hkeiner
Lieutenant Junior Grade
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
- Messages
- 1,055
OK, the airbox is really called a SOUND ATTENUATOR PLATE by Mercury but I go by the simple name of airbox. See picture below. Anyways, I took the airbox off a few days ago and found that one of the gaskets between the airbox and the carbs was torn. About 1/4 of the gasket on one carb barrel was missing.
My first instinct is to hurry and replace the gasket before running the motor again. I am very cautious about running the motor with a possible lean condition for fear of melting down a cylinder.
Alternatively, I am thinking that a missing or partially missing gasket is not a big deal and would not cause any problems since the air box is pretty open anyways and false air would not be drawn into the engine. Also, these gaskets are a pain in the but to position in place when bolting the airbox back on.
What are your thoughts on the importance of these gaskets and risk of engine damage if the torn gasket is not repaced? Or remove all three completely to make bolting the airbox back on easier?
My first instinct is to hurry and replace the gasket before running the motor again. I am very cautious about running the motor with a possible lean condition for fear of melting down a cylinder.
Alternatively, I am thinking that a missing or partially missing gasket is not a big deal and would not cause any problems since the air box is pretty open anyways and false air would not be drawn into the engine. Also, these gaskets are a pain in the but to position in place when bolting the airbox back on.
What are your thoughts on the importance of these gaskets and risk of engine damage if the torn gasket is not repaced? Or remove all three completely to make bolting the airbox back on easier?
