I think the float valve gets stuck closed, bowl evaporates, will not fill with **** on (?). When you pull the carb it loosens the float.

Moral of story, next time it won't start use a hammer on the carb!

 

Mine wouldn't start this spring either, so I tipped it on its side to get some gas into the carb or whatever and it started right up after that! I actually couldn't believe it was that easy, I feared I was gonna have to jump through a bunch of hoops to figure it out.

 

I'm thinking drill out everything and store the bike on its' side or maybe upside down.

There should be a bicycle pedal retro-kit for those that leave gas in their carb all winter.

Put the tank full to keep rust from forming (Keep plastic tanks empty.) - use stabilizer - keep the carb dry by whatever means you like - then let it sit.

I've done it this way for decades, it works. Remember that gas has corn "squeezins" in it now days - it's hydroscopic and corrosive.

 

Its not the float. Its the crap Ethanol gas they they are forcing on us. If you ride every day or every other day, then it's all good since the gas still as enough ignition properties to start the bike. Unfortunately if it sits, what you have left isn't going to be good enough to start a fire in the back yard. I know its frustrating. The drill the starter thing probably works, but at this point after 15,000 miles of my bike running flawlessly after getting jetted, I am not going to take chances on screwing something up in there. To each his own.

 

the drilling of the starter jet is for starting the bike cold. (temperature cold like -8 when i was on mine the other day not bike thats been off for a day). but because it increases gas on startup it will also help start the bike with old gas in it. but like deej said, the bike really doesnt like old gas.

 

Easy for you to say, you didn't have a foot or more of snow and/or slush to try ride through on your streets.

For the OP I don't know what the trouble was. I virtually always parked my 650 with a full tank of gas, petcock on (one time I turned it off and drained the carb the float needle stuck). To start I turn off the gas, drain the carb, turn the gas back on, and it fires up pretty quick. Have to wait to see what the 250 does, but I do know it starts a whole lot quicker after sitting for a month when I drained the gas from the float bowl.

 

Nope, but even if I did I have no other choice but to ride it to school anyway