Reply To: Top shaft seal leaking of 1967 18hp Evinrude

[Don]

OK, well I’m a little confused, but this is a common topic for sure.  It looks like the 67 models did not use the oring, but perhpaps I am not looking at the breakdown accurately.   From your picture, it looks like this engine uses the “recirc style” system with the vacuum port above the seal.  But, I am confused, a very big leak should have been detected there when you did your test.  OMC did make a tool to remove that seal without pulling the powerhead apart, I don’t have the part number for the tool handy though.

So, I will back up a bit, and start with a simple question….  Was the mag plate a mess with excess oil splattered on it and the points?  If not, I would not mess with the seal.  Sounds like you just tried to test the seal only because of what you have read about this issue.  So, if it was mine, and the mag plate was relatively clean, I would not mess with the upper seal…