Chris,
What looks like fresh sealant is probably the oil I used to wipe corrosion off the outside of the engine but this motor has come apart very easily and you are probably right about recent work. The carbon seal is in like new condition. I will replace the oring and reassemble.
I notice also that the motor has the tube type exhaust silencer and the exhaust plate is still there. I am also thinking that I should clean off the plate without disturbing the plate and the lower gasket (plate to exhaust housing). Then wipe off the bottom of the top gasket that is attached to the powerhead and put some Evinrude Johnson gasket sealing compound on the plate and put the powerhead back onto the exhaust housing. That would reuse the present gaskets but they look to be in perfect shape. What do you think? (And thanks for responding to lots of questions)
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