Johnson midsection question

[shurlock]

was looking at my Johnson trying to decide how much money to put into it, most likely going to replace power head next month. when I noticed some damage to the midsection I took off this cover that is damaged and it looks like there is a pin or something hitting the back of the cover. can I consider this normal wear and tear or is this something else I have to worry about?!?!

 

[THEFERMANATOR]

That's most likely corrosion bubbling through the paint. IF you can get the bolts out, I have some of those plates up here as well. Just be careful as the bolts that hold the mount plates on can break off EASILY! I would take a scraper to it and see how bad the corrosion is, it may just be surface corrosion.

 

[shurlock]

it's actually smashed through the cover from the inside it's a small hole looks to me like something must have hit it. cover came off okay put up a little bit of a fight.