I inherited a Honda EM1600X generator that hasn't been run in a couple of years. I have spark, and I have fuel flowing into the carburetor, but it won't start. If I spray starting fluid into the air intake, I can get it to run for 2 sec. but then it stops. Fuel will drain from the carburetor bowl when I loosen the drain screw and have the fuel turned on. I haven't tried to take apart the carb. It appears that maybe a needle valve is clogged or somehow fuel to the cylinder is blocked. Any thoughts?

If the unit starts on starter fluid , the intake valve is operating, therefore, the blockage or flooding is occurring in the carb. Itself.