Re: RDE-18 powerhead to exhaust plate/gaskets

[olcah]

I missed your photo of the top of the exhaust. Looks like the exhaust was not modified. I would trace the tube plate and make a solid one or just get a couple of "patches" welded on TOP of the plate. The other thing I would look at is to make sure that the water discharge from the powerhead is thru a small hole in the small compartment at the aft end of the powerhead same as the RD18 is. (see photo above) The kit above talks about other mods for some RD17s that sound like they may not apply but I didn’t have an RD17 to look at. So read it carefully. I think the idea was to make RD17 like initial configuration of RD18 but again, no experience. My guess is you will find you are good to go removing baffle, putting in a small blank plate and drilling but again no experience with RD17. (Like Bill I would just hate to drill but I would do it.)

BTW when I took my Utah motor apart the blank plate was loose and out of position, no sign of screws. Looked like these short screws just loosened from vibration. The tube plate in the RD18 parts motor was similarly loose and out of place. Was your tube plate in place?

On my motor I am going to just replace the blank plate with new screws and use a single gasket between the powerhead and the exhaust with no baffle plate.

I have enjoyed reading about you project, always just loved the green motors and aluminum boats.