belldane

I had the same problem with blistering and bubbling on a 348 fiberglass tank. I tried fixing it myself but the problem came back after a few weeks. I ended up taking the tank to a fiberglass specialist and he re-coated with a fiberglass mixture which is used to repair fiberglass petrol tanks on boats. All I needed to do when I got the tank back was to give it a smooth finish, painted it in two pack and it has been fine for the last couple of years.

I have a couple of 247's and a 348. To answer your original question I can't see any difference between the magneto stators. Even the wiring colors are the same.

Found the motors but I was not really prepared to split the cases to answer your question. I am pretty sure they are the same. Send Jared Bates an email at www.southwestmontesa.com and he will be able to help

Try Jared Bates at www.southwestmontesa.com

Hi How did that gear get into that mess in the first place? I have 247 and 348 motors in my cave, somewhere, I will get back to you when I check it out. See ya

The hole in the fin and holes around that flange thing that screws into the barrel are all stock. One thing I did find useful to lock things up was to really give the flange and the barrel a really good clean with thinners or similar, smother the threads with silastic, put that spring Vintage Cota described and let it cure for about 24 hours. That silastic is fantastic stuff and will withstand temps of up to 500 degrees. Cheaper than getting the thread on that barrel done

I have been looking at your questions over the last week or so but can't help Send Jared Bates an Email at southwestmontesa.com and he will be able to help

The clutch side flywheel is on a parallel shaft and on a key and easy to get off as the puller is the same as the one to get the magneto off on the other side. i must say that you can never tell when you buy an old Monty and what has been done to them for people to keep them going. If the bloke you bought it off did all that mess to it he should be strung up by the you know what whats. I was lucky to find another 348 not far from here and will have enough spares until I am popping the flowers up.

Fit an Xl250 Honda wheel on the front. Not too much trouble and the brakes are great. Twice the size of Montesa and for the purists not exactly to original but it slows down better!

Try Jared Bates in the US at sothwestmontesa.com

Hi Pete Glad you sorted your front wheel problem out. One of the 247's I have also came with a steel front wheel and for the life of me could not get the original alloy one anywhere in Australia so I improvised and fitted complete forks (35mm same as Honda xl250 trail bike) and Honda alloy rim from the same bike to the Montesa. Travel is slightly more than original and the front brake is about twice the size of the original. A bit of welding here and there and works fine. Just something to remember if you you ever get stuck. Give me your email address and I will send some pics of the bikes I have. See ya Manuel

Hi Try Jared Bates at southwestmontesa.com. I am sure Jared will have one

Hi David and Pete I was thinking about the same thing today. Pete, if the engine and frame numbers match then it can't be a 74 model from the engine you have described. If both covers have a big M on them at the front of the motor your bike could be a 77 or 78 model. A picture would be nice to sort all this out but I wish you luck as I have never been successful in posting any photos on this forum. Manuel

Never thought that the later type cases could be fitted to an older motor. Then again it does not surprise me because so many parts are interchangeable between the majority of the old Montesas

Pete If the bars are a decent price, buy them as they are as rare as rocking horse poo. I picked up a set of super Akront bars for the 348 I have with the Montesa name on them for a few dollars and I have never seen any more since then. Manuel

Hi Pete, the joys of owning a Montesa hey! The front wheel should be an alloy one. The handlebars are also wrong. No cross bar for that model. The holes in the swingarm are for a chain oiler and the shocks should not be upside down. Now to the thing that confuses me. If you say that the bike is a 1974 model then someone has but the wrong motor on that bike. Both my 247's have a solid covers on the clutch side. That small removable compartment you have mentioned with the letter A on it was actually the cover for the autolube which they did away with and went to premix. The company was obviously trying to save some money and used engines used on other models. My 348 has the same thing. The small lug on the engine mount also confuses me. If can't be for a decompressor. The cable for that goes from the trigger on the handlebars to the head. If the engine and frame numbers match it is not a 74 model. It may help if you can post a picture of the bike to see what is going on. Manuel

Hi Pete My email address is belldane@skymesh.com.au. Contact me if you wish if you need any help. Manuel

Hi Pete Go to southwestmontesa.com and under Model Gallery you will be able to see what year model you have. If you send an email to the owner, Jared Bates, at info@southwestmontesa.com, he will be to advice you what oil to use, quantity ect. In fact he is very helpful and knows all Montesas inside out. His shop in the States only deals in Montesas and has been fiddling with them for over 20 years. His spares are also reasonably priced and if he does not have the parts he knows where to get them. Hope that helps. Manuel

Hi There has to be a manual for the bike. My 247's are mid 70's. What year model is yours? That rubber thingy you are talking about is what keeps the oil from leaking out and when you do that hex nut up should be tight. I have three Montesas ranging in years from those I have mentioned to a late 70's 348 and the insides of the forks all appear to be the same. Let me know the year model and I may be able to help. If I can't, I can point you in the direction of someone that can

Turn the fork leg upside down and you will see a hex headed nut (not sure what size as I have not done mine for a while) which you must undo to separate the fork. Make sure you drain the oil from the leg first.

Hi If the other leads you have been given try www.southwestmontesa.com I am sure Jared Bates can help

Send a photo and that may help. Cheers

I had a similar problem with a Montesa backfiring while trying to start it. It would not hurt to check timing. It may not be the problem but try anyway and if it is not that you can eliminate from the other things you need to check

Fitting the right kick starter will certainly stop the side cover from being destroyed any more. As far as pulling the clutch in and trying to start, it will never happen. The kick starter will just slide down without turning the engine. The bike has to be in neutral before it will start. As far as buying all the bits and pieces to get it going, I would try the old coil first. Even though the casing has melted, it may still be OK and you are going to find that the new one is going to cost you an arm and a leg. What I would do is connect the black wire coming from the engine to the coil, replace the condenser and the points. (set the points between 15 to 16 thou) and give it a kick and you should get a spark. (make sure that you earth the plug on top of the head as you are doing that). The fun and games will begin when you try to sort out that gear problem. Hope that helps