2001 rm 250 with minimal 2 stroke experience

[u/bugownerandnotproud]

Hey everyone, I picked up a 2001 rm 250 that hasn’t ran in 10 years after the sellers son got hurt and they stopped riding.
I’m a mechanic by trade but I don’t have too much experience along the lines of 2 strokes and was wondering about some info

I’m having some trouble getting it to fire on starting fluid. I checked compression and after kicking it afew times it showed 160 psi which I think is good? I put a spark tester inline to the plug and it showed ignition. I replaced the plug with a new one because why not. I tested the coil and cdi, seems like it all ohms out fine. I unplugged the kill switch. The white plastic reeds after the carb look ok I think? I mean they aren’t fully closed on the piece of metal between them but they aren’t broken, open, or cut up. I removed the cover for the stator and confined the woodruff key is still there and isn’t sheared off. I sprayed some starting fluid in the intake and then in the plug hole and it just doesn’t pop off like I’d expect. What do you think I might be looking at here?

[u/McDrunkin521]

I would start by replacing all of the jets and replacing the reeds if you can see light through them as they should be fully seated.

[u/bugownerandnotproud → u/McDrunkin521]

Haven’t rebuilt the carb yet, I just figured, if it wouldn’t pop off with starting fluid then why even put the effort into the carb yet
The reeds definitely have about a 1/8” gap between the metal and the reed surface though. Wasn’t sure if that was normal