This is not entirely true. In order for a magento to spark it does require the magnet on the flywheel to pass by the coils on the coil fast enough to produce the spark however once that point is reached and you do have spark then a spark is a spark. Faster the rpm's makes for easier starting but it does not make the spark stronger.

Like w8ye said a business card is a good tool to use for setting the gap providing you don't have a gap gauge.

Does this engine have a choke? If it does then prime the engine by choking it with the spark on. Flip it until you hear the engine pop or fire once. Then remove the choke and flip again until it starts. By doing it this way you won't have raw fuel sitting in the plug. If it doesn't have a choke you could easily make one with a piece of tin that you can slide over the end of the carb for priming.

The choice is yours, a 1-2 hundred dollar starter or a piece of tin from your coke can that your gonna throw away anyway...