Indian Announces New Four

From the July 1935 issue of Motorcyclist Magazine

Up and down the reaches of the grapevine communication system of motorcycling the question has gone. “When is Indian coming out with their new four?” Supporting the question have been choice morsels of information, some correct and many incorrect. However, whether or not the information was authentic it all tended to bring out one thing; motorcyclists were interested in a new four-a new aristocrat among two-wheelers.

Now the four is a reality. It has officially been announced by the factory and complete specifications are given as appear herewith. With the four just released for, sale, not much opportunity has been available for trials, except on the East Coast. So we can’t relate, except by hearsay, how it feels to uncork the new job. What we can do is pass on the reactions of two well known men in the fraternity, who have inspected the new job. One from the East Coast is that oldtimer who is known all over the country, Fritzie Baer. The other, from the West Coast, an equally well known oldtimer, Hap Alzina.

Not so long ago these gentlemen formed a committee of two to take out one of the fours and put it through its paces; not just for a short speed trial down a smooth highway, but through all the variations of a considerable piece of Massachusetts’ countryside. They coddled it and they punished it. There were bursts of high speed and then a quick stop to listen. And when they came back it was hard to tell which was the broadest, the Baer smile or that of the Haperino. “And, she’ll cruise at ninety,” says Hap.

For a thorough analysis of the machine it is but necessary to carefully review the specifications. In doing so note that there are a few departures in design, which after some little testing, are being incorporated. The new job includes a special carburetor of updraft air valve type with three compensating jets designed to give more power; heavy duty cylinders with extra large cooling fins; high compression combustion chambers; increased lift on cams; enlarged porcelain finished exhaust manifold with double free action mufflers; needle bearings in rocker arms and a continuation of the choice between magneto or battery ignition.

In addition to the above features the new four has been given a lowered center of balance. Oversized braking service and a new centrifugal action clutch, combined with all the other features tend toward an apparent combination of comfort and safety in the new outfit.

Fours are rapidly being distributed all over the country. After all the best way is to see, to try and to learn. So drop in at your dealer’s and see for yourself. The four is here.

Following are the specifications:

Brakes: Front wheel and rear wheel brakes, internal, expanding type. Total brake area 33.375 square inches. Front brake hand operated, rear brake foot operated.

Clutch: Multiple steel disc, operating in oil. Full automatic centrifugal clutch weights lighten pedal pressure and increase clutch efficiency.

Controls: Twist type. Throttle, left grip; spark, right grip. Reversed controls optional.

Drive: Helical bevel gears between motor and transmission. Final drive 3/8” wide x 5/8” pitch roller chain. Gear ratios: Solo 4.17 to 1; Side Car 4.72 to 1.

Electric System: Auto-Lite generator, Willard 6 volt, 24 ampere hour battery outside fill type. Lighted instrument panel.

Finish: Du Pont Dulux, Indian Red Standard; a variety of other color combinations optional. Special colors at extra cost.

Fork: Indian triple-stem type. Leaf spring suspension.

Frame: Indian double tube cradle type. Low saddle position. Theft-proof lock in steering head.

Ignition: Battery ignition standard. Auto-Lite distributor in combination with generator. High tension cables enclosed in heat proof tube. Magneto ignition optional at extra cost.

Lubrication: Pressure feed system to all bearings. Visible oil pressure gauge. All oil contained in motor base. Crank case oil capacity, three quarts.

Motor: Four cylinder, air cooled, Bore 2 ¾” (69.55 mm) stroke 3 ¼” (82.55 mm) 77.21 cubic inches (1265.47 cc) displacement. Overhead exhaust valve. Removable exhaust valve seats and cages. Side inlet valve. Rake type aluminum inlet manifold. Updraft air valve carburetor. High lift cam shaft. Lynite pistons. Five bearing crankshaft. New angle fin cylinders. New combustion chamber, high output from standard fuels.

Muffler: Dual mufflers and exhaust pipes. All chrome plate. Thru valve provided. Exhaust manifold heavily finned and finished in porcelain enamel.

Saddle: Side spring compression spring type. Saddle top leather covered rubber cushion on bracket type base. Optional spring weights.

Tank: Two piece covering frame top tube. Quick opening gas cocks in forward position on both sides. Capacity 3.38 Imperial gallons of gas (17.4 liters), 4.6 U.S. gallons.

Transmission: Three speed progressive type. Integral with motor. Semi constant mesh.

Wheelbase: 61”.

Wheels And Tires: Wire wheels -18” drop center rims. Tires 18” x 4.00” Goodyear or Firestone optional.

Weight: 511 pounds.

Engine: Overhead Exhaust Valves in Individual Cages- Equip with Aluminum Bronze valve seats. Provides better exhaust valve cooling due to exposed position of cages. Permits renewal of valve seat as well as guide without replacement of cage. Provides excellent valve spring cooling. Side Intake Valve-Permits use of updraft air valve carburetor and aluminum rake type manifold. Incoming gas remains cool thru aluminum manifold which is placed away from heat of cylinder. Cool incoming gas thru side valve part reduces cylinder temperature. Provides easy gas flow thru large unrestricted parts.

Cylinders: Cast Iron with large angle fins providing exceptional cooling for long, hard running. High turbulent combustion chamber with 5.00:1 compression ration allowing the use of third grade fuel without detonation.

Camshaft: High lift with rapid valve opening providing high cylinder charging rate with increased power and top speed.

Exhaust Manifold: Cast iron with large cooling fins to prevent overheating. Finished in high temperature. Porcelain enamel.

Carburetor: Updraft air valve type, designed to give good economy together with excellent flexibility throughout the speed range. With this carburetor the engine does not tend to stall at idle after hard running.

Ignition: Either battery or high tension magneto. The battery ignition system is of the conventional, reliable distributor type used on all automobiles. Spark plug wires are carried thru a smooth metal tube to avoid chafing and placed well away from the cylinders to prevent over-heating the insulation.

Clutch: Multiple steel disc running in oil. Discs perforated to break suction effect and provide positive and easy release. Disc pressure supplied by eight light springs in addition to four centrifugal weights which automatically provide low pressures at idling and gear shifting speeds and build up pressure as the throttle is opened for high power and high speed. Low clutch pedal pressure due to the light springs and low centrifugal weight force at low speeds.

**Radio Speeds Up Forest Communication **

Short wave radio messages are speeding over the twenty national forests of Oregon and Washington this season, carrying information on fire and weather conditions, and tightening up organization plans generally for the summer fire fighting campaign, according to announcement by Assistant Regional Forester F.V. Horton, in charge of the radio development project of the U. S. Forest Service, Portland, Oregon.

The Olympic national forest in northwestern Washington tops the list in number of forest radio stations, according to Horton, with 91 stations in use. The Chelan national forest, with headquarters in Okanogan, Washington, ranks second with 79 stations, and the Siskiyou national forest in Southwestern Oregon uses 59 stations. Between 300 and 400 radios are in use in the North Pacific region.

The greater part of this equipment is made up of portable 9-pound and 16-pound radio transmitting and receiving stations. The 9-pound sets are made compact enough to fit into the “pack sack” of the “smoke-chasers” in order that they may be constantly in communication with lookouts and ranger stations while fighting fire. These smallest sets have a working range of about 20 miles, receiving messages by voice, and transmitting by code.

With these portable radio stations, a few minutes’ work will put the most isolated forester into touch with the nearest ranger station, and thence with forest headquarters.

In many parts of the forest service motorcycles are used for transportation. Not a bad combination, motorcycles and portable radios.