Another report on my vintage Indian Scout motorcycle restoration project? Yes, because it’s getting out of hands and I’m freaking out!
So I know I should be writing about something else like a new castle or a great destination, but I’m really freaking out and I need to tell you!
If you read the other fairly recent update on the restoration progress of my Indian Scout 741, you already know summer wasn’t the most productive time and I was still struggling to find someone to handle the valve seats.
Well, summer ended and I found someone who could handle the job required for the valve seats and more…
OK, OK, you can read this below pieces because it’s funny and sad, and true!
But things totally turned out ok! And, if you wish, you can skip to the part where I tell you about the gearbox overhaul and the engine overhaul! Huge progress was made since I published my below rant!
You can still read below what happened! Yes, you should!
I was so happy!
One phone call to the right person, finally! And I was put in touch with a man, who is specialized in Indian Scout restoration! I couldn’t believe my luck. His garage is just one hour drive from my dad’s place and I repeat this: he is specialized in Indian Scout restoration!
How could I not find him sooner? I don’t know. He doesn’t seem to need advertising, so he is not on social media and stuff.
Anyway, I was ecstatic when he said that indeed he could do the valve seats and change the guides. Something I wasn’t ready to handle myself or let my brother do. He confirmed he could also redo the brakes like they were done in the past: riveted not glued!
Long story short, he personally came to see my dad and left with half of the engine. 😲
It’s great but it hurts
I had informed my dad of his visit but I had not expected my dad, to let go of the engine so easily. He mentioned a couple additional things that needed to be checked and my dad simply agreed.
Well, that hurts!
I know, I know nothing about mechanics but when I say the connecting rods wiggle, it might be a problem, it isn’t one. When someone else says the connecting rods wiggle, they need to be adjusted, it’s ok. OK, he is not just ‘someone else’, he is a pro, but it was obvious and I was dismissed, and it hurts.
I’m not winning and it wouldn’t be bad, if it was just one item.
It’s not just one item. The story is the same for the countershaft gear bushing, the same with the piston rings, the countershaft installation, etc… I was dismissed every time. It got tiring. No, upsetting.
And we haven’t even discussed the mainshaft thrust washers issue at this point!
It’s getting out of hands
It’s getting out of my hands to be precise. And that hurts too.
I receive the below picture and got really sad. And a bit scared, but mostly sad.
At first, I thought I was sad because of the couple issues he highlighted, when sending the picture. One of the shaft has to be replaced. One of the bearing rollers was not properly tighten and damaged the crankcase. And yes, the piston rings have to be changed. I was sad of the news and freaked out for my bank account.
Actually, I then realized that I was sad because I did not disassemble the crankcase myself. I had not managed to convince my dad to do it. He had refused, my brother reinforced his view that it was not necessary. I had therefore lost the battle.
To be honest, from what I had understood, you need a specific tool to balance the flywheels and since we don’t have one, I thought it might be dangerous to try. Still, I was sad… I know it’s stupid.
I’m sure it’s all going to be ok!
I’m going back in a week and should be able to see it all for myself. Not sure how involved I’ll managed to get but I do plan on being my most painful self, until I get to participate to the rebuilt!
I don’t know.
I’m upset because I feel like I’m never going to learn enough. Never going to manage enough. Never be good enough.
My bike has been in a 1000 pieces for a while and now it is scattered with the chromes still in Paris, the frame at my dad’s place and most of the engine at the garage.
Feeling like on a Hero’s journey
I don’t think I ever started such a scary project of my life.
Sure, I did some pretty scary thinks before. Like leaving France on a wimp, to be an au pair in the US. Deciding to study law when I was a math major. Also, I’ve move to various countries, changed carreer and so forth. I’ve even become independent, which is pretty scary actually!
Sure I’ve rebuilt a bicycle, restored antique chairs and overall I’m pretty handy and into DIY projects.
But this? Restoring a motorcycle? This is scary. Mostly because it is my dad’s motorcycle. If I had bought a piece of junk in a backyard sell, the pressure wouldn’t be as great. Not making it to the end would not be such a big deal. Not managing to restore it would be a disappointment, but not a huge deal.
Since the Indian isn’t a piece of junk bought in a backyard sell, but my dad’s most priced possession, the stakes are high. Everest high!
