1956 15hp fouling spark plugs

[cary00silve]

I have a 1956 evinrude 15hp that I've been working on to get in reliable shape. I thought it was there until today. I took it out, and it started not wanting to run wide open. It has done this before, and just had some gunk in the tank that clogged the carb filter. No problem I thought I'll just run a little slower today. Well, then the top plug fouled out I couldn't get it to fire again. I got it home and pulled the plugs and the top plug was wet with WATER. First I thought water in the fuel, but that's not the case. Next guess would be leaking head gasket. I checked the compression, and get 75 psi on both cylinders. Does the head gasket sound like the culprit here? Also, is there anything tricky about replacing the head gasket, or is it as easy as it looks? Thanks...

 

[grid]

Re: 1956 15hp fouling spark plugs

You can certainly replace the head gasket, but I'd bet on a "holed" inner exhaust plate. I just hope it was a fresh-water engine so you can get the bolts out!

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: 1956 15hp fouling spark plugs

I would guess you have a head gasket leaking.A hole through the stainless steel exhaust liner is quite rare. Just remove the bolt's to remove the head. It's a two cycle engine, so it is nothing but a cover.

 

[cary00silve]

Re: 1956 15hp fouling spark plugs

You can certainly replace the head gasket, but I'd bet on a "holed" inner exhaust plate. I just hope it was a fresh-water engine so you can get the bolts out!

Well, it wasn't a freshwater engine and four of the 10 bolts I sheared the head clean off. Is it worth it to try and drill the bolts out and retap, or should I just finally give in to the evil force that controls this motor?

 

[F_R]

Re: 1956 15hp fouling spark plugs

The inner exhaust cover is not stainles steel. It is aluminum and they do hole through. Then water squirts through the hole, into the exhaust ports. If it has been doing this awhile, you probably don't have any engine bearings left. Especially in salt water.

If you have anything worth fixing, good luck learning how to drill out screws and installing Heli-Coils. Only way to go. You should be getting pretty good at it by the time you get to the last one.. And totally screwing up the first one.

 

[cary00silve]

Re: 1956 15hp fouling spark plugs

Well, I'm going to cut my losses and part this thing out. If anyone needs any parts off of it just let me know.