Hitchcocks Forum

Does anybody know if the Indian steering stem bearings will fit the early English frames. I wish to fit a complete Indian front end to a 53 frame. Also will the Indian swing arm fit? I know the setup isn't the same I'm more interested about the width, but I guess it can be done with spacers and bushes.

Works the other way around so yes I believe they will.

Thanks Simon, I thought it would but there is always some little thing to trip you up

Norm, the complete front end (and most other bits) go straight on, bearings as well. The only thing you will have to remove is the Indian bearing dust cover on the casquette as the Redditch frame steering column is too wide. The swinging arm is a bit more tricky. I believe Crusader thrust washers allow the Indian swinging arm to be fitted, but there is a mismatch in alignment between the frame and swinging arm shocker mountings, the Indian swinging arm mounts being 5mm wider than the Redditch frame ones. Not sure how this is resolved as I have a Redditch swinging arm on my 53 framed mongrel as I thought it easier to just open out the axle notch by 2mm and fit the Indian rear hub.

Thanks Chris, sounds fairly straight forward, I just wanted warning on anything major that might be there but all sounds good. I'll probably get started on it next week. Thanks again

Chris,
I'm not building a mongrel out of this bike just a sneaky way of using an old frame to get a 1995 Indian bike onto Club reg.lol

If you're fitting an Indian engine, all the indian engine plates fit apart from the top gearbox pair that bolt to the rear downtube. These need swapping for a pair of Redditch/repro ones, then it fits like a glove.

Norm,
The steering stem race is a different internal diameter between the two, so you will need to use the correct one for the stem. Likewise the frame races are different but as long as you use the Redditch races you will be ok. The race for the casquette can be swapped between the 2.

Thanks Chevy not quite sure what you meam but I will soon find out. I'm going to use the English swing arm I just need to get the spindle, bushes and nuts

Just a small fly in the ointment, you will have to modify the chain guard brackets or find an English chainguard.