I have a 85' 250 sx should the ign wire at the switch be hot in the on possition?

 

The ignition switch is actually a ground switch. When the ignition is " on " the ground is open, and when the ignition is " off " it's closed. So for it to run the ignition wires need to be not connected.

 

Now does ^ that go for all atcs, because on my kawasaki klt250 the ignition wires have to be connected to get the lights to work. . . How ever I have not got it running yet. So Im not sure what the issue is with that. Sorry For taking over your thread.