It is important to remember that the short coupling that saves weight and makes it easier to handle, also puts the lower crankshaft bearing, seal and spline five inches closer to the water. This is the reason for the exhaust going up to the level of the flywheel before descending to the mid section, thus increasing back pressure and limiting power. All outboards are built with compromises, this model seems to have more than most of OMCs 1950s Classics. The Fishermen loved the light weight and quilt, smooth operation – Service personal HATED taking it out of it’s shell to make major repairs. (As I have learned to HATE the latest souped up version of Apples spell checker, which drops in the wrong word if I type too slow forcing me to type faster and make more mistakes, making it replace them with MORE wrong words. I now spend more time proof reading than I do writing … 🙁
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