2006 Kawasaki kfx80 (suzuki lt80) Bought it used a month ago and started to have this problem a week or so after I got it home.
It's very hard to start cold. Have to crank and crank and let 'er rest, then crank and crank again. Once it starts it runs great! Never have a problem starting it again warm, etc. No issue with loss of power or bad idle. It idles great, runs strong and fast.
Last weekend I cranked it over and it sounded like it locked up. I pulled the plug and it was wet. Cranked it over and it cranked like crazy and spewed a LOAD of fuel out!
Once I got all that fuel out of the cylinder and was finally able to get it started, it ran like like expected again - great!
Here's where I'm at:
Compression is about 140lbs
Spark plug is gapped right, looks great with good blue spark
Pulled the carb and cleaned the jets, checked the float, all looked fine
Pulled the reeds - they looked great.

Looked into this petcock valve and it seems to work correctly. in PRI position fuel flows. In the ON position it flows well when I crank it or it's running. If the motor is off it drips slightly. I'm assuming that drip might be an issue at this point?
Also, why is fuel getting into the cylinder? Shouldn't the float keep that from happening?

I think I'll pull the carb again and make sure the float is working properly but wanted to get some input from some experts here (LT80? ) on that petcock question and anything other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

Welcome to the forums.
I'll skip the boring details...
Get yourself a inline filter and on/off valve (I get mine at advance auto in the lawn mower section) Install the valve close to the carb.
When done riding, shut the fuel off and let the machine idle till it stops. This will help with the flooding of the crankcase.
Altho, you should also make sure the petcock is not leaking fuel into the motor thru the vacuum line.
I blame ethanol..

 

along with the above. your choke needs to be set up. this is why its so hard to start cold

 

Please explain how to set up the choke.

 

Bad petcock. Slight drip in the "on" position was flooding it out. I'm still curious why so much fuel was in the cylinder though. Maybe I need to relearn how a float works...

vacuum line was dry. I pulled the fuel line off the petcock and capped it overnight. Yesterday afternoon I put it all together and it fired up with a tap of the starter.

 

What's the opinion on the ebay petcocks? They range from $7.49-$15.00

 

The float needle on the LT80 is not the best at sealing, in theory it doesn't need to be as the petcock should shut the fuel off. I was brought up with British motorcycles and you never, ever, left the tap on or the tank would be empty next time you needed the bike.