Winterizing Outdrive

[ccyoder]

1989 Glastron Sierra 195SS
4.3L Mercruiser Alpha One outdrive
600 hours
First time boat owner

Don S., the undisputed Godfather of these forums recommends pulling the outdrive of an I/O during winterization and then reinstalling. Makes sense to me....I'm a maintenance freak.

I called my local marinas and none offer this as a standard winterization service. They'll change the outdrive oil, but don't pull it and inspect all that's inside. As a first time boat owner, I'm inclined to follow Don's advice, so I protested. They said they would do it if I really wanted, but it added hundreds to my winterization costs. So the bottom line is, is it worth it? They said that when they drain the oil, if they detect water or metal, they'll call me and we'll proceed from there. It seems to me that the earlier you catch a problem, the cheaper it is. Just trying to make sure I'm not screwing myself by not getting the outdrive pulled. Thanks much.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing Outdrive

They said that when they drain the oil, if they detect water or metal, they'll call me and we'll proceed from there.

Water in the bellows will destroy the yoke, the input shaft seal, rust the shaft to the gimbal bearing, damage the ujoints and the gimbal bearing and if salt water corrode away the transom sheild.
You also can't tell if your engine alignment has changed unless you check it, and on many of the older boats (Pre 91) the only way to lube the splines for the coupler was to pull the drive. How do they do that without pulling the drive ??????

We used to have sales on the full winterization, and was usually $395, and included all the filters, oil, gear lubes gaskets, seals for the drive and such. So you are correct, it isn't cheap, but the ones that had it done didn't have major problems in the spring either.
The

 

[ccyoder]

Re: Winterizing Outdrive

Thanks, Don. I would rather pay some upfront maintenance costs than deal with a systemic failure. I'm really surprised that our folks here in west central Ohio don't even offer this as an upgraded winterization option. Most folks I talked to seemed to think I was a moron when I asked if they'd pull it.. In the end, whoever had this boat before me took care of it, and I'll do the same. Thanks.

 

[dvan1901]

Re: Winterizing Outdrive

So DonS and ccyoder; this kind of begs the question; what is the warranty if in the summer something is wrong that was part of the winerization? I know the answer "you need to ask", and I would. Just food for thought I guess.