The tightness at the top of the stroke is normal.
Are you using an electric starter? It will make life a lot easier.
I've broken in a couple O.S. LA and FP's and they all seemed to fire up, run a second or two, then quit, for the first several times. Just fire it up, let it run a second or two 'til it quits, LET IT COOL completely, repeat.
Make sure you've got the mixture screw set right, sounds as if you do if you followed the instruction manual.
Try starting it up wide open for the first few times as well.