Mine was easy to start with a fresh piston, I was very proud of myself at first. I used the settings in the manual as I remember. I always ran it rich to break it in. Then you slightly lean it to bring up the power. That's what I remember. It isn't a nitro engine.
There were rumors that the...
It came from Tower Hobby as a scratch and dent. Like new condition, box damage. DOA. Sorry your problem, too bad so sad.
I rebuilt the engine multiple times. Tiny tiny inner snap wrings were my nemesis. I never got a piston and sleeve set to run long enough to break it in and make enough power...
I was.
It ate pistons. The hardened metal clip that holds the piston pin in comes out. That going through the engine ruins things.
It was a common failure reported at the time.