1996 T9 with "blowout" just below Hood release lever

[Fishhawk'r]

As stated 1996 T9 EHLU that has exoperienced a "blowout" of the metal on the shaft below the Hood release lever when parked and above the top drain hole.
I've been told this is a known problem and it is due to a build up of salt that after being wet, expands "forcefully" when drying ... thus blowing out the metal. and that this was a defect in design and Yam used to replace parts on this ...As this blowout is apparently in the exhaust chamber as the hole gets bigger, the motor will get louder and the blowout will grow if not "repaired" somehow.

My questions now are ...
1. what if I do nothing....will having this hole hurt the performance of the motor?
2. can this "blowout" be repaired by welding it up up ?
3. can I clean out that salt build up somehow before doing a welding repair of the blow out?

Thanks !!!

[99yam40]

post a picture of what you are talking about

[Fishhawk'r]

OK will do.....later. No pics with me now.
I did find out this was a known problem in the early T9.9's as it is was a design fault ...and that Yamaha was even providing parts at no charge but stopped doing that a few years ago.