I have a 74 VR250!

[Nathan S]

...and lots of questions. 

Bought the bike from Dave Mac - thanks mate - and hope to have it ready for the VMX Nationals. Its very much a project bike, but seems to be a really good 'core'.
Notable bad points are lay-down shock mod, damaged cases (damaged by the kick-starter shaft), no spark, and mis-matched wheel rims with corroded spoke nipples.
On the bright side, its on the original bore (with reasonable compression), no play in the main bearings, straight frame, VB(?) pipe that's supposed to make it go better, etc.

Questions that have come to mind so far:

1. Is it worth fault finding the Motoplat, or just fork out for a PVL? MBoddy said that he'd heard something about charging up the coil to get it to spark - anyone know anything more?
There are four wires from the stator that go nowhere, all with female spade terminals on them. The coil has a blue wire and a black wire to it (one of the four unconnected wires is branched off the blue wire, which I presume is for the killswitch).

2. Where do I get a front sprocket (taper type)? What's the recommended gearing?

3. Shock length? The bike has a particularly scungy set of Konis, so I have no reference.

4. Any hints of what I can find a seat base, foam and/or cover?

5. How the hell is the airbox meant to go in!? I've got a fibre glass replica box that's never been fitted, and it makes no sense to me!

6. Where can I get a kick-start lever? The splines are gone, although the splines on the shaft are still very good (small mercies!).

Yes, I've looked at RMMontesa and SWMontesa and gotten a heap of good info from both sites. My first foray onto the Montesa Egroup was useful too.

TIA.

[mx250]

Yes, I've looked at RMMontesa and SWMontesa and gotten a heap of good info from both sites. My first foray onto the Montesa Egroup was useful too.

Did you just look at their sites or did you ask by email? Jared did have sprockets and replica seats.

"5. How the hell is the airbox meant to go in!? I've got a fibre glass replica box that's never been fitted, and it makes no sense to me!" I haven't done it for a VR but it can't be too hard surely. The opening goes to the left side I think. Have you tried putting it in through the rear (no mudguard).

"6. Where can I get a kick-start lever? The splines are gone, although the splines on the shaft are still very good (small mercies!)." New replicas are available out of Spain. Keep an eye on Ebay - expect $50-$100US. Or keep an eye out for 'parts engines', enduro, trail, trials and MX - many part interchange, kickers, side cover screws (7mm ) side covers etc etc. You have a big shed don't you . 

Montesa owner eh? - now you have some class .

[Nathan S]

Just looked at the sites. Will send Jared a PM.

Pics!? Oh yeah...

Here's the ad from when Dave bought it.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220351144924

[mx250]

Nat, it's hard telling looking at the pixies but if the left hand frame brace has been welded in (stopping the airbox going in) it is not original Lyle OBrien handiwork. There was a discussion sometime ago about modified frames and it was concluded that Lyle OBrien probably had some frames modified ex-factory and before sale. The hallmarks of the work was a square section insert  machined and weld in to the down tube. A brace from that insert went at 45 degrees to the main frame at the front of the seat. The right brace was welded in and the left brace bolted in.

Looks like you have your work cut out for you Nat. You're just this side of sanity compared to 'Lazarus' .

[mike1948]

Great bikes.  Just reposition the shocks, rip out the diagonal braces, and the airbox will slide in from the left.   I'm sure Jared could source you a sprocket - they were the same for years across the model range.  If you get into strife, I've got an 11tooth one off an Automix 250 in reasonable condition, though I think the VR was std with 12T.  You are very lucky if yours has no sprocket fitted, as they tend to grow on the taper and if so are a real mongrel to remove if that's the case. Regular items like kick starter & springs are the same as the Enduros & shouldn't be too hard to get - if the owners will let them go.
Good luck with the restoration, it will be well worth it!

[Nathan S]

The hallmarks of the work was a square section insert machined and weld in to the down tube. A brace from that insert went at 45 degrees to the main frame at the front of the seat. The right brace was welded in and the left brace bolted in.

Its Lyall's work then - what you've described fits the bike's mods 100%.

I'm in the process of uploading photos, but didn't seem to take a decent one of the airbox.

And yes, it does have a front sprocket on it... My big gear puller doesn't fit, and my small one isn't up to the task. Its currently sitting with tension on it, hoping for a hot day after a cold night to loosen it...  Yeah, I expect that it will need warming from an oxy to get it to budge...

For the price I paid, with a good honest description of the bike (inc faults) from Dave, I'm happy.
Been on the phone to Fernando about shocks and ignition - shocks were as mush as I had expected, the PVL considerably more...

