It seems this starting difficulty is a characteristic of Iswaras;
I experienced this even when the car was new.
1) Cold engine : Starts instantly when cranked.
2) Very hot engine (immediately after stopping) :
Starts instantly when cranked.
3) Warm engine : Need to crank about 3 to 5 seconds.
4) Immediately after engine run-on/dieseling occuring
at shut-off: Need to crank 5 or more seconds.
Pumping the petrol pedal does not seem to help.
So far I have not come across any explanation of this issue.
I believe it has to do with the interaction of following
in some way, and is not a symptom of some fault:
a) choke operation (air bleed for cold & hot state),
b) EGR (which operates after certain temperature),
c) remaining fuel clinging to the walls of the manifold, carb throat etc.
d) hot idle compensator air bleed,
e) petrol fumes inside the intake/carb.
Thanks for your info, my one same as you. warm engine need to crank few times only can start.
Pumping the petrol pedal also not help and found more difficult to start.