1996 FORCE 75hp cowl LOWER SEAL replacement??

[surfsalterpath]

Has anyone attempted to replace the "lower seal" on their cowl?

part #2

#2	F684989	SEAL-Bottom Cowl Plate (1 required per assembly)
		F684989 - Seal, NLA [ More info ] $56.25 10+ in stock.

Would this seal replacement stop exhaust from infiltrating the
cowl housing restricting FRESH AIR for the single carb in the FORCE 75hp?

My idle seems to change after setting to 900-1000 rpms w/ the cowl off.
When I put on the hood engine rpms drop about 100-150rpms. Is this
normal?

I set the rpms to 1100 with the cowl off and they turn about 900-950
idling at dock. Might go higher if I am out on the water with a little movement
stimulating air flow. Anyone install vents in their hood?

Am I crazy for thinking this?

Thanks!

 

[roscoe]

IF exhaust is getting into the engine, it is not getting in through that cowl seal.

It is getting in from below the powerhead.
From the exhaust gasket / spacer plate / exhaust tube.

 

[surfsalterpath]

..... i can see where the "exhaust gasket" has started to deteriorate some underneath the powerhead and cowl bottom. I guess the only way to
replace that is to remove the powerhead. That's beyond my capabilities.
Any other "fix" options? lol ~

 

[jerryjerry05]

Sillycone on the seal, clean it real good.

 

[surfsalterpath]

..... "sillycone"
lol ~

 

[FingerLaker]

SurfsalterPath, if the exhaust channel is indeed your problem, and you'll be working on reconstructing that, you might want to follow my string about the melted insert in my boot, that the guys have helped me solve and some parts suggestions there... I had a water inlet problem, not an exhaust in the cowl problem, by they may be related. good luck.