Got my '85 Big Red 250es running.

[Scott Gray]

Dad bought it New in 85. Sat in the elements for at least 15 years. I asked about it. He said it's yours.
I got it home and changed the oil and filter.Changed the spark plug and battery. Pulled the tank and Petcock. Filled the tank which was rusted with vinegar. Let it do it's work for a week, drained and rinsed it. Pulled the carb and replaced it with an aftermarket one.
Installed the tank and Petcock (i cleaned it).
Neutral switch was bad so I just grounded her..
Went through the wire harness with a multi meter and everything check out good......except the key switch and start button. The key has to be in just the right spot
but the start button is not working.
The sweet thing is I can kick start her or jump the starter relay and she runs. I need help with adjusting the carb. She has a high idle. Any ideas?
Sorry for being long winded but I am 52 and feel like a kid again.

[Scott Gray]

Also added a fuel filter.

[dman10]

Pull the switch out and clean the connections, also check the all the fuses, there's one on the frame in front of the battery. That one was my problem. It's in a black rubber case attached to the frame if I remember correctly.

[Scott Gray]

All 3 fuses check good.

[Rob Canadian]

Sounds like a great start.

Your high idle maybe the cable not routed properly(?) Guessing you adjusted the idle screw.

Chinese carb?

[hublake]

Get it running good and take care of it and it will outlast you.

[imwiley1]

Can of electric contact cleaner will get everything cleaned up and working properly. All those connections and contact surfaces can corrode and oxidize over time,especially exposed to the elements.

[biglsells]

What carb did you replace it with? I bought one from ebay that claimed to be a "direct plug and play replacement" and it was anything but. The body on the side where the throttle cable screws in was much shorter than stock, I had to buy a bolt, cut the head off, drill it out and cut a groove in it to make it work.

Most likely there is a knob on the bottom of the carb on the kick start side that you can use to adjust the idle, or you can adjust it to some degree at the handle bars by the hand throttle.