Now in reference to ether, personally I avoid it especially on 2 cycles instead I would just induce some fuel mix via the spark plug hole, install the plug, and see if it will pop (tries to start).
I presume you are referring to lack of lubricant in the ether.
I don't think a handful of revolutions of the engine would harm it as long as it has run recently with some residual oil present.
Partly that; mostly that if the shot of ether is overdone, it can detonate with sufficient force to do physical damage to engine components. This damage can be in the form of cracking, which may not be immediately apparent, but will cause big trouble later on.
The only engines I've encountered where diethyl ether was routinely used for starting, were old hand crank start [or direct air start] diesels, which were all built like tanks. These had 'plug' stopcocks, with cups on top, mounted on the cylinder heads, for pouring in a measured shot of liquid ether.
