starter help

[eightball]

i have a 85 big red 250 and the only way it will start now is the kick or if i use a screw driver and bump the starter until it fires the starter button worked fine last week and jus quit this past weekend any info would be great thanks in advance and also when the motor is runnin the light will dim out and then get bright again i am confused people are tellin me all kinds of stuff but i decided to ask people that are more familar with atcs

[eightball]

thanks for all the replys i found out it is the starter solenoid and like i said thanx for everthing lol

[tundrawolf]

Does the solenoid make a clicking noise when you hit the start button? If not, put +12V to the actuation wire and see if it clicks, then. If so, it's a wiring problem. If not, your solenoid coil is burned out. But, if it clicks right now, and the solenoid is able to be taken apart, all you need to do is clean the contacts inside the solenoid to get it to work again.