Stihl 036 almost impossible to pull starting cord

[perb]

My Stihl 036 is extremely difficult to pull. It turns easily with the plug out. There is no visible carbon on the piston head. I have lubricated the cylinder and it doesn't make a difference. I can get one "pop" sound ( not a firing pop, but a compression pop) but it will not turn rapidly enough to fire.  Could there be carbon at the top of the cylinder?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. 

thanks  Peter.  

[CUT N RUN]

have u ever cleaned the spark arrestor screen in muffler ?   if so , then i would pull muffler off and go from there...

[sawguy21]

Check the rewind pulley for slop on the post. If it is pulling off center you will get binding.

[Spike60]

How old are you, and how long since you last used the saw? Has anyone else tried to start it?

[sablatnic]

It could be the problem that Spike60 touched, I've had friends complaining about lawnmowers and chainsaws having become almost impossible to start during the last 20 - 15 years.
The problems can however also be caused by a shortened starter cord or by the fact that 034s and 036s are quite hard to pull over.