cracked mercury attenuator plate on 95 115 HP

[bassrascal02]

I have recently decided that I would no longer take my engine to the shop and start learning outboards on my own with the help of lots of literature, the web and a service manual. With that said I think i made my first mistake and need a little guidance.

I removed and rebuilt the four carbs on my 95 115 hp merc. The carbs were not extremely dirtly but did still have the rubber tipped float needles that I was advised to swap out becuase of a recent delay in power when jumping the throttle to get up on plane. All was great till I went to put the lugs back on the main bolts that hold the attenuator plate against the carbs. I was cranking down to what was the specified torque in the service manual BOOM....cracked the top of the plate. The crack is not huge and is only above the top carb but does create a small hole between the top carb and the attenuator plate.

Question. Can this cause harm to the engine? Should I pony up for the $130 and buy a new plate? And does anyone actually use the torque regs when putting an old engine back together....or is that just for the shiny new ones?

Thanks for any help.

 

[Bondo]

Re: cracked mercury attenuator plate on 95 115 HP

Ayuh,... The airbox backing plate,..??

I wouldn't worry awhole lot 'bout it...

 

[bassrascal02]

Re: cracked mercury attenuator plate on 95 115 HP

@bond-o -- I think that is right...its the plate on the outer side of the carbs not the engine block side. I fired it up last night in the driveway (with water dog ears on .....the neighbors love me when i do this) and it started right up. So it will run like this...just curious if it will have hight speed effects.

 

[Bondo]

Re: cracked mercury attenuator plate on 95 115 HP

@bond-o -- I think that is right...its the plate on the outer side of the carbs not the engine block side. I fired it up last night in the driveway (with water dog ears on .....the neighbors love me when i do this) and it started right up. So it will run like this...just curious if it will have hight speed effects.

Ayuh,... Other than possibly breathin' slightly better, though probably not enough to rejet for,...
I can't see any Issue...

If it's Really botherin' ya,... Epoxy it up....

Oh,... on the torque values thing,....
I run with my calibrated elbow, except for head gaskets, 'n the like...
for an airbox, I wouldn't even look up the values, myself...