Yes, the plugs are another angle on this. I changed the plugs after the first time it wouldn't restart after stopping for gas. The plugs looked pretty carboned up, not wet fouled but "crusty" carbon. I have been purposely running the main jetting a few sizes richer than a 2-stroke tuner had recommended (128 instead of his recommended 122) because I was paranoid about being too lean. The ends of the stingers also suggest I'm perhaps too rich. So one theory was that the plugs slowly fouled. But putting new plugs in didn't noticeably improve the hard starting. I'm thinking because it is waaay cheaper than getting into the crank (and something I can actually do myself), I might still first try going down one size on the mains.

Assuming that doesn't do anything, and I replace the rings simply because of the miles on them, is there anything else (cheaper) than the crank that anyone can think of? Assuming not, and assuming it is therefore dodgy crank seals, any sense of what the risks are of trying to squeeze some more street running time out of the crank, i.e., is it likely to go suddenly and take the top end with it, or is it more of a slow death, where it just keeps getting harder and harder to start to the point that I can't stand it any longer? Lots of questions and assumptions, sorry, but I'm just trying to find my way with 2-strokes. Thanks.
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-Jim
'93 MC21