When I started up this motor for the first time today, I found out
the water jacket “cylinder cover” had a freeze crack in it.
I have the cover off the motor now, but didn’t finish
cleaning off the old gasket yet, or “thinking” about
it’s design, before I called it a day.

I presume the reason that the cover had a freeze crack
was because the little bottom hole in the gasket was
plugged up, but now, in looking at the photos,
I’m confused of the whole design.
It appears that water is on both sides of this cover gasket,
and in order for the water to exit the motor, it has to travel
through the holes in the gasket, then exit the hole in the top
of the gasket. Is this how it works? If so, it seems a little
goofy to me!