I recently bought a used not running LT80 off craigslist, I rebuilt the carb and charged the battery and sprayed some starting fluid in the carb and it fired right up.

My problem is that it will only initially start by using starting fluid, after its running you can ride it around and it runs great and idles with no problems. It will start up again no problem once its warmed up also.

Why for the first start of the day is it always needing the starting fluid?

 

If there is not much wrong with the engine now, using starting fluid will soon ensure there is. I use gas from a gas blowlamp, same effect but does not clean oil from the cylinder bore (and bearings on a two stroke). The LT80 can be a bit bad to cold start, firstly is the choke plunger (excess fuel plunger) staying up as they get worn and jump to the off position on their own. If that is OK re-clean the carb, checking that there isn’t a tiny drop of water in the float bowl. Water in the tank gets through, blocking the jet, you start on easy start, the water is sucked through and the machine runs OK. When cold, more water collects under the jet and the process starts again next time you try to start.

 

Welcome to the forums.
My first thought is compression.
He's right, ether isn't good.

 

I got it figured out, cleaned out the carb again and put in a new spark plug and she fires right up and runs great. Thanks for the ideas, now just have to wait until xmas so I can give it to my 6yr old so I can start playing with it again.

 

yep pilot jet stopped up