dkarten

I'm posting this followup in case anybody else has similar issue: I contacted Electrex & Bob helped me diagnose the issue, seems I got a defective CDI (coil) he authorized a warranty replacement & Speed & Sport sent out replacement same day, once installed Montesa starts 1st or 2nd kick after priming with decompression lever, I just happened to get a bad unit, thanks to Electrex & Speed & Sport for taking care of me, bike is a pleasure to start & ride again!

Started the 247 for 1st time after winter & started relatively easy & ran great, rode it 2 more times no problems, yesterday went for short ride, stalled it & won't restart, cleaned plug & checked spark & no spark, checked plug on another bike & shows spark AND tried new plug in Montesa, no spark, so today pulled flywheel thinking the key must have sheared but no issue there, all looks OK, disconnected kill switch & still no spark, Electrex Ignition is barely 6 months old? WTF?? ]

I set timing at 21% & while still hard starting cold it does fire up after a few kicks, warm starts are much better. I do find a lack of very low RPM power with the Moterex ignition installed & wonder if I should try refurbishing the original ignition?

Thanks for the lengthy reply, I set timing at 27% because John Haberbosch's website, Rockymountainmontesa. suggests that, he also says the Cota 247 will start & run from 21-27%, I will go back & adjust timing towards 21% & see how it starts, crank seals are recent & I set TDC using a dial indicator in the spark plug hole. Brand new NGK fitted

Ok, will do, Thanks for posting

I've had my '74 Cota for 22 years, always ran on points & coil, always hard to kick but always started, I'm getting old, recently had starting issues, installed compression release, still no start but had spark, pulled flywheel, checked points & decided to replace condenser, when I removed old condenser the wire pulled out from center of condenser, so thought that was issue, after 22 years with that condenser, replaced with new condenser & moved to under tank but then completely lost spark, decided to install Electrex ignition after reading on this site that others have done this & have 1 or 2 kick starting. while it now runs still have very hard starting, timing is set at 27%, new plug, carb is clean, running on non ethanol fuel, any suggestions?