cota 123 ignition timing

I found this info here for setting the ignition on the Montesa Cota 123. 

	Electricity : Ignition setting			The necessary equipment 1 flywheel extractor 1 set of shims 1 graduated disc (download)
	The ignition adjustment is static: it is done with the engine stopped, unlike other engines which allow dynamic adjustment using a strobe lamp.First set the distance between the switches: 0.30 to 0.35 mm. A 0.40 mm shim must not pass. To calibrate the ignition, I use a graduated disc (available for download ) which I fix in place of the rotor bolt and which is held in place by the extractor. I locate the TDC with the comparator (a simple rod may suffice), then I watch when the switches start to open. I can then read my angle on the graduated disc (I use the top of the gear selector as a guide). So as the rotor turns in CCW (count clockwise - editor's note: anticlockwise) and my disc is graduated in CW (clockwise - editor's note: clockwise), my ignition point must be at 335.7 degrees (24.3 degrees before TDC for COTA 123 ). In the direction of rotation of the rotor (CCW), the advance is reduced. In the opposite direction (CW) the advance is increased. On the other hand, the stator adjustment margin is also 24.3 degrees. To effectively tighten the rotor nut, shift to the 6th gear and lock the rear brake. Meanwhile, tighten vigorously (8 to 10 m.kg)
	CAUTION: do not lose the key when removing the magnetic flywheel!
	IGNITION ADVANCE settings for COTA MODEL REFERENCE ADVANCE in millimeters ADVANCE in degrees COTA 25 10M 2 to 2.25 mm COTA 74 16M 2 mm 24 ° COTA 123 28M 3 mm 24 ° - 30 ° COTA 172 19M 3 mm 24 ° COTA 247 21M 2.5mm 21 ° COTA 348 51M 1.8mm 17.5 ° According to the manufacturer's data
	Ignition MOTOPLAT COTA 123 (ref. 9600.433) and COTA 172 (ref. 9600.433) 1-Breakers 4-Stop winding 5-Lighting winding connected with 13. 6-Ignition winding 8-Rotor 10-Pilot and tail light winding 14-Ignition plate 15-Capacitor 17-Low voltage cable 19/20-Fixing the steering wheel 21-Clavette 27-High voltage coil 28-High voltage cable

123 fork seals/roller

We got the new fork seals for Noah's Montesa last week so this past Sunday we installed them and got his bike back into a roller. I got some stainless hardware to bolt the fenders on with. Noah looks so tall standing next to the Cota. He's growing up fast. I better get to work on the engine or he'll have outgrown the bike before I can get it rebuilt.

some garage time

I mowed the lawn today, and then Jill and I worked on cleaning all of the house windows before I installed all of the storm windows to prepare for Wisconsin winter. The rain delayed us in getting the job completed, but we finished the job once the sun came back out. Later in the day, I worked on cleaning the garage a bit and then Noah and I worked on his Montesa. I need to get a couple things locally before I put his front forks back together, but we should have the chassis wrapped up in a couple of days. I've got the engine torn down and I'm replacing the case seals while I have it apart. The cylinder was a pain to get off (as are all Montesas), but the job is done and now I can go through the whole thing to make sure it runs well. I got the necessary shift selector plate, kickstart lever, new shift rod and shifter via ebay and now I think we have everything we need. Once I get the Montesa back together, I'll get back to finishing the paint inside the garage. I need to get my metal pegboard sections hung after that. Just need to finish some things so I can get a sense of closure. It IS nice to have a decent place to work at home though. I feel like I'm making gradual progress which is good.

made in spain

cota 123 painted frame

We decided to paint Noah's frame this past weekend. I stripped it down to bare metal as there was some bad rust setting in where the paint had chipped off. I think they must have dipped these frames in lacquer and then baked them, because the paint was really thick in the weld seam areas and it was tough to get off. We went with paint rather than powder coat as I figure he'll ding it up as he learns to ride and it'll be a bit easier to touch up the paint versus the powder. I've done frames both ways and powder is really nice, but I figure this is just a simple dirt bike and not a concours restoration. Besides, he got to help spray it and the spray cans made their first impression on his young mind. Hope I didn't start something I'll regret in a few years. He also decided that it would be a good time to make a target for him to practice his pitching. So we stenciled a leftover piece of drywall with a red square and a primer grey center for him to throw against. I didn't get much help with the frame once the paint had dried on the target; imagine that... I just finished clear coating it tonight and maybe we can start to put some of our polished parts back on it in a couple days.

polished covers

I've been polishing Noah's Montesa 123 engine covers. It didn't take much to get them to this level. I'll work on them a bit more and get some of the knicks out.

montesa exhaust

I sandblasted Noah's Montesa exhaust this week. I'll throw some BBQ paint on those soon.