lower unit leaks

[crank172]

Hi all,

Newbie question, repair manual on order but while I wait....

1957 johnson 18, lower unit leaks from this hole (see pics), clean machined hole...what is it? should it be plugged? Any help appreciated.

 

[crank172]

Re: lower unit leaks

forgot the pics.....sorry

 

[F_R]

Re: lower unit leaks

Drain hole. It isn't a leak, it is water and unburned fuel. You put oil in the gas, it goes through the motor when running and some gets burned (smoke) and the rest goes out the exhaust. That is what you are seeing. Don't plug the hole, it needs to drain. Now you can rest and don't worry about it.

 

[crank172]

Re: lower unit leaks

Wow....that's great & amazing. Like most of my rebuilds i feared/expected the worst, in fact I was just about ready to tear it apart. Getting wiser as i age. I used to have an RD350 cycle when i was a kid, i forgot about the drippy exhaust pipe.

This gas mixture is 24:1, new 2 cycles are 100:1, i kinda feel bad about all of the waste going into the water.

Better carb tuning couldn't hurt I suppose.

Thanks for the help.

 

[F_R]

Re: lower unit leaks

If you are concerned about the water (rightfully), use full synthetic TC-W3 outboard oil. They claim it's bio-degradeable. I do know for a fact that it causes much less rainbow sheen on the water and smokes much less so it's not such an embarrasment at the launching ramp.