small hole on lower unit leas oily mix on 1976 25 HP Johnson

[andreipou]

Hello,

I have one 25 HP 1976 Johnson (25R76E) that I just put "new" short-shaft lower unit on.
I bought this LU almost 1.5 years ago on e-bay from some shop in Florida.
They claimed it was good, pressure tested and water pump replaced.Motor runs fine in the tank and gears shift OK, but I noticed small hole about 1/8 '' in size on the left of top OIL DRAIN plug.
Oily\bubly browon stuff comes slowly out of this hole.
Three other LUs I have (2 long-shaft, 1 short) do not have this hole.

Does anybody know what this is?
Is this wrong LU? It fits perfectly.

I try to post a picture of it.

Thanks.

 

[Daviet]

Re: small hole on lower unit leas oily mix on 1976 25 HP Johnson

Looks like unburnt oil/gas mixture. Does the lower unit oil show signs of water and is it full? If the lower unit oil is OK it is normal. Just one of those things you have to put up with when running a 2 cycle engine.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: small hole on lower unit leas oily mix on 1976 25 HP Johnson

Have you checked the gear oil for water intrusion? The hole looks like it belongs and the stuff coming out may be unburned two stroke oil.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: small hole on lower unit leas oily mix on 1976 25 HP Johnson

normal. I have one too.

 

[andreipou]

Re: small hole on lower unit leas oily mix on 1976 25 HP Johnson

Thanks a lot.
It makes me feel better.
The one on the last picture (white) looks exactly like mine, even skeg is broken the same way.

My surprise was that my 1976 LUs do not have it. Maybe this LU was from different year, but the guys who sold it to me confirmed that it would fit my model.

Another thing that confused me was: I thought that holes in this area would belong to something in actual gear area, not to "engine" area.

It makes sense that it is a gas mix, because you can see it dissolved fresh green paint. Gear oil does not dissolve it, I tried.

Before I put this LU I also replaces inner exhaust housing with gasket, restrictor , top shifting rod, and gasket between motor and exhaust housing.
Therefore, my concern was that I did something wrong and something leaks where it is not supposed to.

If you say it is OK, I will take it to the lake to try.
I put new oil into gear and will check for traces of water after that.

Thanks.

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: small hole on lower unit leas oily mix on 1976 25 HP Johnson

there are scads of model year L/U's that will fit your motor so I'm not surprised that your original one didn't have it. You shouldn't see much of that gunk after a good hard run. Troll a lot? You're going ot have it. Just the nature of the beast.