If your just starting out you dont know how to set your engine correctly and most likely a chicken stick will take a long time to work. Do youself a favor and invest in a starter. Some of us with a starter begin to get annoyed if you always use it and never go invest in your own. If you feel creative you can make one from a junk car or boat motor. The starters in there do the same thing. You will just have to build your own cone to fit over the nose (not really a big deal).