57 Fastwin-Milky Foam under powerhead when I removed it to change shift lever o-ring

[oldybutagoody]

There was a milky foam around the drive shaft where it goes into the crankshaft. Looks like emulsified oil/water mix. Is this normal? I've been resurrecting this craigslist find and have changed rings, honed cylinders, new top/bottom crank seals, all new gaskets, and 3m 847 on the block halves when I sealed it up. New/old coils, new points, new J6C plugs, new copper 2mm wires, rebuilt carb, (3 times). Won't idle. Replaced head gasket since it was blown in the area between the cylinders but when I did, I didn't notice that the head was warped. I think it was leaking water into the top cylinder because that spark plug was clean after running. I'm now lapping the head and block and I think they are flat now but when I pulled the power head to lap the block and to replace a leaking shift lever o-ring I found a good amount of milky white foam around the drive shaft where it goes into the crankshaft. Read somewhere that that is normal? Just oil left over from combustion mixed with cooling water? I resealed the lower unit so I don't think it would be from the drive shaft seal but I haven't yet checked if the seal job was successful.
Mainly just trying to determine if the warped head would cause it not to idle, and if the foam is normal or a result of the leaking head gasket or leaking drive shaft seal.

 

[F_R]

Re: 57 Fastwin-Milky Foam under powerhead when I removed it to change shift lever o-r

You answered your own question. Exhaust, oil, unburned fuel, crankcase drains, and discharged cooling water all emusified together. It is normal, especially if you were running it at slow speeds and or in a barrel. Get it on a boat on the lake and adjusted properly, and it will run a lot cleaner.

 

[oldybutagoody]

Re: 57 Fastwin-Milky Foam under powerhead when I removed it to change shift lever o-r

Whew! I haven't been this relieved since the doctor told me my heart is clean as a whistle. Thanks. I just didn't expect to see foam after all new seals and gaskets.
Now I hope the lapping of the head and block will solve my idling issue.

You answered your own question. Exhaust, oil, unburned fuel, crankcase drains, and discharged cooling water all emusified together. It is normal, especially if you were running it at slow speeds and or in a barrel. Get it on a boat on the lake and adjusted properly, and it will run a lot cleaner.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 57 Fastwin-Milky Foam under powerhead when I removed it to change shift lever o-r

You will likely find the powerhead is pretty square, the head gets warped though sometimes. I always lap them every time I change a head gasket. Be sure to use something flat like a pane of glass under the emory cloth. Do figure 8s with the head , constantly checking it until you see it sanding evenly. I usually find the center of the head the last spot that gets planed.

 

[oldybutagoody]

Re: 57 Fastwin-Milky Foam under powerhead when I removed it to change shift lever o-r

Thanks Chris. Yes, I'm using a flat tile and I was surprised how long it took to get the head flattened. It had a bit of pitting where the head gasket had blown (right in the middle on the upper cylinder between the two cylinders like you said). It took a while to flatten but I think I got it. The block doesn't seem warped but it did have a little pitting too so that's why I'm doing it. The bummer of it is now I've got to get another head gasket (my third). I have my fingers crossed that this will finally turn this oldie into a goodie.

You will likely find the powerhead is pretty square, the head gets warped though sometimes. I always lap them every time I change a head gasket. Be sure to use something flat like a pane of glass under the emory cloth. Do figure 8s with the head , constantly checking it until you see it sanding evenly. I usually find the center of the head the last spot that gets planed.