Английская Википедия:Indian Powerplus

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Шаблон:Infobox motorcycle Шаблон:Infobox automobile engine The Indian Powerplus is a motorcycle that was built from 1916 to 1924 by the Hendee Manufacturing Company. Designed by Charles Gustafson, the Powerplus's engine was Indian's first flathead.

Origin

Charles Gustafson left Reading Standard in 1909 and joined Indian as Oscar Hedstrom's assistant. Gustafson had designed side valve "flathead" engines for Reading Standard, which had been the first motorcycle manufacturer in the United States to use a flathead engine in a production motorcycle. When Hedstrom left Indian in 1913, Gustafson became Indian's chief engineer.

In late 1915, Indian introduced Gustafson's replacement for Hedstrom's Шаблон:Convert V-twin engine. The new engine used side valves instead of the inlet-over-exhaust (IOE) valve layout used in Hedstrom's designs.Шаблон:Sfn The flathead engine was quieter and less expensive to manufacture than the earlier IOE engine and needed less maintenance. It was named "Powerplus" because its output of approximately Шаблон:Convert was noticeably greater than that of the earlier engine.

The new engine was installed in the existing frames for Indian V-twin motorcycles, and used existing drivetrain components, tanks, handlebars, and other components.Шаблон:Sfn The drive train included a clutch, a kickstarter, and a three-speed gearbox.Шаблон:Sfn

The standard frame for the Powerplus had a conventional rigid rear wheel mounting, but the Powerplus was also available with Indian's Cradle Spring Frame.Шаблон:Sfn Introduced in 1913, the Cradle Spring Frame had a rear swingarm linked to trailing leaf springs.

Controls

Файл:Indian Powerplus, 1918.jpg

Detail shot of 1918 Indian Powerplus, showing engine, with removable caps for valve removal, hand control levers for clutch, gearbox, and exhaust valve lifter, and pedal for rear drum brake

The Powerplus had twist grips on both handles; the throttle was controlled by the left twist grip while the right twist grip advanced or retarded the spark. Three controls were on the right side of the gas tank, a vertically-operated shifter, an exhaust valve lifter, and a hand clutch lever. The clutch lever was linked to the clutch pedal positioned on the left side of the bike.Шаблон:Sfn

Promotion and development

Between 24 and 28 August 1915, Erwin "Cannonball" Baker rode an early Indian Powerplus from Vancouver to Tijuana in 3 days, 9 hours and 15 minutes, establishing a new "Three Flags" record.

The Powerplus engine was revised in 1917 with the barrels and pistons lengthened by a quarter of an inch and the piston wrist pin relocated below the piston center. This was done to reduce the occurrence of piston slap. The valve caps in the cylinder head were finned from 1917 until the end of production.Шаблон:Sfn

A larger engine, with a displacement of approximately Шаблон:Convert, became available in 1920.Шаблон:Sfn

End of production

Production of the larger Powerplus engine ended in 1922, the year in which production of the Powerplus's eventual successor, the Chief, began production.Шаблон:Sfn The Powerplus was renamed the "Standard" in 1922, reflecting the fact that it was not as powerful as the Chief.Шаблон:Sfn

The Standard was discontinued in 1923, and the Cradle Spring Frame was discontinued with it. Indian would not offer rear suspension on a production motorcycle again until 1940, when the Chief and the Four would be given plunger suspension.

References

Citations

Sources

• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Citation
• Шаблон:Cite web