacture and distribute this new form of bicycle. Initially, this was called the Motocycle by the newly formed Indian Motocycle company. These devices were not called Motorcycles until later by other companies and eventually, Indian followed this.

[@airboatkid1]

I have a set of those heads, like new. Robin Markey of Bob's Indian sales said they were 1 year only for a 1934 750 indian standard scout. They came with a 1937 standard scout basket, but I built it as a chief. They are aluminum.

[@KowboyUSA]

How many things are there that were wicked cool 75 years ago and still are? The funnest rototiller anyone's ever operated.

[@hooahman2111]

Awesome little history lesson you put together here. Thanks for sharing the knowledge and the videos.

[@mybikesheflies5244]

Now thats Impressive.Very first Motorcycle I changed gears on was a W.L.A. with a sidecar.My Pappy,s Postal work bike.In a paddock just like that & smiles just as big all round.He let me putt that old Walla round there all day.I was 11.A great Man who instilled a Love of Bikes ,Life & of course Harley Davidsons.Thanks for the Vids man.Great Stuff!!

[@HuntingHarleys]

we just got her running again. This was the "test" to see how she ran. you have to test them in the field, not on a bench. Indian's never go into gear well. We did some adjustment's in the field and she is back on the bench for further refining. These carb's seldom idle, it is how they are set up. I was surprised Duncan got her to idle as well as he did by the end of the video. They are special race carb's, meant to run on alcohol not gas and are basically on and more on.

[@HuntingHarleys]

we just got it running again after not starting for a year and a half. My flipping it a year and a half ago didn't help. After I warmed it up some, we dialed the carb in a bit more. This bike is 45 cubic inches. It will not have the deep bass of a bigger V twin

[@HuntingHarleys]

It is call FCI Hill Climb Model by the Indian Factory. They were not made after 1939. These flathead models were only made in 1938 and 1939, 18 (I think) in 1938, and for sure 18 in 1939. Value is subjective. this is original paint, I have the original title, and it RUNS. it is the only one known with this, plus the history I have on this machine is substantial.

[@sonoman00ify]

Right, I looked at my pics again. The hill climber he has that looks similar to that one doesn't have the Indian head on tank, it just says "Indian". The rear fender is different, has a cover over the kicker hear etc,. Have you found any new old machines lately?

[@HuntingHarleys]

Sounds like HD right before the sold a dying company to AMF. Glad you like the vids!

[@JohnDoe-yv5gd]

after u tuned the jets it made the world of a difference. I'd love to ride this bike.

[@HuntingHarleys]

glad you enjoy the videos!

[@HuntingHarleys]

CMC manufacturing won and brought out the “Indian” using an S&S motor, which has since gone bankrupt as well. My 1939 Hill Climber is a factory racer made by the motor company after their famous 45 inch flathead Scout design. This was the last year Indian made a Hill Climber as they concentrated on the Daytona big base style racer’s starting in 1940. Ed Kretz is the most famous racer of the Daytona big base era

[@HuntingHarleys]

By 1945, Ralph Roger’s (who was instrumental in making a viable Diesel motor used for big trucks and became wealthy from his company, Cummins. Mr. Roger’s had this great idea, make smaller versions of the motorcycle, like those the GI’s were exposed to over in Europe, and market them in the US. This lead to the Indian Vertical twin.

[@HuntingHarleys]

interesting. I don't have the machine with me here, it is at Duncan's for final tuning. These appear to be steel. I will have to test if they are aluminum or not. BUT, I can't see Indian using a "regular" set of heads on a factory racer, especially one this powerful. We have not been into the motor. Dale from Wheels Through Time has 1939 # 18, the last off the line. This one is #8.

[@nutmegger1957]

I'm a 57 year old, with 11 years of riding a motorcycle under my belt, but I've never owned a kick-start bike. Why do you have to ratchet the kick-start a few times before attempting to do the starting kick? What is the mechanical reason for that? Is it about building up torque or compression?

[@HuntingHarleys]

+nutmegger1957 kicking on the compression kick, and with an Indian, getting a full throw of the kicker gear set up

[@RememberWhen1989]

nice can't wait to see the new video! Thanks for taking the time to do it.

[@russc5962]

I think this was the first time I've ever seen you smile man.

[@joecat6666]

Todd thanks for sharing this cool stuff with us!

[@HuntingHarleys]

+Geert de Jonge Indian and Harley both overed throttle's on either side for customers preferance

[@HuntingHarleys]

+Geert de Jonge offered I meant

[@fanoboss]

thank you for this channel

[@kalashinikovchop250]

awesome bike would love to have seen on of those going up a hill!

