leaking carb, still wont start

[iMoon1221]

one day my bike just stopped working. Rode it an hour prior and suddenly wouldnt start. Ive tried everything i can think of. clean the crap out of the carb. (very carefully, counting turns) i put the float in a cup of water with ice on top to hold it down. no bubbles, no water got in. i took the gas tank off because it was in rough shape on the inside. i used redkote but for some reason it started peeling, like a big red sack, not pieces. I connected the gas line from my gn125 to the carb (it has good gas in it for sure). i lost my key so i had to hotwire, i had the battery plugged up to my car, lights were on. i took the cables off the batter and used them on the starter, my starter button doesnt work but the starter does. it makes a constant puff puff puff out of the muffler but nothing more. at first the carb was leaking gas so i tightened the float bowl. it stopped leaking. still didnt work. then i realized that the kick stand was down. so i went back to try with it up but it was pouring gas from the carb again. I spent all day on this. i have run out of ideas.
any suggestions?