Today I went to spark up a motor I had run in Celina at the Gas Nats. The motor would not pop. The carb would not pull gas, so I checked the fuel lines and filter and all was good. I proceeded to remove and inspect the carburetor. When I tried to remove the case on the pump side, the gasket material was all soft and sticky like glue. It all tore apart when I opened it up and the material stuck to the carb plate. The pump check valve flaps were stuck to the body of the carburetor (source of the problem). I was in a rush so I opened up one of my old carbs (that had seen gas and was sitting on the shelf for months) and it came apart nicely, as usual. I used the pump/gasket/plate from that one on the carb I was fixing. Then I opened up the diaphragm side of the carb (on the one I was fixing) and the diaphragm was all bent out of shape. Put a new one in. Put everything back together and motor popped right away after choking.
I have NEVER had this happen to me before on any of my gas engines. This has to be the gas, as I am still using the same Honda HP2 oil...nothing changed except for the fact that the gas was purchased in Celina at the races. I suspect a high ethanol blend and/or other funky additives that we do not yet have in our gasoline here up north.
Just wanted to share, as I now know what many of you guys are talking about when you say you have diaphragm issues and stuff! I couldn't really associate to that since I had never had the experience, but I have now! I think regular cleaning/flushing of the carburetor will have to become common practice.
This was some funky stuff !
Alcohol laced fuel ....... Without a doubt 
