I usually just find top dead center and kick it. The decompression lever isn't REQUIRED, it is just there to help you if you need it.
My procedure is:
Cold: turn the choke fully on, find TDC, and kick it. Repeat until it starts. Usually takes 2-3 kicks depending on how long it has been sitting. After it has started and run for a few seconds, I'll turn the choke all the way off.
Warm: find TDC, kick it. Repeat until it starts. Usually takes one kick.
After a crash: Hold throttle wide open, hold kill switch, pull decomp lever (all at once) and kick it like this about ten times to clear it out. Then release throttle, kill switch, and decomp lever. Start it just like a warm start (find TDC and kick).
Hope this helps