Any chance you have a HUGE water leak in there? Air compresses and water does not. Hydrolocking causes stuff like that. I can't imagine the kind of leak you'd need for that in a 2-stroke though.
That's why God invented Ebay!
I picked up a doner 40Hp power head for $107 with shipping
That was two weeks ago. I got a good crank, rod piston bearings.
She will be back on the water in two weeks!
Ebay for all your used outboard needs!
Hey if you need some 40n HP parts, hit me up, I have spares!
I wouldn't guess that because the piston looks good (in person). Also it's been running for many years. I think it was just time for it to go, the casting doesn't look very tough.
Karlow1, it's a 225hp engine...
Thanks for the link to Oregon City Marine!! I'll give them a call Monday.
Update: This engine is FUBR! We replaced the head and it wouldn't start so we looked around (after it caught on fire) and found part of a connecting rod and a big hole in the block!!
Fortunately I found a local replacement engine, which will be going in tomorrow. It's the same model, a Johnson 225, but it's a little newer.
Could that be from the original mishap? Connecting rod let go and the piston smashed into the head? Piston could have made quite the torpedo if it wasn't for the head stopping it. Must have made quite the noise when she let go?