pro sport

In my early days I wore leather boots but still suffered a twisted ankle on a cross-country link between sections, in the mid seventies the reinforced steel toe capped wellies came out which were amazing - dry protected feet. But then fashion dictated a change back to leather boots, which are now light and soft and offer less protection. Therefore as Lineaway and Guys have commented, I went for a pair of Alpinestars motocross boots and definitely like the extra protection given by the inner boot.

As you have said its a right hand change then its a Cota 247 could be anything from 1968 mk1 with large brake drums to a late 1972 mk3 with small drums and slimmer tank. As Glenn says a photo or ser no would give us a better idea to give you more info from. Cheers Dave

Hi Mark Just noticed that the front brake arm is behind the fork leg, it should be in front . This will move the position of the brake actuation lever so you might have to adjust it like you have with the rear brake , it will give a straighter pull on the cable making it less likely to stick.You can just make it out behind my horrible Red Forks. Cheers Dave

Found a picture of Aveley pits and me age 15 on my mates Greeves TFS.

Remember practicing at Aveley gravel pits on my Greeves in the late 60's , then the works riders were Vic Allen And Bryan Wade and at that time the Griffon was being developed. Good times. Dave

When I fitted a new float chamber gasket I didn't use anything as the petrol might dissolve it, anyway the gasket should seal on its own. The O ring on mixture screw might need a little rubber grease to aid fitting the O ring into the groove, and the same with the slow running screw. The main , needle , and pilot jets do not have O rings fitted, as far as i know.

Well done Mark The rubber joint on the exhaust is probably missing, mine was. And yes they do smoke a bit, mine is now running on a synthetic oil premix at 3% and hardly smokes at all. Get it properly lubed up and clean &adjust the brakes then get out and give it a try, you'll love it ! I'm just out for a practice on mine :-) Dave

Hi Mark Sorry you admitted defeat and put it into the shop for the guys to fix. As I told you a couple of days ago The 21M18--- ser No is a MK4b 247cc made in Feb to May 1975 deffo not 1972. The 21M25--- No is a late Ulf Karlson Replica 240cc Approx Mid 1978. As Charlie said youve got points/condensor problems from the bikes hanging around for so long not being used!!! The air filter boxes should be silver, Frame Black Gloss, Tank was Red gel coat Glass fibre but you can get various near matches in spray cans. Let us know how you get on once its back. Cheers Dave

Well as you probably know youve got a Cota Mk4b , made between Feb 74 & June 75. You need to get yourself a flywheel puller and a clamp to hold the flywheel whilst tightning the puller , once the flywheel is off you can check the points are clean and able to move, although you cant see them open and close as they run on a cam inside the flywheel. The inspection hole in the flywheel is your only check as to the points operation. The condensor can be removed from the hot engine area and fitted up next to the coil in the cooler air under the petrol tank. Once you get a spark at the plug you need to get the timing correct ( check other threads on here as to settings) then you need to lock up the flywheel really tight again then concentrate on the carb getting a correct fuel mixture (Strawberry colour plug tip) you might have to change the needle and needle jet as i did with mine to get it running correctly,its an Amal Carb and you can get parts from Burlen Ltd. Good luck Let us know how you get on. Dave( another mid life crisis dad! )

Hi Paul, will try to get along sunday but have company for the weekend. Will look out for the NV Mcc trial later on and try to get to that if not there sunday. Cheers Dave

Hi Paul, the taco is looking great now. Where abouts do you ride, as i am fresh back into riding on an old Montesa and am in Suffolk and would be looking to do some easy-in trials later in the year, maybe next year. regards Dave

If they are marking the sections get her to ask the observer for a 5 if she dont want to ride it, she might get some pleasure out of knowing her total score and possibly beating some of the boys!

Thanks for the help Guys, have now fitted new needle and jet , replaced main and pilot jets as they were a bit claggy. Now have a strawberry coloured plug which shows its running correctly and its also pulls like a train, now a pleasure to ride. Well pleased even if Burlen were a bit slow in sending the parts out ( 3 weeks). Cheers Dave

In Motion, ordered parts on thursday and delivered friday so that i could use the Montesa at the weekend, Great service.

Sorry about the poor quality but these photo's have been around for a few years! Taken in 1969 at a Chelmsford & Dist mcc Trial at Broomfield Pits. Shows Don DR Smith riding his works Cota 247 Reg No UMV 10F That had won the Team Prize at the SSDT that year along with Gordon Farley & Lawrence Telling. As ever in one shot DR had the obligatory 'Ciggy' on. Dave Cox

The pictures of Don Smith on the Kwaker reminded me of a couple of really old poor colour photo's i will post . He Still had a ciggy on in one shot ( as he did most of the time)

Thanks for the replies, I have just bought the bike and it might have been richened to make it easy starting. couldn't remember if it was tighten to richen or weaken? and maybee lower the needle as there might be some wear on it or the main jet, but will give the guide a bash. Can you still get Amal parts ? Cheers Dave

I have a Mk4b with a Amal Carb thats running a tad on the rich side (black plug and a bit fluffy mid revs) Cant remember which way to turn the mixture screw?

Hi all Used to ride in the Eastern Centre and South Midland Centres in the early 70's Belonged to Chelmsford & dist. North East London & Barnet & dist MCC's Started out with a 1966 Greeves Anglian, then saw what Don DR Smith could do with his Works Montesa Cota 247 so had to have one of them, along came a MK2 which was followed by a Mk 3 a couple of years later. I never improved above Novice but still had fun riding against the likes of Don Smith, John Banks (when he wasn't moto-xing) Simon Wigg and i remember doing the Isle of Wight 2 day trial with Sammy Miller. House purchase curtailed my hobbie but when i saw this advertised locally i'm afraid ive been tempted back into the fold, a Mk4b unregisterd. Can anyone with a few mins to spare bring me back up to speed as regards whats involved in Twinshock trials riding and comp nowdays Regards Dave Cox Essex and now Suffolk UK.