Starting can be frustrating. But read the booklet that came with the engine. It'll tell you the important details. And that info works.

One thing it might not mention is the prop orientation. Not too many modelers start engines by hand nowadays. So you really can't blame them for leaving out that little trick. With a starter, it doesn't matter where the prop encounters compression in it's rotation. But when you're using a chicken stick or your hand, it's really good if the prop rotates into compression at a certain point. Your strength and timing are helped quite a bit. Also, your stick/hand more easily pass out of the fan area. There are two good reasons for setting the prop.

When you're tightening the prop, rotate it until it's between horizontal and 2-and-8 o'clock when it just encounters compression. Then tighten the sucker tight. You want the normal counter clockwise rotation to bring the piston into compression when one blade is just past 3 o'clock. For right-handed people, when they try to flip a prop through compression, it helps to have that resistance happen in the rotation where you've got the best leverage. It also helps if your stick/hand is comfortably moving away from the fan right after it's passed the highest resistance.

There is also another reason, a somewhat minor one. If you deadstick that plane anytime in the future, the prop will stop with both blades out of harms way. Not only will the prop have less probability of breaking with both blades as far away from digging in on a noseover, but when they don't dig in they don't try to tear the engine off the mounts.