Randy,

I flew for a couple of days on strait pump diesel and cetane boost & oil. I used a torch to start the engine. It was great till I tried it at below 55* F. and then I got a dead stick. I had to be really carefull of the plastic carb parts.... Now they are a bit blistered and burned looking but still work fine
If you try it you only need abut 30-45 sec. of preheat and spread the heat down to the crank area so the fuel can voporize. Don't go much above your spit bubling.

I am now able to start my engine by hand on 5% ether. So I'm wondering if I could start on straight diesel now as well.

The trick I use to start low ether is to choke it alot and what that does is raise the compression by filling the combustion chamber with liquid diesel and then it starts but you have to keep choking it alot till it warms up. It works! Just be really carefull if using the electric starter. You have to be a little closer to hydraulic lock than is comfortable.