I was given this recently and decided to have a play. I put fuel in and it won't start. It has spark but the throttle cable doesn't seem to move the barrel type carburettor's piston. The outer moves in and out at both ends when you move the throttle control lever. I have no idea how these barrel carbys work. It has a brass tickler. I tried starter fluid, but no response.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF it is a worry when you get no response with a bit of starter fluid, makes me think straight up that it has been straight fueled. Try a teaspoon of fuel mix down the plug hole and see if you get a reaction. If all this fails pull the head and look at the bore. This is of course after you have checked the spark and tried at least 2 known spark plugs
The bun style are easy as to take off. The 3L carbys are pretty simple. You probably know this already, but whatever you do, don't try to remove the needle without removing the middle of the carby (removed via 2 external screws). Otherwise you will snap the forked peg that controls the needle (its name alludes me).
My one's de-compressor line had a crack in it, fortunately I noticed before i put it back together. Sometimes just those simple things.
