Water intrusion into Johnson VRO 140's on 23 CC

[JohnB]

Squidrig,
I ran johnson VRO's on my last boat of 8 years. They were just about indestructable. What's puzzeling to me, is you detect water in the carbs, but not much water in the separator. I could only think of 3 things:
1. If you where in tall seas, and these engines are on a bracket they may be getting wet, maybe water is getting in around the covers. The covers on those were not really tightlly sealed, and sometimes in rough seas, I would have salt water get on the back of the motor, and short out plug wires. Never had the whole engine shut down, but lost a cylinder a couple of times.
2. Maybe you need to change the cartridge on the water separator. It might be letting water in. I know for fact, that if the separator is full, it will let water pass thru to the engine. Cartridges are alot cheaper than motors.
3. Maybe a gas line or primer has a leak, and it is sucking in water thru the leak. Alot of lines on engines with brackets are located in pretty wet places.
In any case, post back what you find out.