Mercury 2.5L Powerhead Gasket question

[BassHole559]

i have a 2002 Mercury XR6 150, S/N 0T591137. I need to know if the gaskets on the front of the powerhead require me to remove the powerhead completely to change them? From the pics I should be able to remove carbs, reed block, and forward crankcase to replace all the gaskets. Specifically the crankcase gasket. I finally got my bogging issue figured out and it IS fuel related. The crankcase has a nice leak at the bottom not allowing enough suction to provide proper fuel delivery through the reeds on the up stroke. There is a healthy amount of oil leaking right under the reed block.

 

[Dukedog]

carbs and reed plate is far as you can go without pulling power head..

 

[BassHole559]

That’s what I was afraid of. Thanks duke!

 

[BassHole559]

Duke, one last question. I ended up taking the heads off. Aside from some carbon on the piston heads the cylinders looked good to me. Nice cross-hatch honing all the way down the cylinder head with only a few shinny spots at the bottom of the stroke. No gouges at all either. This does indicate good correct? I’m thinking this powerhead was rebuilt before for a 2002 to look the way it does.