Motorcycle Repair: rm 250 non start, reed cage, power bands

Question
hi i have a 94/95 rm 250.i can kick the bike untill the cows come home and it will not start but if i pop a shot off easy start or break cleaner into air filter the bike will run for a good few secs and then dies. i have good compresion and good spark. im not to cleaver with carbs but personaly think it is that thats the problem can you give any ideas. ps before this happend i lost all power and power bands were not comming in. thanks mathew

Answer
Mathew,It sounds like the fuel is not getting through.  Pull the carb and take it apart. Clean it thouroghly including the jets and fuel passages. While its off pull the reed cage out and inspect it for damaged reeds. If ok go back on carb and set the float. Hang the carb sideways with the top of carb on side and float on side. With the hinge on the upper side and the float hanging down the float should be parallel with the carb body. If you turn the carb to far back the weight of the float will give you a false reading. Set the mixture screw at about 1 1/2 turns out from the fully in seated position to start with. Install the carb and try a new spark plug. Try one step hotter,the lower the number such as the bike may have a BR8E in it go to a BR7E and try this. Turn the fuel on and make sure the float seals off and does'nt leak by running out the overflow and flooding it. Try this and see if it works.