An easier way than removing the engine entirely is to borrow an external starter, remove the airbox, remove the spark plug from the motor, reinsert the plug into the boot and ground it against the motor, disconnect the fuel supply to the carb, hold the throttle wide open and use the external starter to rapidly turn the engine over. Fuel will exit through the spark plug hole so apply the starter continuously until all fuel is gone…shouldn’t take more than 5-10 seconds.
If no access to an external starter then you may need to go the route of removing the engine.
All great ideas. I like trying to dump the fuel out of the motor. The next time starting, I’d have a fully charged battery and leaved the air box off so you could choke the engine a little. At some point, check the piston via the exhaust port to see if the piston or cylinder walls are scored.
This was it, I pulled the reed and gas starting dumping out of the motor. I haven’t reassembled to try and start it but I assume that had to be the reason.