Johnson JW-18

[painter*]

I recently bought a 3 HP JW-18. The motor runs great after a carb o/haul. I replaced the impeller as a maintenance item, but I have a question.

Water spurts out of the mating surface between the lower unit and the gearcase housing. The motor doesn't over heat, so my question is...does it matter? I can take it apart and seal it with a silicone gasket maker, but if it doesn't matter, I won't bother.

Thanks in advance

 

[racerone]

That should be submerged in your test bucket.----Normal.

 

[painter*]

That should be submerged in your test bucket.----Normal.

Agreed that it should be submerged, but wouldn't that reduce the volume of water through the cooling system?

 

[hardwater fisherman]

Agreed that it should be submerged, but wouldn't that reduce the volume of water through the cooling system?

I think most of the water you see coming out of the seam has already gone through the motor. And it would go out lower down the leg anyway.

 

[painter*]

I think most of the water you see coming out of the seam has already gone through the motor. And it would go out lower down the leg anyway.

Thanks. I'm not familiar enough with outboards to know how the water flows. Water comes out of all the other places I've read it should come out...ie: the weep holes high up on the lower unit.