IF your battery load tested OK and all of the connections are clean the slow cranking is likely a failing starter. Ignition timing advanced a tad too far could contribute. Other than slow cranking, hard starting when hot is common with these engines. The reason is heat. With the exhaust manifold in intimate contact with the intake, when you shut off a hot engine a lot of heat soaks into the intake system. It can vaporize fuel in the float bowl which can then flood the intake runners. Picture starting a hot engine with the choke on. Another possible contributor is the heat riser. If it's stuck in the heat on position there is far too much heat being directed to the bottom of the carb which will exacerbate the issue. Good luck with it. FWIW you'll likely always have it problem to some degree. It's just common due to the poor intake/exhaust design.
Edit: Tim makes a very good point. I had a senior moment and never considered the size of the cables.
