Mercury 120XR water in my #2, 3 cylinders

[Alex22]

am stuck. I had a problem last time I took my boat to the lake. It has a Merc. 120 Jet drive motor. I am getting water into my #2 and #3 cylinders. Now I thought it was a head gasket so I changed that and re-surfaced the head. I then put it all back together and still water is in there. I did a compression check and everything is fine. So I took the exhaust apart today. I noticed a small seepage in the gasket but it was not blown. So I ordered a new one. Could that be it? Am I missing something else? Any help would be great. Thanx

 

[ODDD1]

Re: Mercury 120XR water in my #2, 3 cylinders

Yes, the exhaust would have been the first place to go...a head gasket wont let water in unless it lets compression out, which you will see on a comp guage.....the exhaust gasket is troublesome, if you see black coloration across the gasket it is an indication of leakage.....

 

[Alex22]

Re: Mercury 120XR water in my #2, 3 cylinders

What if it's not the exhaust, what should I check next? In your opinon will this small seeping in the exhaust cause water to enter two cylinders? Its just that the seeping I saw the on the gasket was so small so it makes me suspect something else.