1940 Indian 640 Sport Scout

This motorcycle is a 1940 Indian model 640 45" Military Sport Scout - the machine was civilianized in the distant past, and the machine runs and drives. This particular machine was one of the 550 640 Scouts.
here were approximately 4,400 1940 640 Scouts made, with approximately 2,200 being military and 2,200 being civilian. The civilian machine came with skirted fenders.
The machine in this listing was last driven regularly in 1985. The machine is used. The speedometer and drive are present but there is no cable; the bike's true mileage is unknown. The speedometer has a maximum hand and trip odometer, but the reset knobs are missing and the speedometer's condition is unknown. The aluminum dash panel is cracked. Tires and paint are 45 years old. No tool box. Horn works but not wired. Front lower corner of engine case repaired on the right side, where the front through-bolt goes. A Harley-Davidson tombstone taillight is currently on the bike. The saddlebags are Buco items. The bags are mounted to wood. The original steel mounting bracket is not used now, but it was used in the past, based on wear marks where padlocks would have been used. The saddlebags could use new straps, and some of the fringe is missing. The primary drive leaks a little. The fenders that are currently on the bike are believed to be the original military fenders that the bike came with. The rear fender has had the military lights removed and the Harley light added. The original military taillights do not come with the machine - their whereabouts is unknown. The bike has Beck K-555 5.00 X 16 tires. The tires are at least 45 years old, but are not heavily cracked. The bike has not been stored out in the weather. When this bike was new, the tire size was probably 4.50 X 18. The bike's centerstand is on the bike, but it has not been used in a long time. The bike's sidestand behind the primary cover is broken - the broken frame piece and leg are included. The sidestand currently on the bike is the type used on the 741 military Scout. The windshield is a Beck item. The footboards have wood mounted on top of steel platforms. The seat on the bike is new, but the mounting bracket is a custom piece of steel bar-stock. The wiring on the bike is mostly custom, with very little - if any - original wiring left. The bike could use a new wiring harness. The battery for the bike is a small battery inside a hollow battery box. The box top is broken, and even though it works, the bike could use a new original type battery. The original style battery hold-down frog is there. The handlebar assembly appears to be slightly bent downward on the left side. The bike appears to be a matching number machine, but the motor number's stamping authenticity is unknown.
There is a pair of brackets attached to the left side of the frame that have an unknown purpose. One of the listing photos shows these two round brackets. The brackets/donut-shaped items are on the rear frame section vertical brace.
The carburetor is a Schebler DLX128 which is correct for a 1940 Sport Scout. The bottom body threads that hold the bowl on were repaired by Jerry Greer Engineering. The fuel line on the bike is new.