If the fuel is good and you have tried the above suggestions, lets go back to your original post.

Remove the fuel tubing and leave it off until you can easily run off primes. No need to complicate things.

From what you described (assuming good fuel) my guess is that you had it too wet. A wet prime will sometimes give you a false compression setting, that is, you need more compression.

Engines react to primes different ways. Some like intake prime, some like exhaust prime. I tend to avoid exhaust prime in favor of a couple of drops in the intake, whenever possible.

I prefer hand flipping, but many have gone to starters. I would suggest at least turning it over by hand before hitting it with a starter. Your choice.

Good luck with it.

George