[modeleh]

I just had a similar issue with a flathead 6 Continental on an air compressor when I went to sandblast my Model A body last month. The motor had sat unused for several years but was loose enough to turn easily by turning the fan by hand with the plugs in. Wouldn’t fire up for love nor money until I removed each plug and squirted a few pumps of motor oil in each cylinder with a pump can. Replaced the plugs and it fired and ran instantly. Smoky for the first few minutes but once it ran there was no issue again you could shut it off and restart it no problem. Give it a try you might get lucky like I did.