[mx250]

Here you go Nat, this is what you need - it will save you looking for pesty kick starts and ignitions .

[All Things 414]

I don't know what all the fuss is about with the Motoplats? I have two bikes now with them on and my V 75 had one. Never had an ounce of trouble from them and my bikes all seem to start fairly easily (If everything is in harmony). I do have a PVL on a 360 motor now which I tried out to see how it would affect the power on a 414. On anything except really good traction it was a handfull but probably ok on the smaller bore bikes (250). But as I said, no trouble from the Motoplats.....

Sounds like your ignition is maybe from an enduro anyway with all those extra wires running off of it (if I read it right)

Seat base will probably be the hardest thing to come up with. I'm pretty sure one from an enduro or trail would fit the bill (maybe with a bit of grafting, maybe not). It's worth getting hold of a wreck for all these bits including the bloody 7mm case screws and cylinder studs which you just can't get from anywhere.

Easiest thing with the spokes is to get an entire Buchanans lot from Jared (which will make it look a million bucks) or if your (budget is) on the tight side and the nipples are seized, you can bludgeon them off and just replace the nipples. I bet they're seized and will fall apart when you go to turn them.

* Sid Christian grafted that motor into that V75 frame. God only knows why. He had two of the fastest sons on Monties you ever did see. 

[colmoody]

Sounds like a good score Nathan. I reckon you could have the resto done in about a month which will still give you two months to make it ineligable for pre 75 at the Nationals.

[holeshot buddy]

welcome to the club nathan
no secret handshake and goats here (we will leave that to maicos and cz)
the vr250 is a great bike
i would run motoplat mine starts first kick every time
air box goes in from left if the frame is good you might have to mod the box a bit
shock length i have 14 inches on mine but i think standard may be 13 inches
the 73 74 vr seat are the same  and the va fits as well not sure about vb
kickstart and sprockets  and spoke nipples should not be a problem (jared)
ross is right sounds like enduro ign
it should just have 2 wires
ill have mine at cd6 and the nats check it out

[JC]

I've had no prob w motoplats either.

However the local Husky dealer says if they're left sitting for years, moisture can get in & affect its ability to spark at low rpm - makes kick starting difficult.

He reckons they usually respond to push starting, & running them for a while dries them out. 

Sounds plausible.

[maicomc490t]

I'm enjoying these posts - it should be good to see what Nathan can do with the bike which sure was a good core but as he said it wasn't without it's challenges. Boy was I pissed off when I saw the case damage when I got it - it would have been nice to know when it was advertised fore sale !

A public 'good luck' to you Nathan as I know the bike went to a worthy restorer with a passion for owning a Monty.

My Spanish itch is now being scratched by the Mk6 350 Pursang that I picked up Sunday after Nathan left with the VR. I've stripped it down for it's resto as soon as the blasters are plumbed in (yeah - I know - taking longer than I thought !) Looking good with it being almost original and lots of new bits including one very nice pipe from Don.

BTW - anyone have a spare 350 head - I don't know why but mine has the fins cut off on the left hand side

The Germans in the shed are getting pissed on Sangria now with three Bulls sharing their accommodation !!!

Cheers

Dave Mac 

[mx250]

Boy was I pissed off when I saw the case damage when I got it

It's the crank cases that are damaged rather than the engine covers? Sounds like replacement rather than repair .

[maicomc490t]

I saw the damage AFTER the bike arrived from BDB, Nathan saw them on Sunday when he picked the bike up.

They are repairable but I just wish I had been told that before I bought the bike - same as the smashed RH case on the 440GP he sold me, along with the rear mount on the same engine that will have to be built up with tig and machined. A bit of honesty and disclosure never goes astray - sure wouldn't buy from them again, that's for sure.

Nathan is on top of it with the VR and I reckon he is going to do one pisser of a resto as he is very passionate about it.

Dave Mac 

[Nathan S]

I'd really hate for this to turn into a slanging match. As it is now my problem, and I went in with my eyes open, it makes no difference to me about anything that happened before I bought the bike.

Here's the pic of the damage. It doesn't scare me too much (maybe it should?). The repair with steel is rough, but its old enough to suggest that it worked fine.


The rest of the pics that I've up-loaded (some of mine, some stolen from the Ebay ad) are here:
http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f128/annaandnathan/Bikestuff/Montesa/

As you can see, there's something not right in the rear end, but I haven't spent any time figuring it out yet - it looks like the rear wheel sits too far to the right, but the tyre sits about right within the swing arm.
I'm not panicing yet, because the old tyre is mis-shapen, and I'm not sure that the wheel spacers are correct (the sprockets seem mis-aligned, although I've only 'eyeballed' it so far).