Topic: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian (Read 1455 times)

Blackhawk · « **on:** July 09, 2015, 01:05:58 PM »

Neighbor is restoring an old Indian 193?. He has the bike running and most if not all parts are original. However, the front handle bar is bent a bit. He is looking for guidance on how best to bend the one side back up a bit. (right side is lower then the left, but hard to tell from picture. No idea on how best to bend that bar.

We are located west of Chicago if someone is going to suggest a shop.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Chuck D

sadunbar · « **Reply #1 on:** July 09, 2015, 01:09:23 PM »

Quote from: Blackhawk on July 09, 2015, 01:05:58 PM

Neighbor is restoring an old Indian 193?. He has the bike running and most if not all parts are original. However, the front handle bar is bent a bit. He is looking for guidance on how best to bend the one side back up a bit. (right side is lower then the left, but hard to tell from picture. No idea on how best to bend that bar.

We are located west of Chicago if someone is going to suggest a shop.

Thanks in advance for any input.

Chuck D

Years ago I had a similar situation with a vintage era bike. I removed the bars from the bike, clamped them to a steel table, and then used some heat and gently bent them back into reasonable position, using a larger bar as leverage.

RonandJanet · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2015, 02:05:07 PM »

I have done this as well on other metal bars but not on handle bars. Nice bike by the way!

Blackhawk · « **Reply #3 on:** July 13, 2015, 04:24:14 PM »

Thanks, worked out OK.

Hope you are enjoying the summer, at least if you live somewhere it is not raining every other day.

cd.

cahdbiker · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2015, 02:52:45 AM »

Blackhawk, if you are going to heat the bars and especially if they are something that is difficult to replace , if possible fill the bars with sand before you heat and bend. That will pretty much guarantee you will not get a kink if you overheat and bend to much. CAHDBIKER

Blackhawk · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2015, 02:52:52 PM »

Thanks as well Cahdbiker for the reply. Good info to know. (sorry for the late reply)

Rock on.

murphy · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2015, 11:28:14 PM »

If the bend is only slight you can use a large pipe... place it over the grip side you need to tweek and adjust with leverage accordingly.

Author Topic: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian (Read 1455 times)

Blackhawk

How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian

sadunbar

Re: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian

RonandJanet

Re: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian

Blackhawk

Re: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian

cahdbiker

Re: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian

Blackhawk

Re: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian

murphy

Re: How best to bend back a handle bar on an old Indian