Hmmmm - 'there but for the grace of God, go I,' and all that...
Does it have decent compression?
Is it half way siezed? (heavy drag on pulling the starter cord).
Try putting a teaspoon full of oil down the plug hole and see if that increases the compression. If it does, it suggests that you've worn out the piston or the bore. You really need to feel that the engine is free when you pull the cord slowly, but with very distinct and hard compressions as the piston compresses the crank case and especially the upper cylinder. Without that it will never run.
Good luck - you'll probably need it.
Tony, December 2007