This got me feeling like I’m on a hero’s journey! Yes, a little overstated but it’s a real feeling.
What’s a hero’s journey?
In case you are unfamiliar with the concept, a hero’s journey is a plot structure, for story telling of great adventures!
A hero’s journey takes the main character from his mundane known little world, to the unknown. The hero will eventually return to where it all started but will be forever changed by the journey.
Such journey will be filled with ups and downs, breakthrough and challenges which seems at first insurmountable. The hero will question his worthiness and all he knows, he will be filled with fears and doubts, he will struggle to move forward… At one point, he will be faced with the greatest challenge of all. To come out victorious, the hero will have to push through mountains, fight and make sacrifice. The hero usually comes out victorious and becomes, in the process, a stronger version of himself.
Despite having conquered his fears and managed his quest, on the return journey, the hero usually feels like something remains amiss. The hero is facing internal conflict as his life, now, doesn’t quite match the vision he had for it. At this moment, he is actually facing the greatest challenge of all, one which has consequences for all… Once the hero makes it through this ultimate peril, he is reborn and has gained an acceptance for his new sense of self.
The hero makes it back to where it all started, victorious, transformed and having learned about himself, more than he could have ever imagined. The journey has radically changed the hero, who now gets to create a new life, in which to thrive.
Oh seriously? you’re renovating a bike not going to the moon!
I totally get your point if you’re thinking I’m exaggerating. If you haven’t read any of the other articles on the renovation process, you are, maybe missing pieces to judge.. just saying…
Anyway, I’m not saying I’m on a hero’s journey, I’m saying I feel like on a hero’s journey. Feelings are what they are!
It’s a feeling, ok?!
It all started when my mom passed away. My dad was worried about who would get his bike. To me it was obvious that my big brother would. When he said no, I wasn’t sure what to do. (I’ve already explained all this but just repeating for ease!) I tried to reject the ‘quest’ while just dusting of the bike a bit.
As my dad’s health deteriorated, I could see the only thing that still made him smile was to be in the garage, working on the bike. So I ended up accepting the challenge and started the journey.
There has already been lots of struggles and fights. A lot of doubts too.
At this point, I feel like I’m approaching the innermost cave, the abyss. I’m reflecting on the journey so far, the things learned and not being able to go back, I know I have to face the great ordeal. I’m scared.
I don’t know if I will come out victorious. I don’t think I have a choice, really. We have to succeed rebuilding the Indian! And my gift for this fight will be to have a beautifully rebuilt motorcycle, my new treasure!
Yet, I’m also starting to feel that managing to fully rebuilt the Indian isn’t even the biggest challenge…
What will I do next?
It’s stupid but I’m just starting to wonder what I will do next with the Indian!
It is a 200 kg motorcycle which takes quite a bit of space and which will have required hours of work to restore. So the whole thing is not like buying a dress and leaving it, in a closet, with the price tag on.
The thing is, the Indian doesn’t fit in my current world. It doesn’t even fit in my garage.
I know I wrote before that it will stay at my dad for the time being because even if it is mine now, I won’t take it away from him. Except when I go on a road trip! Although I wrote this before, “going on a road trip“, and I sometime picture myself doing it, it always seemed unreal. Just another dream, like many others.
But now, I’m just starting to realize that it might not be just another dream. It is becoming a real possibility.
And this is scary. I’m starting to sense that restoring the Indian, fulfilling the objective, the quest, one way or another isn’t the finish line. That my tribulations won’t be over just because the Indian is running.
It is starting to make me feel that the biggest challenge of all is to come after the restoration is finished, that my life will be transformed by this adventure…
So, yes, I’m kind of freaking out but I’m sensing it might be the most beautiful adventure I could have ever hoped for…
Last words…
I already wrote quite a few pieces on the Indian renovation process. If you’ve read any of them, you can tell that there isn’t a lot of mechanic insight, in those. I do know, I’m far from an expert, so I’m not going to give advise on that front!
My articles are a lot more about the process, the things I learn, the struggles I face with my dad, the emotional roller coaster and so forth.
That’s why I thought I should, once more, share with you the current mood!
If you are about to start a similar project, something scary, something you are not equipped to handle… Then I hope my articles can help you a little. At least you’ll see that you are not alone in this mess!!
For your pin boards!
