A system for starting an internal combustion engine without assistance of a battery uses a pull-start assembly to generate electricity and store the generated power in one or more capacitors electrically connected to an electronic control unit via a permanent magnet alternator. The system includes a hand pump for manually forcing a portion of liquid fuel into an air/fuel mixture chamber while an air relief valve connected to an air injector is open. By closing the relief valve and activating the pull-start assembly, the user causes the fuel into the combustion chamber, where the ignition process is initiated upon receipt of a control signal from the electronic control unit.