Sounds frustrating. My suspicion is that it is something minor.
We made many, many rookie mistakes with our early sleds. I will try to see if I can remember some of them.
On one sled I remember putting the floats into the carbs upside down. As a result, they would not let any fuel into the carbs.
The primer can be a point of frustration - either leaking air or leaking fuel. Does the primer work? And will the engine start when primed?
Does the engine have good spark?
Is all of the blockage out of the exhaust?