It sounds like you may be a little lean on the needle unlike a glow engine a diesel will slow down and stop if too lean also make sure you have a good fuel draw, disconnect the fuel line from the tank and blow thru it to make sure you do not have a clogged carb It will start on a prime and quit if no fuel. I have used starters with no problem just make sure you do not have a hydro lock by hand flipping first which will break any engine. the rest of the steps described in the above replies are 100% on. some of my engines hand start quite
well other require a bump with a starter I use a starter on my PAW 40 and 19 sometimes if it does not light off after about 10 flips or so
martin