YZ250 Problem and oppinion Questions

My 89 yz250 is acting up on me all of a sudden. I took it on a 600mile trip in snow and freezing rain in the back of my truck uncovered and it hasn't ran since. It has spark, air filter is dry, put heet in the fuel, cleaned carb out, and it still will not run. It will fire and run for a second or two and then die or backfire. I have been giving it full choke and laying it on its side to allow more fuel in because it is cold. In the past it started first kick with the same method everytime. I have tried several other things involving hours of push starting it with choke on and off and it always does the same thing. Starts then dies. Its running belray mixed at 40:1 with 93 octane. Anybody have any ideas? It is about to head to the shop because it is obviously beyond my know-how. :bang:

Now I would like to know some oppinions on whether or not I should drop money into this bike, or sell it a get a newer one.
It needs a complete transmission overhaul and is probably about due for an engine rebuild, clutch plates, chain and sprockets, and a back tire. This is going to cost me some cash to do but from what I have seen parts are easy enough to come by and it runs and rides great. Is there any serious advantage to getting a newer bike than fixing this one up? :think:

Thanks in advance guys any help would be awesome.

I also forgot to add that I only spent $425 on it if that effects your oppinion. I will probably get it running again and continue to ride it as is till it breaks and make the decision to fix or sell it this summer.

AV8R said:

Has the bike been in above freezing temps since its snow and freezing rain shower. If not, I would suspect that something has ice in it. I would put it in a heated area for a day or two and see if something thaws or dries out.
You say you cleaned out the carb but did that include the jets? Particuarly the idle jet? Also if water got in the tank then froze you will continue to have a problem until it thaws and comes out as water.

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By cleaned I really meant flushed. I pulled the carb all but the throttle cable and filled it with carb cleaner a few times and dumped it then repeated. Then i flushed the carb cleaner out with about 10 fills of gas with heet in it. It has been in above freezing temps off and on. Maybe I will put a space heater right next to it for an hour or so to get it hot and then try it. I didnt take the carb down like I should have because some jackass stripped the two screws in the top of the carb and I didnt want to make them worse. If I can get them out I will replace them with allen head or hex head screws.