326RX Brush cutter starter rope won't pull freely

[coho]

Hi,
I have a husqvarna 326RX brush cutter, serial number 968 05 35-11 04 0800138

I was given this weed eater, which was only used one season. My friend was able to start it with ether and he said it ran and he used it.

I worked on it for a while, and I got it started and it ran for about a minute, then died. Now when I try to start it, the rope pulls out a little way, then stops short after about six inches. If I take the spark plug out, the rope pulls freely. I did replace the complete starter pawl bridge. I haven't been able to start it again. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bertrrr]

I ran across something like this with a similar machine, took it completely apart and didn't find anything wrong,
Found that it gets in a position at the crank angle and binds up, Forced it past that angle and started up and ran fine. Pull the plug and stick a long skinny rod on top of the piston and see if it's at BTC which is where mine got stuck, force it past and try again.

 

[StarTech]

I would have thought it would be DTC and not BTC as DTC has max compression. Right now I got a hedger that is hanging at DTC and losing all compression too. Suspect top cylinder damage.