nh014 Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Electrex World (www.electrexworld.co.uk) offers an electronic ignition conversion for the 348 / 349 Cotas (kit #STK-349). I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has made the conversion and can comment on the installation and subsequent performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willrichardson Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 Electrex World (www.electrexworld.co.uk) offers an electronic ignition conversion for the 348 / 349 Cotas (kit #STK-349). I'm interested in hearing from anyone who has made the conversion and can comment on the installation and subsequent performance. Hi Haven't used the Electrex conversion on a montesa trials, but have fitted one on my Maico 490 twinshock MX bike [well, everyone's got to have a secret summer life, haven't they...]and will say that quality is of high order, fitting straightforward and as mine was one of the first they'd done, Electrex were absolutely brill when it came to advice etc. Made a HUGE difference to starting the bike [could start it sitting down with left leg which, if you know anything about Maico starting habits...]and also ran lots smoother and cleaner low down [it may well have more "hit" but I've never been brave enough to find out!]. I would imagine that it might not be so dramatic on a Cota 348/9 but would be very surprised if it didn't make significant improvememnt. Hope that's helpful Will-in-the-mud :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo349 Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 How much does that kit cost for the mont? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted February 3, 2011 Report Share Posted February 3, 2011 I know two people who have tried the Electrex ignition on a 349 and it doesn't work. It's not properly sorted yet so I'd wait a bit if I were you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallymadmonty Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I know two people who have tried the Electrex ignition on a 349 and it doesn't work. It's not properly sorted yet so I'd wait a bit if I were you. Woody, Do you know what the problems were/are? Cheers RMM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I don't know the cause of the problem, only that the bikes just wouldn't run properly at all. Whatever the cause, it's not sorted yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavywrecker Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I can't speak for the reliability but this is an alternative. http://www.powerdynamo.biz/eng/systems/7190/7190acmain.htm Provides lighting too, which the Electrex one doesn't. Similar prices. But still a lot of money for something that you can't fix yourself if it goes wrong. I saved my money and mastered setting up the points properly (with help from David Taylor who is on this forum). I moved the condensor to a mount on the HT coil, which works well (cooler location). Using a Lucas DBC203C is preferable to the stock condensor. The advantage of staying with points is you can tune the bike to give milder (or wilder) power simply. After a few goes I have a bike that starts hot or cold, ticks over steadily and pulls great. Cheers Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samandkimberly Posted February 9, 2011 Report Share Posted February 9, 2011 I saved my money and mastered setting up the points properly (with help from David Taylor who is on this forum). The advantage of staying with points is you can tune the bike to give milder (or wilder) power simply. After a few goes I have a bike that starts hot or cold, ticks over steadily and pulls great. I have a 349 that I've been riding for years and never even looked at the points. I suppose it's about time...can you elicit more on how tuning affects power band? You can adjust timing with either points or solid state, so I assume you're talking about playing with dwell. TIA, Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavywrecker Posted February 10, 2011 Report Share Posted February 10, 2011 I have a 349 that I've been riding for years and never even looked at the points. I suppose it's about time...can you elicit more on how tuning affects power band? You can adjust timing with either points or solid state, so I assume you're talking about playing with dwell. TIA, Sam Hi Sam Good to hear you have a reliable machine there. Once the points are set accurately at 3mm BTDC with a gap of 0.4mm you have a range of adjustment by varying the points gap alone. A gap of 0.35mm gives softer (retarded) power, good for loose and slippy ground. A gap of 0.45mm gives quicker pick up (advanced), say when you want to lift the front end easily for a lot of rocks, logs big wheelies on the driveway. If you set the initial setting to 2.7mm BTDC then you will have more retardation and even smoother power delivery, although more body action is needed to get the front end up. Go steady on advancing the timing too far though (say 3.5mm BTDC), don't want a holed piston! Cheers Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reallymadmonty Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 I don't know the cause of the problem, only that the bikes just wouldn't run properly at all. Whatever the cause, it's not sorted yet. Woody, Thanks for the reply. As the person who initiated this ignition development with Electrex, I was a little concerned to find that there were issues with this