Sounds like the slide is not closing all of the way.  The cable is probably not fully seated in the fitting in the top of the carb. or thumb throttle.  The choke cannot function when the slide is open a little making kick starting next to impossible when the engine is cold.

When kick starting, if the throttle is open more than about 3/8"and the engine is not flooded, the air velocity over the needle jet is too slow to pull fuel from the needle jet.