1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

[Big Fish Billy]

I had my motor running today and noticed some water in the case, left side as you're looking from the rear, it seems to be dripping from the bottom left of that plate on that left side. What is behind that plate. Do I just need a gasket? Also once the engine warms up, it stalls at idle, is water getting in somewhere it shouldn't? Is the gasket available at this site? Thanks Bill

 

[carholme]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

Is this the area you are talking about?

Mercury, Mercruiser, Force, etc. - CYLINDER BLOCK ASSEMBLY - 40/50 H.P.

Gerry

 

[Big Fish Billy]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

Yes somewhere down at the bottom left hand corner of part 15 if you were looking right at it. It just drips.

 

[carholme]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

Worth the time to get the plate off now and see if it is gaskets, corrosion or whatever. Be extremely careful when removing the bolts as they have a tendency to break off.

Gerry

 

[robert0209]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

I have a 98 40hp and had that problem. The powerhead adaptor plate had cracked causing the gasket to give. Water was coming in lower than what you are reporting though. You could tell that it was coming in from the base of the powerhead. If that is the case, simply replacing the gasket will not hold for long. You will have to either have your cracked plate welded, buy a new one, or find a used one. I bought a plate that had previously broken and it had been welded. I had it installed and have had no problems since (that was 4 years ago).

 

[Big Fish Billy]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

Thanks guys, I'll take it apart, hopefully I won't break anything. I'll report back.....

 

[gregmsr]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

Use small 1/4" drive ratchet or short light weight wrench, less tendency to put too much on bolts to avoid breaking them off.
Easy, gentle. You can tell sometimes if getting ready to break. Use one hand with just a twist of the wrist.
Put a little heat on the tight ones. Spray PB Blast.... they will come.

 

[Big Fish Billy]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

Well got it all apart, fairly easy job as they go, rigged up a hoist over the flywheel (used 3 5/16" eyebolts) helped lift it up slowly and will help lower it back slowly, plus I have blown rotator cuff, so I'm not that strong, but after I lifted it up, put a piece of plywood across to hold it, I could lift it to the bench easily enough. Two of the bolts in the adapter plate near the exhaust passage were loose, one backed out about a 1/4 inch, thus the gaskets are blown out and disintegrated in that area, above and below the adapter plate. The outer exhaust cover gasket was blown at the bottom where the leak was. The gasket actually looked deformed there, might have been bad from the beginning. I'm going to trace all the gaskets in case I have to go back in again. I had three problem screws at the bottom of that exhaust plate, where water must have gotten into the screw passages, but a little heat got them out. All in all not too bad a job. Would you guys recommend using a Permatex type gasket dressing or assemble both the adapter plate and exhaust plates dry? At least around the water passages?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: 1997 Force 40hp - Water in engine compartment

Typically, stock gaskets have a glue compound on one side and Permatex or gasket varnish is not recommended. If you elect to make your own gaskets from the 1/32 thick grey material, then yes, a light coating of gasket sealer would probably help.