Cracked water jacket

[Ol Yank]

Purchased a 1985 Sylvan with a 90 horse Evinrude late last fall.<br /><br />4 cyl VRO Power tilt trim. I took it for one checkout cruise and stored it. It was cold as -10 in storage. Got it out last week and found a water leak. Turns out I had stored it on the trailer with a transom-saver and the motor was tilted up. I think this caused the crack I found in the water jacket under the lower port cylinder. The head is not warped (did not run it long). The head gasket was OK. The crack is about 1 inch long with a 1/32 " gap. Any chance JB Weld or something similar will hold as a repair?<br /><br />If not, my guess is a new short-block, Yes?<br /><br />Any other thoughts?<br /><br />TIA

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Cracked water jacket

Interesting.Not a real common place for a crack,but if you are looking at it,and it's one inch by 1/32 ,that's what you see.<br /><br />What is actually leaking ?.water out of the block or water into the engine ? Or did you pull the head and see the outerblock is cracked ?<br /><br />As long as water is not entering the combustion chamber/crankcase... JB Weld may work.I don't know about a short block on a 1985 motor.<br /><br />DHP

 

[Ol Yank]

Re: Cracked water jacket

One more related question, Can someone tell me the torque settings for the head bolts on this one?<br />1985 VRO 4 cyl 90 Evinrude.<br />TIA

 

[Terry H]

Re: Cracked water jacket

I had the same problem on a similar motor that I picked up last fall, I pulled the powerhead and had it welded up. It's as good as new. Chief

 

[OBJ]

Re: Cracked water jacket

Head bolts are 18 to 20psi Yank.<br /><br />EDIT: I'm just thinking, you have any overheat problems with that engine? The block should have drained out when you pulled it out of the water. Or did you have it tilted up? Some water can lay in there if it's not tilted all the way down.<br /><br />EDIT (again): When torquing the head, do it in three stages starting at the middle bolts and working your way out in a circular pattern for each torque sequence.

 

[Ol Yank]

Re: Cracked water jacket

Thanks Chief, I did not have it overheat, but I only used it once and the water was cold. I am puzzled as well about the cuase of the crack. I left the motor down for a good 5 minutes before I tilted it up for towing home. Even if there were some water left in the system, it should not have collected where the crack occurred. Since the crack is so small and there is so little pressure on that spot, I am thinking of using JB Weld to repair it. If that does not hold, I can always remove the powerhead and have it welded I would think. Just because I did not notice the leak last fall, does not mean it was there when I bought it either.<br /><br />Thanks again.

 

[Ol Yank]

Re: Cracked water jacket

Oops, Thanks to OBJ as well

 

[Ol Yank]

Re: Cracked water jacket

Update:<br />The JB Weld patch seems to be working just fine. Put her back together with a new head gasket, test fired her on the muffs. Warmed up good. Re-torqued the head tested again, no leaks. Since there is really no stress on that portion of the block, I figured it should hold. If it lets go, I can always remove the powerhead and have it welded.<br /><br />I will make it a practice to be very careful about letting her drain in the upright position from now on. <br />Thanks to all on the forum.

 

[Terry H]

Re: Cracked water jacket

The motor I was talkin' about was repaired with some sort of RTV silicone originally, and, worked fine for a couple of years before it started leaking again. Never did overheat tho, just the water in the lower cowl. With JB weld you should be just fine, at least for a while...Chief

 

[Ol Yank]

Re: Cracked water jacket

Just in case someone else tries it, the JB Weld did NOT hold up. It started leaking in about 3 hours running time. I am taking Chief 101's suggestion and removing the powerhead to get it welded.

 

[AtlDawg]

Re: Cracked water jacket

Hey old Yank,<br /><br />I have a water jacket problem on a similar head and would like to find out more about your fix. E-mail me if you have time atlgadawg@yahoo.com<br /><br />thanks

 

[Terry H]

Re: Cracked water jacket

The split in the water jacket of my motor was right under the lower water deflecter. Maybe that soaked up some water and did the deed...just a thought, Chief <br />After it was welded up the new deflecter was a bear to put in...