system. I was loosely involved with the initial development and tested the initial design on my Mont 348, although only functional checks were carried out. I recieved my pre-prod ignition mid last year but for various reasons never got round to fitting the system until late Dec - usual thing, overtaken by events! However, when I did, I noticed that the ign backplate can foul the crankcase oil seal holder, depending on whether the original retaining bolts and locking plate are fitted, and this can stop the ign backplate seating properly. The original ign plate is scallopped to avoid this. I worked round it by placing a small washer between the backplate and each locating lug, which then seats the back plate squarely and the bike runs fine. That said, I spoke to Electrex at Telford on Saturday. They were aware of the issue and they have redesigned the backplate to resolve this. Ironically, the engine I gave them to develop this did not have the problem! Spanish quality control of the 70's? Anyway, they are also sending me a replacement backplate, free of charge, so can you pass this on those that had issues, so they can contact Electrex direct. Thanks for raising the issue and I hope this will go some way to resolving it? Kind regards RMM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted February 13, 2011 Report Share Posted February 13, 2011 Interesting to know that, thanks for the info. I know the 2 people who have bought the iginition, but I can't give any specifics as to what the cause of the problem was as I don't know and neither have Electrex offered a solution as yet. Neither of them has mentioned anything about the backplate fouling the seal carrier though, so I'm not sure that it was an issue (both bikes are MH349) However, if that is an issue Electrex know about and was a possible cause I'd have thought they could have rectified the problem by now. Both were at the show this weekend so I'm guessing that they have both been to speak to Electrex to find out what is going on, as it has been dragging on for months. If it was me, my frustration with the suppliers at their apprarent inability to resolve this would have gone past boiling point long ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belldane Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Hey Common guys and girls Think about how many times those bikes have won competitions without electronic stuff. If you have a problem riding them with the bare essentials get out of twin shock. Leave it the way it is. My is fine the way it is. My 348 and 2 247's have not missed a bit in over 20 years. Think about it and the cost and the problems you may have are just not worth it. See ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nh014 Posted February 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Hey Common guys and girls Think about how many times those bikes have won competitions without electronic stuff. If you have a problem riding them with the bare essentials get out of twin shock. Leave it the way it is. My is fine the way it is. My 348 and 2 247's have not missed a bit in over 20 years. Think about it and the cost and the problems you may have are just not worth it. See ya Belldane I'd be glad to stay with the standard ignition, but my original post in this column comes with some mild desperation. I've been riding my '77' 348 continuosly for 34 years now, but over the past two or three years I've been plagued with points corrosion, that requires that I run a file over the points if I let it set for more than one week. I've changed points, using both EFFI and Motoplat, changed condensors (yes, it is mounted under the tank), changed coils, and changed stators, but can't seem to correct the problem. Hence my question about an electronic ignition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b40rt Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 Belldane I'd be glad to stay with the standard ignition, but my original post in this column comes with some mild desperation. I've been riding my '77' 348 continuosly for 34 years now, but over the past two or three years I've been plagued with points corrosion, that requires that I run a file over the points if I let it set for more than one week. I've changed points, using both EFFI and Motoplat, changed condensors (yes, it is mounted under the tank), changed coils, and changed stators, but can't seem to correct the problem. Hence my question about an electronic ignition. Corrosion sounds more of an "atmospheric" issue that would probably affect electronic ignition in time also. As said by others, points are generally reliable, and much cheaper to replace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samandkimberly Posted February 15, 2011 Report Share Posted February 15, 2011 (edited) Belldane ...but over the past two or three years I've been plagued with points corrosion, that requires that I run a file over the points if I let it set for more than one week. If I were you I'd try changing the points and condenser for new ones, both at the same time. Perhaps you've already done this, but even if you have it might be a worthwhile gamble to try again. My own experience has been that once a set of points has been filed/sanded they never work the same again - good to get you through a riding weekend but not much more. Sam Edited February 16, 2011 by samandkimberly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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