Some thing that has not been said explicitly is the value in turning the engine over by hand twice before trying to start it.

I use a leather welding glove but can still feel the state of the engine as I turn it over holding the prop. I then turn it over a third time with the plug energised, if I feel it ' bump ' then I know it is ready to start.

I have always preferred to hand start my engines, going CCW except with the reed valve Cox 049s which would persist in running backwards when I flicked them in the right direction.