Vetch,
This could work for some of the smaller engines.
Word of caution, The socket is not permanently attached to the drill...If it flies off the drill on start and hits the prop, you have a projectile.
Some of the portable drills have a lot of torque.
You can find a small 12v motor and just buy the end for a sullivan.
I suggest you go to a swap meet if possible and do a little "used" shopping.....you can usually save a lot of money, and get decent merchandise from people getting out of the business.
Some sites have a For sale items for less than $25 only..Check those out.
Good Luck,
DOC

Electric starter without battery attached: appx $29, and you get a decent one... Big bucks? Mine, which is so old I paid $15 for it in appx 1985... These things are cheap compared to the hassle of manyufacturing your own cup and fitting it on a drill which WON"T turn up to the needed speed for a lot of engines...

Check with the amintenance people at the local hos[pital... they discard a LOT of NiCds simply due to age (2 yrs old, working or not, and a defibrilator pack gets changed. Usually they're still good cells.) The hospital's just going to PAY to dispose of the cells anyway...

I built a 12 cell pack using D cells that one of our club members brought to the field (he's in the hospital equip maint dept.) This pack cost me a few minutes time and 6 solder joints. Now my old starter will crank with the best of them (and better than a lot... 14.4V nominal does better than 10 cell 12.0V nominal)

Hand starting works well. Just depends on the motor

Once you enging is broken in.....You should be able to "chicken-stik" to start.
If you cannot...you have something wrong.
The first start of the day may be a bit more trying than successive starts.
Prime, glow, switch on, radio on, throttle trim up, throttle down, and try flipping backwards(clockwise).
Always use a stick.
You will soon learn the routine, and what your engine likes to bring it to life.
Good Luck my friend,
Doc