have you pulled the carb apart ever? Ive had a lil screw loosen up and fall into the bowl causing it to run funny
I know on my rochester b if i work the throt shaft and see it get moist, there is fuel ready to fire, I also have a visible filter before my fuel pump. if the filters dry i can assume that its gonna take a crank or 2 to get the mech pump to get the fuel going again.
Do you have a mech or electric?, that would be one way to ensure you dont have to keep cranking it. I just have a mech a vis filter