Originally Posted by
ps2fixer
Assuming it ran good before, maybe the engine rebuilt threw off the carb tuning? If you never had it running before, get a spark tester, one that uses a gap to test if the spark is good or not. The spark can be weak, but still appear blue/white. If it's yellow/red it's 100% poor spark.
For the pull starter, no experience with the yamaha ones, but for brigs you just put in the end of the recoil in the stopper spot that holds it, and coil it around till it's all housed in the housing.
Good luck troubleshooting your machine.