Reply To: Evinrude Fastwin 18 HP 15032 Leaking Around Exhaust

[Don]

OK, I’m assuming the screws you are referring to are the screws that separate the water jacket from the exhaust chamber. I made the mistake of buying a set of taps from HF, ended up tossing them out, the pitch was off slightly. I would go to Lowes/Napa/car parts place and buy a few decent bottoming taps. That HF tap might have messed up your threads to the point where the screws won’t thread in properly. Yes, I realize this was my experience, perhaps the taps you bought are OK, but I would check it out with a good quality tap, you don’t have to buy a whole set. You may want to consider ordering the proper OEM screws also. Once the threads are cleaned out, I would thread each screw into a hole to make sure it goes in deep enough to clamp the covers properly. I would skip the washers, the screws should be able to seal on their own…If not, there is something else wrong.
Once the covers are properly installed, you might consider installing the powerhead without the lower pan in place…Order a few base gaskets, use a base gasket with no sealer to ease clean up when the powerhead is pulled off again and the pan reinstalled. I would use the gasket sealer on both exhaust cover gaskets, and on the threads of the screws also.
Once you have run the engine to confirm there are no leaks, retorque the screws before pulling the powerhead and reinstalling the pan…
Yes, I know I’m advising alot here, I just want this issue resolved properly, and don’t want your powerhead rebuild damaged.