when changing exhaust cover gaskets should i have clean the exhaust port?

[hardwater fisherman]

i changed the exhaust cover gaskets on my evinrude 40604r. 1976 40 hp. it was leaking water to the point where puddles would form and when at wot the ignition would get wet. the job went well as it pumps water out the leg better than ever. i cleaned the cover with throttle body cleaner and it looked good. i scraped the surface of the powerhead and cleaned it well. my question is should i have cleaned the exhaust port? i wiped it out and blew the scrapings from the old gasket out of the area. the motor runs aces but i just had some thoughts about that exhaust buildup in the exhaust port.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: when changing exhaust cover gaskets should i have clean the exhaust port?

Unless it had so much buildup that the carbon was restricting the flow, I wouldn't worry about it. You can always do a decarb treatment and get rid of some of it if you're that worried about it.
JMO,
JBJ

 

[hardwater fisherman]

Re: when changing exhaust cover gaskets should i have clean the exhaust port?

i am not too worried about it but i was just wondering if i missed a step in changing the gaskets. i have never changed them before. it was black in there but no scale.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: when changing exhaust cover gaskets should i have clean the exhaust port?

On a 2 strokes engines, exhaust porst usually remains very dirty and is a filthy hand mess to inmaculate remove all combustion leftovers adhered to them. You can squirt some carbon remover product, let soak, and with a brush brush off mess deposits.

Happy Boating

 

[hardwater fisherman]

Re: when changing exhaust cover gaskets should i have clean the exhaust port?

i was going to clean it but i thought some of it would end up on the pistons or in the cylinders.