I wont tell anybody how to start their engines, but I dont stick my fingers in the prop anymore. A lapse in judgement and eighteen stitches across three fingers with dead nerves stoped that. You dont know how much you need your finger dexterity until you loose it. Just my opinion. I have a riding mower starter that will be built into a big gasser starter when I need it. A friend of mine made one to start a three cylinder 93cc engine. Easily turned it over.
Edwin