Ive been experiencing a lot of trouble getting my slant to start, My question is could I be causing damage to the engine by cranking to much, Ive had a lot of short cranking spurts to check spark etc. Gas not being a great lubricant worries me as Ive never had to try this many times to start.
I had a similar starting issue. Yes, the gas will wash your cylinder walls quickly. Check your engine oil dipstick for a strong smell of gas. When in doubt change it as well as the filter.