1969 18 hp Evinrude lock up issues

[ShoestringMariner]

I’ve got a 1969 Evinrude 18 horse that I acquired in a non-running condition. It was locked up and after soaking all winter long with PB blaster, I’m able to free it up by tapping directly on the piston

One cylinder is clean the other one is full of black carbon, wet rust and a few metal shards or should I say scrapings. ( and I’m not certain that the metal I found inside was not from the spark plug threads because they’re a little bit crappy looking and have about the same radius as the plug bore)

I’m wondering if I should simply clean up the bores as best I can while it is intact and see if it frees up better or if a total tear down is in order.

question is, what caused all the water in the cylinder. ? From my untrained eye, the gasket looks good, could it be a crack in the cylinder? Both plugs look oily and black

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Update.;, It’s freed up and turning over nicely now after some deep cleaning .
some evidence of minor pitting. I’m gonna slap it together and get it running and compression check.

I would like to know what causes water getting in like that though. Might have more questions as we try to revive this old girl

 

[racerone]

No point in trying to start that,-----Tear it apart.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

No point in trying to start that,-----Tear it apart.

Think it will be detrimental to run it briefly? Ie ruin the rings?

 

[racerone]

?----Go ahead do what you like.----Your time & your money.

 

[F_R]

It probably already is junk. If it isn't, it might be if you start it up. It is very likely that water rusted the roller bearings. If they are rusted, running will complete the destruction. If you have any hope of saving that motor, tear it down for inspection. You will find the water leak also, if you pull it down far enough. The 3 main leaks are head gasket, exhaust cover, and turning the motor upside down.

 

[racerone]

Picked up a 94 model 25 HP that had been recovered by scuba divers.-----Left as scrap.-----Took it apart and salvaged good block and pistons.---Crank and rods were scrap.----Salvaged many other good parts too.----Some folks just have no idea what is inside these motors as far as bearings are concerned.----And no idea as to what happens to them when exposed to water and oxygen.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Good stuff to know, thanks guys.

 

[ShoestringMariner]

Picked up a 94 model 25 HP that had been recovered by scuba divers.-----Left as scrap.-----Took it apart and salvaged good block and pistons.---Crank and rods were scrap.----Salvaged many other good parts too.----Some folks just have no idea what is inside these motors as far as bearings are concerned.----And no idea as to what happens to them when exposed to water and oxygen.

and you hit the nail on the nail head. I wasn’t even thinking about rust getting deeper in the motor. Never even consider the fact it has roller bearings coming from messing with 50s motors with bronze bearings.


now, that being said and this is just for discussion purposes not argumentative, If the needle bearings were all caked up with rust, it wouldn’t turn over freely, would it? I scraped out the rust deposits and shop vacuumed it out. It turns over beautifully right now.

 

[racerone]

Remove the bypass covers and look into the crankcase !