I got a few questions;

Try to crank it, but without the glow plug; if you are concerned about scratching the sleeve then spray a small amount of WD40 (just a quick burst thru the crown).

You must feel some pinching or resistance, but not tight. If it is still too tight even with the glow plug removed then I would open the engine and flush it clean with WD40.

Thats why it is recommended on brand new engines to strip them open and do an overhaul cleaning. Sometimes metal particles (shavings) are left from the assembly line. I am not saying that is the problem, maybe it could totally something else, but it could be.

When engines have excessive pinch I would heat them up with a hair dryer and crank them without the glow plug and pouring little by little WD40 or after run oil. Its kind of doing the break-in, but all manually at least to feel the engine cranking and spot any obstructions that could pass unnoticed if started with nitro fuel. I would do it for like a minute or more manually cranking, heating, oil, cranking, heating, oil without the GP.

Let us know how the engine "feels" when cranking it without the GP...


Good luck