Ryobi SS30: gas out the muffler

I've got a Ryobi SS30 that's a few years old. Halfway thru trimming the yard it starts running rough. I adjusted the choke to try and compensate but within 20 seconds it shut down. Pulled on the cord and noticed a LOT of compression. After a cool down I tried the recommended startup. This only resulted in gas shooting out the muffler and leaking from the carb. Even though I could see spark when testing the plug I replaced it with a new one (gapped correctly). Same result of gas spraying out the muffler and carb.

Seems like a spark issue but I can see a blue arc from plug to head with the plug out and pulling the cord. Is it maybe just not enough to fire? The replacement plug is the exact same as the original and as I said before gapped per the manual.

Any ideas?

I'm wishing I still had my Ryobi corded electric from years back. That thing would rip thru small trees and not stutter. Too bad no one seems to make them like that anymore.

 

If it's got spark & enough fuel to run from the carb & muffler & it happened suddunly,, My first guess is a torn diaghragm in the carb letting the fuel run right thru it... Kinda sounds like time for A complete carb kit & cleaning.... Get the complete kit, not just the diaghragm kit as it won't give you the needle, screens, etc.... Roger