[@HuntingHarleys]

They essentially said to Roger’s, use our engineer’s for your design, and we will lend you the money. Roger’s agreed, and the result was the huge success of the vertical twin turned into a financial disaster as all the initial units sold came back to the factory with a bad lower end. Additionally, Roger’s never re-introduced the flathead Scout that had kept Indian alive all those years.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Duncan has gone over the machine again for me. We will take it out again soon and take another video. I plan on bringing this one to Hanford and riding her around if you make it

[@HuntingHarleys]

This is also why all 1953 Chief’s have a Police generator. Thus a true 1953 has a different shape to the fender’s and tanks on the Chief’s. The banks marketed for many years Royal Enfield’s in the USA (and other’s) as Indian’s even into the 1970’s. Over time, the actual owner’s to the name became lost and this caused a legal battle when people wanted to reintroduce the Indian in the late 1990’s.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Hedstrom returned, without pay, and together they came up the idea and design for the Indian Scout. Introduced in 1920 as a 37 inch model, later produced as a 45 inch starting in 1928, the Scout literally saved Indian. By 1919, the US was in a severe recession and under duress from inflation from the war in Europe (the war to end all wars) and the Mexican American war of 1916.

[@MrChixxxy]

Love the kicker!

[@dannytheplumber7394]

Excellent video, thanks ! That rear sprocket is definitely for hill climbing , what is it like , 80 teeth ?

[@seahag831]

This is the kind we used to race around the Hooterville dirt track.

[@hawkeyepierce3199]

That old mans pacemaker keeps going off

[@syyenergy7]

Yeah, that would be pretty wild :). Make a nice Christmas advertisement too.

[@GPgundude]

This is too dang COOL !

[@HuntingHarleys]

and the motocycle did not have a mechanical means of starting, like a kick starter. It is important to realize that in 1913, Indian was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world and produced 30,000 units in 1913 to Harley’s 25,000 units. Neither Indian or any other contemporary company realized that the world was about to be introduced to the Model T courtesy of Henry Ford

[@HuntingHarleys]

similar, the factory racer's with the big base came out in 1940. these particular flathead's were the Hill Climber's. As far as I am aware, the factory dirt racer's were not made in flathead design 1938 / 39 when they made these limited edition Hill Climb models. Factory production was a total of 36 machines for both years. These motor's are NOT stock, nor is the rest of it. All special race stuff. Unreal power, for a 39

[@feanorfingolfin7414]

This reminds me of that Steve McQueen movie.

[@HuntingHarleys]

During the war, the government required motorcycles from Harley and Indian at such a discount that profits were very limited, further damaging the cash trapped company. By late 1918, insolvency loomed and the plant manager (I cannot recall his name and I no longer have the era magazines from which I am writing this historical account) asked (begged?) Mr. Hedstrom to help him save the plant.

[@HuntingHarleys]

yep, greed takes down many companies. I had forgotten the names of the people. Been a few years since I had the era magazines that talked about this. The people actually involved are long gone and I am going off my recall of what I read some 20 plus years ago. And always, just because someone wrote it, does not mean it is true. Not then, not today.

[@hunterpetrovich1460]

Sounds amazing!!

[@matiasdamian8106]

Best sounding engine dude... My gosh that bike that bike fun to ride, great Video! Got a new subscriber man

[@HuntingHarleys]

They only produced, in very limited numbers, the Chief after the war. By 1953, Indian only produced 300 civilian Indian Chief‘s, and only because an order to make these Chief’s for the Police had been canceled. They actually had to recreate the molding for the fenders and tanks for the 1953’s as these had already been destroyed or disposed of thinking they were out of business in 1952.

[@mfreund15448]

Beautiful!

[@crominion6045]

Beautiful old bike. Too bad the camera was glitchin' out so much, though. Maybe there's a rule that old vehicles like this can only be successfully filmed on old school film cameras? 😂👍

[@HuntingHarleys]

glad you loved the vid!

[@HarryPayn3]

That is the best looking bike I have ever seen.

[@mustie1]

your smilin im smilin,,were all smilin,, thanks for the vid,

[@davidspin581]

Really cool bike. I don't know if it was those mushrooms I eat or was the video distorted.

[@HuntingHarleys]

Indian once again faced financial insolvency. By 1933, Indian’s once robust production had dropped to roughly 3000 units. In stepped DuPont (in 1930), Dupont simply liked Indian, and he was able, through his massive personal wealth, keep the marque alive through the great depression. However, by 1940 War loomed once again with Europe and Dupont was no longer well.

