seal and or sealent for crankcase cover

[udoittwo]

I don't know if this SELOC Mercury shop manaul is a direct reprint or they just pick out stuff to throw in there but it is not very helpfull to my particular motor. I want to put the crank case cover on my 1986 75 HP 4 cyl. Mariner and the only info says to put a thin coating of sealent and tighten. When I pulled my motor apart, I just took the parts to the machine shop to clean and check for any issues. I didn't notice if there was a cork seal in the cover or not. Although it doesn't say anything about it, my cover looks like it has a channel for a seal and there is a cork seal in the gasket kit that fits right in the channel. I don't see anywhere else that cork should go, so I am guessing it goes there? The cork is longer than the channel. I know in some applications of seals like this, they tell you to cut it off leaving a very little bit sticking out. Do I trim it leaving a little bit sticking out, flush, or just slightly short so it will expand when the cover it tightened down? Do I still use the sealent and, if so, do I put a thin film in the cork channel before I install the cork? I've included a pict. It looks like the gasket belongs in this channel and trimming it long might interfere with the end cap?
Thanks agin,
Karl.

 

[racerone]

The cork usually has an adhesive on it to hold it in the groove.--------Pull the cover strip off them ?-------Use the correct sealant as most of the sealer must squeeze out to achieve the metal to metal joint.-------I have measured the film of sealant on some " rebuilt " blocks like yours at 0.008" thick , which means bearings and reed blocks were not being held in place properly.

 

[snowbrd84]

When I rebuilt my motor( '86 150), it required the cork gasket as well as an anaerobic gasket maker "sealant".