I did it for about 2 Years. It only needs tapping every now and then. Then I wore out my pull start assembly and had to replace that. Starter is about 100 bucks, if I remember right.
Surely you can the starter rebuilt for $30-$40
I almost did that, but a buddy told me it didn't last when he did it.
I've had them rebuilt on trucks and boats and never had a minutes trouble out of them. Usually it's about $35 if I remember right and those are big starters. If you are comfortable doing it you can rebuild a starter for next to nothing. I've even seen a buddy of mine take his apart sand it lightly and blow it off with a compressor and it go back to working
