Hard HOT starting

Doesn't sound like a hard crank, more like a clear out the fuel thing...

Agreed. Sometimes the first crank is hard, like when I first hit the key but after that it cranks fine. Only way to get it to fire is to go full throttle (like a flooded car). So the idea that the fuel thats in the bowls and line heat up and drip into the carb sounds logical in this case.