[@HuntingHarleys]

it was running too rich when we 1st fired her. Only way to tune them is to run them. We are fixing the bottom studs by the transmission. Someone years ago replaced them with studs that are too short. I will bring her out and video again once this is fixed. Watch the whole video and you'll hear her run better by the end.

[@Grumpyoldbiker]

Hi Tod, I looked it up for you in Sucher's Iron Redskin: Frank Wechsler got Hedstrom back in 1917 to help with war production. According to Sucher he wasn't involved in the development of new models. That was left to Charles B. Franklin, who came up with the sidevalve Scout for the 1920 model year. The recurring theme in Indian's history is how greedy boardmembers constantly diverted profits to fund all sorts of doomed non-motorcycle activities.

[@2-raw-coopcooper488]

That is so awesome. Way COOL . Thanks guys for the video.

[@HuntingHarleys]

certain types of races are far more exhilarating then other types. At the top of this list I put hill climbs and oval dirt tracks

[@stanfischer6175]

Reminds me when Fat Freddy bought that old chopper

[@airboatkid1]

`I've had a few Indians in the past as well as a couple of chief's now. I'm assuming it had a sport scout engine at 750 CC. The front fork appears to be a junior scout, same as I had on my 1940 flat tracker. The heads puzzle me, They are not sport scout, but more like the 1934 scout.Nice bike and congratulations on keeping it, the way they made it.

[@brettbrandstatt8589]

That's strange, I live right around there. Kinda neat to see.

[@HuntingHarleys]

both Indian and HD were made both ways. WHY Indian made their racer's this way I supposed has to do with tracks being curved to the left. My personal theory, but the maker's have passed on and cannot be asked.

[@dalereed2014]

I just watched the movie The Worlds Fastest Indian, they are such neat bikes.

[@terriecotham1567]

cool old bike thanks for posting

[@h1ll13illy2]

what a beautiful treasure of history

[@MrCapiroto66]

That sound... pure music.

[@kaptinkron29]

So cool love what you guys do... Fight the good fight! Love it

[@rednecklowlife]

That beast has a rear sprocket like a ferris wheel! For climbing up the side of them vertical hills! Hella nice!

[@steyrpuchmangmailcom]

Todd nice demo thanks for sharing this with us..Leo

[@HuntingHarleys]

Leonardo c thanks Leo. it is unfortunate Duncan detuned this machine prior to this video. It was "supposed" to be in better running condition then when I dropped it off. I had it in much better running condition prior to letting Duncan touch it.

[@jamieholmes5443]

That looks like so much fun

[@weldermike7017]

Coolest bike stuff i've seen in a long time, awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@maxrappoport3985]

@huntingharleys whats the price you would put on this bad boy?

[@HuntingHarleys]

+Max Rappoport sold a few years back, 75k

[@HuntingHarleys]

glad you like the vid!

[@magicgordo4878]

We have seen Jerry Chinn ride this beast and ride it well. This is a real race bike.. Jerry had another one too (1933?) We hope the Harley dudes will get over this. LOL

[@HuntingHarleys]

Jerry Chin is a good friend. He is a real racer

[@IntoTheMystery13]

Man this thing is awesome!

[@HuntingHarleys]

glad you enjoy them!

[@ralas72]

Duncan...does he have a small shop off Umbarger in San Jose? Isn't that the Santa Clara Fairgrounds behind? If that's him....awesome mechanic...he rebuilt my Evo engine...

[@HuntingHarleys]

+ralas72 Duncan is one of the best mechanic's I've ever seen. That said, just because someone can, and you save their ass from financial disaster and you pay them up from money every time they need $ at $10,000 a pop, does not mean they do good work for you, treat you right, or in Duncan's case, s actually honest with the parts and bikes you bring him. He was supposed to tune this up, instead he de tuned it and it ran like crap. I did a better job of tuning it prior to bringing it to him for fine tuning. I suggest you watch this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/fonPhoOjqs2bpZY

[@HuntingHarleys]

+ralas72 yes, this is that Duncan

[@sonoman00ify]

is that the same hill climber that is now in the Maggie Valley Museum? I just looked at my lid and it looks almost identical? If not, where did this one end up? I would think that as rare as these bikes are (36) total they would sell for no less than $30,000 today. surely there aren't even ten that have survived, ESPECIALLY WITH ORIGINAL PAINT!

[@HuntingHarleys]

They made 18 this last year of manufacture in 1939. This one sold to a guy in Indiana. It is number 8. Dales is, I believe, number 18