Anyone who rode a 50's motorbike would know what "tickle" means. It means you press the carb float down to fill the float chamber. Only way you know it's full is when it overflows.
Are you sure you have the "suck in" and "blow out" the right way round. I seem to remember it was four blades with the throttle closed to suck in. Then "throttle set" (1/4") and "contact".
If it didn't start after about four goes, it was "switches off", "throttle fully open" and then back the prop to blow out.
P1