Big red dies.

[ATCcountryboy]

Hi, my 1985 big red 250 doesn't want to idle. It has a very hard time starting as well, it idles a little better once it gets warmed up but it still dies after a few seconds. Could it be the carb, running too rich ect..? Thanks

[Thorpe]

More than likely its the carb...

[threewheelin-feelin]

have you tried adjusting the idal? there is a little black knob on the carb that you can turn to adjust it..could be as simple as that..maybe time for a carb rebuild as well

[El Camexican]

I have $5.00 on dirty pilot jet and/or other carb gunk. Check your fuel filter and air cleaner while your at it.

[110klt]

Hard time starting....... Dosen't idle cold....... Idles a little better warmed up.......


Classic signs to me of a valve adjustment. Have you ever done one to that bike? If not I would do that first thing.

[Chazz of Blades]

When dealing with something old, anytime you have fuel problems it's normally safe to assume it's something to do with the carb. Pop the bowl and spray her out, reassemble, and ride.

El-Ca, I'll see your $5 and raise you $10!

[dougspcs]

When dealing with something old, anytime you have fuel problems it's normally safe to assume it's something to do with the carb. Pop the bowl and spray her out, reassemble, and ride.

El-Ca, I'll see your $5 and raise you $10!

My money is on El-Cam, bandaid fixes never work!! This is more than just crap in the bowl..if you are gonna do something, do it right.

The youngsters alway want to shortcut!

[110klt]

OK who wants to take bets.........


I bet it's the valves, I have seen this multipal times before. Got a great deal on my son's 125TTR because of a 15 minute valve adjustment. And the way he is explaining it is EXCATLY what was going on with the TTR.

When went to buy the bike I cranked and cranked to get it to start, and the finally it went. Then If I didn't keep my hand on the throttle it died. Than more kicking to get it to start. I was wise to this situation from some friends of mine who have slightly older kids who have bikes. So I offered a little low on the TTR because it wouldn't start and the owner was positive it needed a full carb rebuild. So I get the bike home, remove the covers and yup both valves are tight. Get my feeler gauges out and readjust them, pull the choke, and whammo bike started on the first kick and idled all on it's own. I told the old owner (which I work with) what I did and how the bike runs, and he hung his head and said guess I should have listened when you guys tried to tell me all this almost a year ago. So I may be wrong, I may be right. But how long does it take to check out my theory????? 5 minutes, 10 maybe. Balls in your court, now dribble it out.........

@1:45 Thought I figured it out......

[dougspcs]

I'd take you up on it '110klt' and you could be right..but it isn't really a common symptom of the 250. Also it wouldn't be a sudden onset symptom but a gradually worsening issue as the valves get out of adjustment..not that 'countryboy' gave us that bit of info.

Since the 250s have a plunger style choke that always collects dirt, odds would give you that this is carb issue on this particular machine!!!

But if you really want to give away your money...???

[ATCcountryboy]

Thanks everyone, I think its the carb from the info that yall have given me. I will see what I can do about it, and I will let you know if any other things come up.

[El Camexican]

OK who wants to take bets.........


I bet it's the valves, I have seen this multipal times before. Got a great deal on my son's 125TTR because of a 15 minute valve adjustment. And the way he is explaining it is EXCATLY what was going on with the TTR.

When went to buy the bike I cranked and cranked to get it to start, and the finally it went. Then If I didn't keep my hand on the throttle it died. Than more kicking to get it to start. I was wise to this situation from some friends of mine who have slightly older kids who have bikes. So I offered a little low on the TTR because it wouldn't start and the owner was positive it needed a full carb rebuild. So I get the bike home, remove the covers and yup both valves are tight. Get my feeler gauges out and readjust them, pull the choke, and whammo bike started on the first kick and idled all on it's own. I told the old owner (which I work with) what I did and how the bike runs, and he hung his head and said guess I should have listened when you guys tried to tell me all this almost a year ago. So I may be wrong, I may be right. But how long does it take to check out my theory????? 5 minutes, 10 maybe. Balls in your court, now dribble it out.........

@1:45 Thought I figured it out......

For reasons I don't have time to get into I'll just say "No way Dude!"

[Chazz of Blades]

My money is on El-Cam, bandaid fixes never work!! This is more than just crap in the bowl..if you are gonna do something, do it right.

The youngsters alway want to shortcut!

Maybe I wasn't clear, pop the bowl, spray out the jets, reassemble. Who would be dumb enough to just try to clean the bowl?

[Jason125m]

I have nothing to add to this thread because the answer has been stated, but, i love run rabbit run, so thankyou.