I have a 1992 40 hp Yammie o/b that's been a pretty sweet machine for the year and a half I've owned it.

Last time I used it, over the weekend, I thought it started to run a little rough and actually, when I was running it at WOT, it seemed to buck up a couple of times on the run back to the ramp at the end of the day as if I'd hit something or snagged a patch of hydrilla. Really thought something was wrong with it, or that there might be something wrong with my lower unit.

I took it to the local yamaha dealership and asked them to look at it. They said they couldn't find anything wrong with it.

However, they did notice that my head gasket is leaking a little and it would cost around $300 to repair. I am pretty sure I've noticed that leak - there's been a small stain around one area for the last year or so. It's not a major leak and I haven't had any issues with the motor whatsoever.

Now, this might be a stupid question, but I'm just wondering if it's a problem that really needs to be fixed or not, especially since it hasn't gotten any worse at all throughout the last year and the dealership isn't even sure if it's related to the issue that I may or may not have at all.

Thanks for any/all input.

Never mind - decided to go ahead and get the issue fixed.

That "bucking" thing could be the lower unit is jumping out of gear at high speeds and then going back in. It acts just like you hit a stump. Since you are deaf (I'm not being rude here, I know this guy) You may want to take another guy with you to confirm this. Usually the motor shakes violently for just a second when this happens. Could just need cable adjustments.......