Torn diaphram - How did that happen?

[MarkB]

The GS has been running poorly for a while and I figured it was a carb problem, but have been putting off cleaning them.  I finally got around to it last night and discovered that one of the diaphrams had tear about 3/4" long along the fold line nearest the center.  I've ordered up a replacement, but I got to wondering why this happened?  It's a '90 with about 20,000 miles on it.  To my knowledge the carbs have never been opened up, certainly not in the 17,500 miles that I've had it.  Is this just an old age problem? There didn't seem to be any other signs of degradation.  Could backfiring into the carbs cause this?  Anybody else have this problem?

[The Buddha]

I had a tiny rip in a 90 I bought with 1700 miles on it. Tiny as it was, killed the bike above 5K. Funny thing is, till that rpm its extremely good.
Cool.
Srinath.

[aslam]

Can this happen if the slides are not working properly? (ie coming up & down too fast)  I noticed when I took the carbs apart that this diaphragm is very thin.

ASLAM.

[The Buddha]

Doubt that... some dum dum must have pulled it or yanked it or installed the top wrong or help it with a pair of pliers... they thin but not that fragile... ham fisted mechanics with a hook for 1 hand and a pair of scissors for the other will be my prime suspects ...
Cool.
Srinath.