Float valves on these can have a mind of their own. Always verify the oil level. I think that it should be run once a month 15 minutes and change fuel out every few months- even when treated. Shutting off the fuel valve is a good idea in the garage. Running it monthly is a good way to keep problems in the bowl from developing.

To get to the bowl you have to remove the fuel shut-off valve you disconnecting the wire so it won't twist when you unscrew it. I would clean out the carb. bowl, ungum the carb. by spraying carb. carb cleaner in the bowl and wipping out any crud, the float and seat area, and up the hole where the fuel shut off screws in. Check the o-ring that seals the bowl. then, I would lub the o-ring with alittle vasoline to prevent pinching. place the bowl on the carb. and screw the fuel shut off back on hand tight watching for the o-ring sticking out (pinching), then finishing tighten with a wrench remembering how tight it was when you removed it.

then, I would start it up and spray the carb cleaner down the venturi (opening in the carb. under the filter) with the engine running at a high RPM using a short blast 1 or 2 seconds and then letting the engine clean or catch back up. I would do this several times to ensure any tarnish is loosen. I too agree not to leave gas in it when stored for longer periods (IMO long term storage is over two months, three or four may not cause gumming providing you use it enough to burn the old gas out of it)

If you don't want to attempt removing the bowl and quick cleaning the carb. I would at least remove all the old gas, add some additive, and try spraying the carb. with carb. cleaner following the instructions on the can.

Most likely your gas leak IMO is causes by small (very small) piece of dirt or gummy parts in the fuel causing the float to unseat and fuel to leak pass it IMO. Course all of this is My Opinion and you have to take action based on your experience with engines. Some on this forum will not agree about using carb. cleaner, especially as a priming fluid or while the engine is running. But, if you take it somewhere to get fixed, I bet the mechanic will be using it.

I figure it was probably the float that was hung up. I just thought it was odd to just start leaking even though it wasn't run in a while. I guess I wouldn't have been so shocked if I ran it a day or two before. The temperature dropped big time when it happened. It went from the high 80's to the low 50's in one day. I wonder if the float was hung up just a little and the temp change had anything to do with it. Anyway the leak is gone and the carb is pretty clean inside and it runs like a champ. I think my next move is to install a fuel filter. Can't believe they didn't put one on.

omg, I just had the exact same thing happen with my homelite 388. I just fired it up to test it, we are having a wind storm, and it started on the first pull without any leaking. we too had some big temp changes in 24 hour time periods this year, the tank had leaked itself empty and filled the house with gas fumes, so we moved it and were going to try to repair it, but now I don't know what to repair, not that I am an expert.