My plane came with a 40LA. The first time I tried to start it, I wore out my arm trying to flip it. The next day I went and bought a starter, with the battery pack that attaches to the bottom of the starter. That definitely made it easier to start it. Now that I have had some flights on it, the engine starts with a few flips. I remember the problems that I had in the beginning with it though. I kept trying to find the "sweet spot" for the needle valve and the throttle. Now I hardly ever adjust the needle valve, and the throttle is all the way down with the trim all the way up. Once the engine is broken in and has some flights on it, it will definitely get easier. I rarely use the starter now. I just use the stick.