Gasoline needs heat to evaporate.------It gets that heat from the carburetor body.------Carburetor will be cold.----You might be looking at condensation.
There is a 20 amp fuse ( 5/8" long ) in a wee black rubber plug in.----Find it near the starter solenoid.------Note , this engine does not need 12 volts from the battery to make spark.
That rubber hose is NOT a " metering rod " at all.-----It merely guides cooling water around the engine.------Water does NOT flow through that hose either.----A product called ---LUMIWELD -----can be used to repair that defect.
I have said it many times.------Mixing of oil / gasoline , 2 stroke engines , lubrication is just not well understood.-----This thread is proof once again.
Fact----You remove the 2 small screws at the top of the recoil starter.----Have your assistant lean the starter out of the way .----Then remove the 2 nuts to get the carburetor off.