Thank you all for the suggestions so far...

Here's a couple of things...

To vegassky:

I will try again to empty the cylinder, perhaps I just didn't get it all out before.

To Montague:

I did get the engine started once. When I did, the prop moved quite freely and fired up. After I did, I ran it at full bore to break the engine in per manufacturer's instructions.

I'd add a second jam nut to the shaft, but it's too short, unfortunately...I was thinking of dropping a lockwasher on there to see if that helped.

I'll also try the chicken stick trick.

To autopilot:

I am extremely new to the R/C world-most of the time, my forte is computers

I have the prop stuff attached to the shaft in the order you describe, so that's most likely not the issue...

I don't understand your question about the engine being "inverted". What does that mean?

I actually have to pull the fuel tank out when I refuel (major pain in the butt), so I don't think that's the problem either.

Thanks, all for the help so far...