Mercury outboard exhaust

[Rum Run]

This refers to the hole where the anti - kick up rod thingy for reversing exits the leg on my Mercury 5hp two stroke. Exhaust gasses and noise also exit this hole and my questions are:
1. Should exhaust gas come out of there
2. Should there be a component like a rubber grommet around the stainless rod
3. If answer to Q1. is no, any ideas what has failed before I dismantle it

As ever, thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[Rum Run]

Shall I rephrase the question... looking at it again I should have re-written it in the light of the photo not uploading. So:
My Mercury 5hp 2-stroke makes more noise than a Seagull and exhaust gas hangs about the power head at low revs (it runs in a well).
Close examination shows that there is exhaust gas coming out of the hole in the leg where a stainless rod pokes through to release the anti-kick-up feature .
The question is
1. Should exhaust gas come out of there
2. Should there be a component like a rubber grommet around the stainless rod
3. If answer to Q1. is no, any ideas what has failed before I dismantle it

Any ideas?

 

[VicS]

Look at the exploded parts diagrams. If there should be a grommet it will be shown on the relevant diagram. I believe there should be but you dont give sufficient detail to identify your engine so i cannot be sure.

I usually refer to the diagrams on the boats,net website Mercury Marine Parts - OEM Sterndrive & Outboard Parts | Boats.net

 

[Rum Run]

Look at the exploded parts diagrams. If there should be a grommet it will be shown on the relevant diagram. I believe there should be but you dont give sufficient detail to identify your engine so i cannot be sure.

I usually refer to the diagrams on the boats,net website Mercury Marine Parts - OEM Sterndrive & Outboard Parts | Boats.net

For some reason my engine's serial number does not fit into the parameters of the Boats.net site, but the first one in the 5hp 2 stroke list seems similar enough, leading me to see that there should be a rubber grommet in the hole, part number 161181 and $3.60
I was able to source one from Cambridge Outboards on the Quicksilver part number 25-161181 for the handsome sum of £8.00 inc postage and VAT.
The engine is very much quieter in the test tank now, so that seems to have cured the problem

 

[Sandro]

All my ex and current outboards have a small hole or two midway up the leg to ease starting - the motor exhaust does not have to win the water head in the exhaust track. Smoke from these holes fills the well and has been known to choke the motor in a following wind.
Also if you fit the grommet some smoke might be output in the well above water level.
A rubber diafragm in the well below the power head is useful, even if far from being gas tight of course.

Sandro