Dripping water from under power head

[Bombard Brent]

Just picked up a 1966 Evinrude Fastwin and can see some water dripping under the power head while it's running. It's not a lot, just enough to make a little puddle in the pan.

I have 90 psi in each cylinder and other than that, it runs like a top. I'm wondering, is this my head gasket, or is there a more likely exhaust gasket that is probably leaking?

Oh yeah, there is a lever on the starboard side of the engine that goes under the pan that is unfortunately broken underneath. Is that the tilt lever?

Thanks for any ideas or help. I've always found posters here to be quite helpful.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

Photos will help us understand. The FNR lever is on the starboard side. Your water jacket gasket could be leaking too. Take the cowl off and watch while your motor is running...then you'll know.

 

[Bombard Brent]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

Thanks for the reply. I'll try to get a photo posted. I have looked with the cowling off and I cannot see the source of the leak. There isn't much room between the head and the pan, but it's coming from underneath. By the condition of the paint, around the area (flaking) it has probably been doing it for a long time. I'll go get a picture.

Oh, it's definately not the FNR lever. I'll get a pic of that too.

 

[Bombard Brent]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

Ok, here are some photos. The lever I was referring to is to the right of the FNR lever.

http://img12.imageshack.us/i/002sx.jpg/

http://img12.imageshack.us/i/005cqt.jpg/

http://img12.imageshack.us/i/006xty.jpg/

http://img26.imageshack.us/i/003le.jpg/



Thanks again.

 

[F_R]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

The "lever" as you call it, is a bracket for holding a remote control shift cable. It also holds the rubber mounts that support the motor cover pan. Is the pan flopping around loose?

The leak might be the head gasket, but more than likely is the core plug in the bottom of the cylinder head. (Welsh/freeze plug, whatever you want to call it). They rot/corrode out. If that is what it is, you will soon have a gusher of water, not just a drip.

Part numbers are:
202310 core plug
306163 head gasket
204809 bracket

 

[Bombard Brent]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

Thanks for the response F R. Yes the pan is a little loose (although I wouldnt say flopping). I was wondering if I should try redrilling and securing with a bolt and rubber bushing somewhere else or just leave it.

Thanks for the part numbers too. I just ordered a service manual and I think I'll pull the power head to try to determine the source of the leak.

 

[F_R]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

Thanks for the response F R. Yes the pan is a little loose (although I wouldnt say flopping). I was wondering if I should try redrilling and securing with a bolt and rubber bushing somewhere else or just leave it.

Thanks for the part numbers too. I just ordered a service manual and I think I'll pull the power head to try to determine the source of the leak.

A wise move. Once you get the powerhead off, you can replace the core plug. You can address the pan mounts at the same time.

 

[Bombard Brent]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

Just as FR had predicted, I had the motor out the other day and water began gushing from under the head. I pulled the head and the freeze/core plug was gone.

Rather than pulling the powerhead to address the steering bracket, I placed a bolt and bushing through the lower pan and bracket handle. Done.

Then, I pulled the head off in order to replace the freeze plug and sheared 2 head bolts off flush. Dang. After reading up, I tried everything in the book (other than taking the power head to the machine shop) and having them helicoiled.

Oh, and I fabricated the core plug out of a Euro cent (yes, a european penny) that I concaved with a center punch and ground down the edges with a dremel.

Anyway, after much cursing and suffering a shrapnel injury while trying to remove a broken ez out, I resurfaced the head and bolted it back with a new sierra gasket (minus the two bolts).

I started it up and ran it for about 20 minutes in a bucket, torqued the head bolts down again, and tested the compression. 120psi in each cylinder, no sign of water on the plugs, and no water leakage from the water jacket.

My question is, has anyone ever tried limping a head along without all the bolts? Luckily, they were on complete opposite sides of the head, leaving 8 fairly well spaced bolts to hold it down.

This was a free motor, so I'm not all that invested. Furthermore, I stay close to shore and I have a good set of oars.

Thanks,

bb

 

[14ftgrumman]

Re: Dripping water from under power head

Never heard of anyone running one of these minus 2 head bolts. If it doesnt leak and you don't mnd rowing, go for it. At least when (if) it gives up, you will know what is wrong with it.