Re: 1972 9.5hp evinrude model 9222m leaks gasoline
HI bix. welcome to iboats. Have you ever noticed the motor leaking gas when it's sitting still and not running (i.e. at home siting in the yard), or does it only seem to leak when it's running? If it leaks sitting still, then you probably just have puncture in your fuel lines somewhere. That's an easy fix and just involves replacing any lines that may be damaged. If it only seems to leak when running, it could be a few things. The best way to test it is to run the motor at home in a test tank, with water filled up to about and inch or two below the main exhaust port. This way you can run the motor at low-med idle, without leaking fuel into the lake. Based on your description of sudden power loss/gain throughout the day, I think you may actually be dropping a cylinder while under way, which in turn causes a large amount of unburnt fuel to be discharged out of the exhaust and create the oils slick you described. You probably have a bad coil which is cutting out and causing the motor to run on only one cylinder, which they can do surprisingly well. The best way to verify this is to visually inspect the coils under the flywheel and check the quality of your spark. Start by removing the flyhwheel and looking at the coils. If they are at all scorched, cracked, or any other way damaged, then you need to replace them. However, if they appear smooth, whole and intact you're probably ok. The coils were about the only weak spot on these great old motors and were known to fail given enough time. A previous owner may have already replaced them at some point, in which case you're probably ok as the modern replacement coils are generally extremely reliable and robust. However, if they've never been replace, then they are almost surely bad and are due for replacement. The good news is that changing the coils, or the entire ignition system for that matter, is quick, cheap and easy. You get the coils right here at iboats for about $15-$20 each, and there tons of threads that can explain how to install them. Take a look a the coils and get back to us. Ask questions if you get stuck. good luck.
