jerry t Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 Hello All Just managed to get my hands on a very early Cota. (frame and engine number under 1200!) I'm thrilled to have a 'bike resto in the shed for the first time in about 15 years (last was an old Norton) I'll be honest with a Cota this early, I think that it should be accurately restored rather than put together as a competitive machine. This means alloy guards etc. thanks Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_ Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 Hi Jerry Congratulations on your new addition! I share your view with trying to keep it original, however some of the very early parts are tricky to find (or very expensive), as I have discovered. Have you seen this thread? http://www.trialscen...-cota-247-1969/ It has been a bit quiet on there recently, but there are a few on this forum with early 247s so it would be great see some photos of yours, and to hear how you get on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry t Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_ Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 It looks extremely original and a great project. It even looks as if it has got its original beige fuel cap under that red paint. These seem to be impossible to find. It appears to also have the original air filter housing, rear sprocket, foot pegs, carb and inlet, and yokes, all of which are scarce and unique to the early bikes. The rims and those lovely big hubs look in great condition as well, even down to the Akront sticker. The parts that you are missing are all available (aluminium mudguards, chain cover, side stand, correct shocks). For the gear lever, these do come up from time to time on eBay. With the front stay, it is integral to the mudguard so the most practical (but expensive) option is to buy the whole unit. How did you come by it? Do you know anything of its history? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry t Posted January 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 Alas I know nothing of the history. Its frame / engine 1144. Does this ring any bells with anyone? Bought from the twin shock shop as a project machine (I'm a journalist) and will appear in Classic Dirtbike in the fullness of time It'd be good to know who stocks the bits that you mentioned as available... I intend to keep it, might even indulge in a classic trial (novice/numpty class) Most of all it's a cracking little 'bike to enjoy on some land I have access to on a lazy summer evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_ Posted January 24, 2013 Report Share Posted January 24, 2013 I thought that the photos looked familiar, I saw the bike on the website. It will be very exciting to see a feature on this (I'm a subscriber). As to parts suppliers; in my experience I have had great service from http://www.inmotiontrials.com/ They seem to have a good stock of parts and know what they are talking about. Once you have gone passed he UK based companies, you are going to be looking at Spain where the majority of parts can be found. There are some companies with websites in English, offering online ordering, through to guys in that don't speak English at all, let alone have email or websites. Having local contacts can make a huge difference in terms of what you can find and the cost. I would be happy to send you an email with more details as my experiences have been quite mixed! Aside from these two areas, there are a couple of very well regarded US websites, but shipping costs don't really make these viable from the UK. Where things become more subjective is looking for services such as engine work, wheel rebuilding, bodywork and so on. The Twinshock shop look to cover most things, but I am on the other side of the country so haven't used them. I am sure though that you will get recommendations if you are looking for a particular trade or service. How much are you planning on doing yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry t Posted January 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Luckily I'm pretty well equipped Lathe/press/compressors/ air tools etc So I'll do most of it except wheel-building (did it a couple of times, never again!) and pressing / truing the crank if that's needed (again done it and hated it!) Otherwise I build my sons Kart engines so two-strokes aren't too much of a mystery Paint/bodywork ... surprising what you can do with home compressor and a resin kit! Polishing.. My favourite (yes really) can't wait to get started. Mind you if one of the advertisers jumps up and down and yells let me, let me... It'd be stupid not to say thank-you and just turn up with the part and the camera! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_ Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Here is a right hand change gear lever to get you started (from eBay) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110879382072?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon v8 Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Welcome to the early Cota club ! Maybe we should arrange to meet up at a trial,( Bath Classic MCC ? ) to bring them all together when they are finished.Mine might take a while,but I'm hoping perhaps during 2014 it might happen... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handmadematt Posted January 25, 2013 Report Share Posted January 25, 2013 Great bike there, you must be thrilled! I'm sure you're going to have lots of fun working on this project. I hope you share the progress on here! What qualifies as an "early" 247 then do we think? Mine is a 1975 with the clutch mechanism underneath the engine case which I think is an early characteristic. It doesn't have the large hubs though. The engine/ frame number is 21M18488 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry t Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Well... I was defining mine as an early 247 as it was built in the first year of production (1968) however as the years move on 1975 isn't exactly new! News from the weekend, I now have a runner and it's selecting gears when it didn't previously. Very satisfactory! Jerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry t Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Gear lever... I'm resisting the ones on ebay just for the time being as they are the MK11 version (mine has the 'flat' shaft) although one might be bought if the temptation for a spin around the local field proves too much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerry t Posted February 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 Progress report. It's now running/starting well and as soon as the new chain arrives I can have a wee test ride. My plan is to have the old girl road registered. Without a rear mudguard or front plate there is no way of knowing if it was registered, so I guess it is an age related number I can date it myself (almost within days to the end of October '68) as it's frame 1144 and it's well recorded that they grew a chain tensioner in November '68 at frame number 1190. However, the DVLA won't trust me I suspect. Who holds the records or at least is a DVLA trusted dating source for these? cheers Jerry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 You could try Sandifords, or the Vintage Motorcycle Club in Burton on Trent can do it for you - check their website for details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon v8 Posted February 13, 2013 Report Share Posted February 13, 2013 I can help a little here,Sandifords dealt with the northern half of the country and another company did the south.I dont know who they were,but they are no longer trading.Sandifords are very helpful and will provide the info for a small fee if it was a bike they supplied. Mine wasnt.... So I will be relying on the VMCC to help me re register mine,I have the original number plate and have been to the local records office where I found the details and took photo's of the pages.The VMCC dont have a Montesa specialist,so I dont know how that will work. I must get on with it,its all very well having these projects,but no good if they never get done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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