Big water leak inside cowl, any tips for this coming repair?

[kalebsheridan]

Hey all,
So I developed a big water leak inside the engine compartment in my 88 50hp force. Pretty severe one too, I could see water flowing really good out from under my starter. I believe the blown gasket is what Crowley Marines diagrams call the "Exhaust Gasket", although it's the gasket between the motor leg and the block. Any tips for replacing this? Do I need to strip the power head down to remove it to access the gasket or just unhook it all in one piece? What should my attack plan be? What should I replace while I got the power head out?

 

[Nordin]

If you refering to number 1 in the diagram "Exhaust gasket" you have to pull the power head off the midleg to replace the gasket..

 

[kalebsheridan]

Yup that is what I am referring to. When I remove the power head, do I have to remove everything from the block? Including the flywheel and all the electronics? Or can I just unhook anything connecting the mid leg and the power head, and then remove the power head?

 

[Nordin]

Remove all that are screw to the midleg.
No need to remove flywheel, maybe the carb so you will reach some screws.
Do not remove the spacer plate #1 from the midleg.
There are some shock absorbers (rubber) and they might go bad if you start to remove them.
Check the diagrams at Crowley Marine and you will see all screws.

 

[kalebsheridan]

Remove all that are screw to the midleg.
No need to remove flywheel, maybe the carb so you will reach some screws.
Do not remove the spacer plate #1 from the midleg.
There are some shock absorbers (rubber) and they might go bad if you start to remove them.
Check the diagrams at Crowley Marine and you will see all screws.

Okay awesome thanks Nordin! Speaking of the shock absorbers, how do I know if they are bad? This motor shakes pretty good at the moment due to a rough running condition I am addressing, but I feel like if there are shock absorbers then they aren't doing much.

 

[Nordin]

Maybe you have bad shock absorbers but I think your engine is shaking because of running with misfires.
If you look at Crowley Marine diagrams "spacer plate" and you have shock mounts #6 (2 of them). When trying to loose the nut you maybe twist the rubber as the threaded studs are vulcanized in the rubber.

 

[kalebsheridan]

Maybe you have bad shock absorbers but I think your engine is shaking because of running with misfires.
If you look at Crowley Marine diagrams "spacer plate" and you have shock mounts #6 (2 of them). When trying to loose the nut you maybe twist the rubber as the threaded studs are vulcanized in the rubber.

Okay cool thanks Nordin! Yeah definitely it shouldn't shake and that fact that it does is it's current misfiring. Just seems like it bangs around without much cushion. If the shocks are cheap I will just grab some. I copy on the studs. Would a penetrating oil help loosen those?

 

[kalebsheridan]

Also just out of curiosity, where does the water pickup tube actually connect at the power head? Is it somewhere under the starter?

 

[Nordin]

The water pick up tube connects the power head under the power head.
You have to pull the power head to reach the pick up tube.

 

[kalebsheridan]

Okay, I've read a couple posts also referencing these water leaks, where does the gasket fail and how do these leaks form if the pickup connects directly to the motor?

 

[topgun3690]

how do these leaks form if the pickup connects directly to the motor?

The water inlet tube is not really "connected" to the PH......when the PH is set onto the motor leg the surfaces are pressed together and a seal prevents leakage. If that seal fails water will come out.....same for the exhaust gasket.

 

[kalebsheridan]

Okay sweet thank you! I wanted to be sure I understood the system correctly so I order the right gaskets. Which gaskets would you recommend I order? I want to make sure I get the right ones.

 

[topgun3690]

Do you know your serial number? Just go to marineengine.com, Crowley Marine, etc. and look at the parts diagrams for your motor and serial number.......get the cylinder exhaust gasket shown on the motor leg diagram.....then get the seal that goes on the top of the water tube(#5) in the gear housing diagram....there are 40 something different serial numbers listed for your engine but I think these parts will be the same for all of them, but double check it. If it shows NLA run the part numbers on ebay they may have it. Those are the only seals/gaskets I can think of that you will need right now.....somebody else may chime in with another I forgot to mention....lol.

 

[kalebsheridan]

My motor is a 507y8c. Would this set work?

Powerhead Adapter Gasket Kit - Force 3-cyl - 27-820475A1, F684453, FK684453, 27-F684453-1, F684453-1, 27-F691279, 27-826871, 27-8268711, F691279, 826871

Powerhead Adapter Gasket Kit Fits Force 3-cyl Replaces: 27-820475A1, F684453, FK684453, 27-F684453-1, F684453-1, 27-F691279, 27-826871, 27-8268711, F691279, 826871, 475-1

www.offshoremarineparts.com

Okay are referring to the o-ring numbered 25-201951?

 

[topgun3690]

My motor is a 507y8c. Would this set work?

Powerhead Adapter Gasket Kit - Force 3-cyl - 27-820475A1, F684453, FK684453, 27-F684453-1, F684453-1, 27-F691279, 27-826871, 27-8268711, F691279, 826871

Powerhead Adapter Gasket Kit Fits Force 3-cyl Replaces: 27-820475A1, F684453, FK684453, 27-F684453-1, F684453-1, 27-F691279, 27-826871, 27-8268711, F691279, 826871, 475-1

www.offshoremarineparts.com

That is the part# listed, even though the description says it for 3 cyl Forces.....only need the larger one on the left in the pic.....this kit probably covers many models so I guess you get the other 2 gaskets whether you want them or not.

 

[topgun3690]

Okay are referring to the o-ring numbered 25-201951?

That is the one I found.....should be correct.

 

[kalebsheridan]

That is the part# listed, even though the description says it for 3 cyl Forces.....only need the larger one on the left in the pic.....this kit probably covers many models so I guess you get the other 2 gaskets whether you want them or not.

Okay so the middle one doesn't go between the spacer plate and the powerhead? I could buy just the big one. The serial number seems to match mine.

 

[topgun3690]

Okay so the middle one doesn't go between the spacer plate and the powerhead? I could buy just the big one. The serial number seems to match mine.

Yeah....after looking at the diagrams again, that middle one looks like it goes between spacer and PH.....that one on the right not sure about.....all the listings I found for the exhaust gasket come with all 3.

 

[kalebsheridan]

Okay cool I'll get all three then.

 

[topgun3690]

Okay cool I'll get all three then.

I just noticed that Nordin said not to remove the spacer plate in post#4....not sure how you can replace that exhaust gasket without taking it off? Maybe he will chime in later and explain.....I would just get all three to be sure.....