Remove the muffler and see if the piston is galled. If so it is done like dinner, Homelite no longer supplies internal parts for hand held products.

Prior to muffler removal , you may wish to 1st remove the spark plug and retry the recoil use . As CG said you may be up the creek without the proverbial paddle if the piston is scored or rings partially siezed unless you have a donor saw available for parts (e-bay) .

You have a Ranger 33cc 16.
what happens if you take starter cover off, take sparkplug out, then try to turn flywheel by hand ?
I suspect same thing as ewalk.
thanks,

Canguy,ewalk, and glenam, thanks for the quick responses and good tips. I removed plug and the turned the flywheel and it moved pretty easy, with just a little resistiance on the upstroke. When I put the plug back in and just hand tightened it a little the binding started again. The piston has a light brown area near the top. What do you think? Junk pile?