water deflectors

[huttoboy]

On a 1993 Johnson 115 I recently replaced a leaking head gasket (actually replaced both since I was there already) but it wasn't until after they were on that I learned about the water deflectors and that I should have replaced them when I had the heads off. Should I go back and replace them? I have not had any overheating problems. Head gaskets are not a big deal if replacing the deflectors is necessary.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: water deflectors

If they havent been on too long they'll probably come right off. Especially if you used some non-hardnening glue like OMC/BRP Gasket Sealer.

 

[huttoboy]

Re: water deflectors

What do you think Dhadley? Should I go back in and replace the water pass deflectors and how do you know if they are defective or is it just one of those things you do when you are there?

 

[huttoboy]

Re: water deflectors

Maybe Dhadley can't get back to me right now so I'll throw out my question again. Should I go back and replace the water pass deflectors? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: water deflectors

If they haven't been changed in a while, yes. OMC recommended changing them every year although nobody does.

 

[jrem]

Re: water deflectors

I just changed them on my 1992 115 Johnson this past weekend because I had a lot of salt deposits in the waterflow passages to clean out. Someone mentioned in the forums that the deflectors can sometimes swell and restrict the water flow, and they should at least be inspected. Mine didn't look "swollen", but I changed them as part of the cleaning.<br />The OMC Tech manual I use didn't say to use gasket sealer when putting on the head gasket, (they were aleady kinda tacky out of the package) so I wouldn't think that taking them back off to change the deflector would be a problem.<br /><br />Also someone mentioned in the forums that you can just use 3/8th inch O/D rubber fuel hose, cut to fit the length of the old ones, to replace the deflectors...but I'm not gonna suggest that either way since I'm a newbie. Maybe Dhadley will have some insight on that.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: water deflectors

The deflectors are just actually pieces of the old dual line fuel hose. <br /><br />As for the gaskets, they say 'Do Not Use Sealer" on them. There are some sealers that react with the gasket and it'll do weird things, like leak externally. We use OMC / BRP Gasket Sealer on ours. It seals but yet allows the gasket to come off cleanly. We'd go broke buying head gaskets for the race boat if we had to change them every time we took the heads off.

 

[huttoboy]

Re: water deflectors

I have not been able to find OMC/BRP Gasket Sealer around here. Where might a good source be? And thanks to everyone for your insight. I'm going to pull the heads and replace the water pass deflectors.<br /><br />Bill