An engine starting system includes a recoil starter with a recoil rope having a mark formed thereon, defining a predetermined length of the recoil rope required to turn a crankshaft from a compression stroke top dead center position to a start-operation-initiating position suitable to start operation of a 4-stroke engine. A method of starting a 4-stroke engine includes steps of pulling the recoil rope to turn a crankshaft to an initial position where a piston is located near a compression stroke top dead center; pulling the recoil rope again to the position of the mark on the rope, to rotate the crankshaft from the initial position to a start-operation-initiating position; and pulling the recoil rope once again to further turn the crankshaft from the start-operation-initiating position suitable for starting the engine.