Sounds like dirt in the needle & seat flooding it. Get it running and have somebody tap on the carb, where the fuel line goes in, with a screwdriver handle to try and dislodge it.
Loosen a cooler line and start it. If fluid doesn't gush out, the pump isn't pumping. I wouldn't think you could bolt up the converter if it wasn't engaged, but, Hey, I've seen stranger things happen.