OK so the word as of today is that the problem is probably the Crank Position Sensor. I had heard that this would be a possibility a while back, but knowing that it would be a bit of a bitch to deal with, i elected to look for any other possible reasons. :bang: This is no guarantee, but is more than likely the culprit.
Apparently the housing or "bucket" that it sits in was broken, but someone had done a "MacGuyver" to it and jury-rigged it by adding some weld to it and hoping that would keep it in place. The sensor utilizes a magnetic signal and if the sensor is not exactly where it should be, you get intermittant (if any) ability to start. For those with mtn.bikes that have computers, think of this like your computer on your handlebar. It needs the magnet from the rotating spoke of the front wheel to tell the computer things like speed and distance. The damm thig isn't worth a squirrl's terd if the sensor is not positioned in such a way as to pick up the magnets signal as it passes by.
Man what a pain!. Now the tranny has to come out and the bracket and sensor need replacing.
More to come in a few days...
Gabe
and their ability to tell me something other than "We have no idea". 
