Water drops on cylinder 2 spark plug

[Sascwatch]

i noticed after replacing my bottom end seals and water pump that I had a water droplet on my #2 spark plug. Motor is a 1987 25hp Mercury.

This seems to be a pretty common problem which is a leaking gasket in the exhaust manifold. I've ordered both and plan on changing these out on my next day off. I also ordered the water jacket gasket and will replace that aswell.

My question is, do I have to use any liquid gasket when assembling it with the new gaskets? Or just remove the old, clean it up and put the new ones in?

Also what are the torque specs for this? I've seen 100 in-lbs mentioned but I cannot confirm since I don't have a service manual, and can't locate one (even online)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Sascwatch]

Looks like 140 in-lbs is the correct torque. Correct me if I'm wrong tho.

I also noticed that there was no o-ring in the groove on the drive shaft near the splines, but it looks like the seal is actually installed on the bottom of the crankshaft. So I just grease up the splines and it's good to go? What's confusing is part 38 in the parts diagram is the rubber "slinger" ring, and then there is part 38A which isn't shown in the picture, but is listed as an o-ring.

 

[Sascwatch]

Installed the new gaskets earlier. Didn't have a torque wrench that went that low so I just tightened them good and tested it. I noticed that the small holes that come out of each cylinder (I want to say they'd be pressure relief valves or an equalizer port of some sort) and into a small bendy section of the manifold were completely clogged. I cleaned those out while I was at it. There was most defiantly water in and near the bottom cylinder exhaust port.

After the new gaskets I tested the motor in a barrel and there was no water on the plug, but I may have more work ahead of me. I noticed while running the motor there was a small puff of exhaust coming from what looks like the bottom of the power head. Seems like that gasket is dried up and leaking too. Some soapy water sprayed on it caused a bubble to form every 10 seconds or so. I'm going to tighten the bolts down there and see what happens.