Hi Shannon,
Normally if a fuel system is run dry and left it will create issues with the diaphragm drying out and becoming hard. I've just gone through this issue this morning with an Atom Lawn edger. I replaced the diaphragm and it's up up and away.
In your case just having fuel in the whole system for a while will soften things up again. Always take the air cleaner off and carefully pour a few ml's down the intake with the choke in the closed position and then keep your head well clear of the open carby while attempting to start the machine. By doing this it will fire up providing there's spark and draw fuel up the pick up due to the vacuum effect and hopefully keep it running.
It's never good practice to run and leave any internal combustion engine's fuel system dry as it causes nothing but dramas for start up the next time.
Cheers,
BB
