1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

[terankinjr]

Hello, I am new to this forum and am looking for some assistance.
I recently purchased my first boat, and am in the process of winterizing it currently. I have a few questions; But first lemme tell ya what I got:
Year: 1977
Make: Classic Industries (I cannot find any info on the net regarding the Manufacterer)
Model: ??
Boat Type: Cuddy Cabin
Size: 20.5ft
Engine: 188HP Mercruiser 8cyl
Cooling Type: Raw Water
Drive style: I/O
Drive Make: Appears to be Mercruiser as well (the stickers have come off)

Now for my question(s): I have drained the block (2 Petcocks Port and starboard side) and the Manifolds (2 more petcocks) and pulled the hose from the circulator pump and have drained all the water, I have been told that there is a heat exchanger that I need to pull a hose from and that it should be on the port side of the engine near the oil pan, I have checked and re-checked and I am unable to find it, is it possible that this engine doesn't have one or am I just stupid?

My second question is: If I get all the water out of the engine I shouldn't need to add any antifreeze should I?

And for my third question: What is the purpose of removing the spark plugs and leaving them out for the season?



This boat didn't come with manuals or any info at all except for what the previous owner told me (I wrote it down) so if ANYONE happens to have any manuals or specs it would be greatly appreciated.

I can provide Serial #'s and photos if need be.


Regards,

Tom

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

Hello, I am new to this forum and am looking for some assistance.
I recently purchased my first boat, and am in the process of winterizing it currently. I have a few questions; But first lemme tell ya what I got:
Year: 1977
Make: Classic Industries (I cannot find any info on the net regarding the Manufacterer)
Model: ??
Boat Type: Cuddy Cabin
Size: 20.5ft
Engine: 188HP Mercruiser 8cyl
Cooling Type: Raw Water
Drive style: I/O
Drive Make: Appears to be Mercruiser as well (the stickers have come off)

Now for my question(s): I have drained the block (2 Petcocks Port and starboard side) and the Manifolds (2 more petcocks) and pulled the hose from the circulator pump and have drained all the water, I have been told that there is a heat exchanger that I need to pull a hose from and that it should be on the port side of the engine near the oil pan, I have checked and re-checked and I am unable to find it, is it possible that this engine doesn't have one or am I just stupid?

My second question is: If I get all the water out of the engine I shouldn't need to add any antifreeze should I?

And for my third question: What is the purpose of removing the spark plugs and leaving them out for the season?



This boat didn't come with manuals or any info at all except for what the previous owner told me (I wrote it down) so if ANYONE happens to have any manuals or specs it would be greatly appreciated.

I can provide Serial #'s and photos if need be.


Regards,

Tom

1) If you Have a raw water (standard) cooling system, you do not have a heat exchanger....
If you had one it would be mounted on the front of the engine & have a radiator cap....
2) Drain both sides as described & poke an awl or wire coat hanger into the holes to make sure no water remains from them being clogged with scale.....
Remove & drain the large hose at the engine circulating pump.....
Remove the inlet hose that comes from the stern of the boat where it connects to the engine....
If you have a power steering cooler, (you probably don't), it would be connected to that hose, drain if necessary....
Store with the drive in the 'down' position....
3) Leave the spark plugs IN or your cylinders will rust....
Here is a link to the free OEM manual for your engine/drive, Mercruiser manual #1.....
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=251571
Welcome to iboats, btw......

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

I have been told that there is a heat exchanger that I need to pull a hose from and that it should be on the port side of the engine near the oil pan, I have checked and re-checked and I am unable to find it, is it possible that this engine doesn't have one

Ayuh,....
You're looking for the P/Steering Cooler,...
It's mounted in the waterline that comes from the drive,+ goes to the T-Stat Housing...
If your boat Doesn't have P/Steering,....
It Won't have a Cooler....

My second question is: If I get all the water out of the engine I shouldn't need to add any antifreeze should I?

Ayuh,.... No Antifreeze is necessary,...
But,.. notice I underlined the Key word in your question...
If you're Handy enough to confidently say there's No water,... No Problem....

And for my third question: What is the purpose of removing the spark plugs and leaving them out for the season?

Ayuh,.... Where'd you hear That,..??..??
That's about the Dumbest statement I've ever heard....

Btw,..... Welcome Aboard,...

 

[terankinjr]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

Hey guys, thank you for the warm welcome and prompt replies, Yeah theres no Power steering so im good there... As far as the spark plug thing goes, it was recommended by the marina where I docked the boat. I think they put in some dummy plugs or something to prevent tip corrosion?

Anyway they charge what seems to be a fair amount for services but I never backed down from doing my own stuff, (computers, home improvement, automobiles) so why stop now... LOL

I am pretty sure the the engine is devoid of water at this point, but the last steps I need to do are to fog the engine and change the engine oil... and lastly fill the gas tank, so the engine will need to be drained of water again, I wanted to change the outdrive oil and drain the water before the temps go below freezing at night... but looks like we are up for somewhat nice weather this weekend so I will tackle the rest then. Thank you again for your help and the link to the engine specs....


Regards,

Tom

 

[JustJason]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

prevent tip corrosion????? that's a new one.
That's up there with the other guy who was told his drives needed to be removed just to fill them with gear oil.

Here's the deal. Fog your engine with the plugs you got in there, and leave them in. In the spring, start her up and run it for a few minutes on the hose. After it cools down, do your yearly tune up, which includes putting new plugs in.

1 other thing... the recomendation with the fuel tank is either as empty as possible or 90% full. If your on the lower end of the gas gauge just leave it and add your stabil to what you got.
Unless you have a steel tank (boats a 77 right?). then fill it up.

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

I am pretty sure the the engine is devoid of water

do be sure.

and lastly fill the gas tank,

don't forget to put some stabill or the likes in yer last fill. myself, i start using stabil when i'm getting close to end of season. that way the stabil mixes good and is throughout the fuel system when i lay up for winter...

put the sparkplugs back in it for winter layup. if not. ya may find yer sparkplug holes rusty come spring....

 

[terankinjr]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

I am on the low side for fuel right now, I added enough stabil to treat 20 gallons to what i got in there now, which is less than 1/4 tank (40 gallon tank I believe), So really I could just wait for gas prices to drop even more then full 'er up later on and add some more stabil?

I am honestly not too sure what kind of tank it has, and Honestly Id like to find out, Id also like to find out where I can get to it so I can replace the sending unit and float, the reading is pretty inaccurate below 1/2 tank, Like I said in my first post, I cannot find ANYTHING on the boat itself on the net, All i Know is that it is a Classic Inc. I think I may have found the hull # so thats a start, or so i thought until nothing came up on the internet for that either....


As far as the tune up goes... thats Points, plugs and wires, fuel filter, and Oil change if not done at the end of the previous season right?

-Tom

 

[terankinjr]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

Ooh I DID just find this link:

http://www.floridausedboats.com/manufacturers/

 

[JustJason]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

of that vintage a tune up is going to be.....
cap, rotor, points and condensor, all fuel filters (some boats have 2 or 3)and plugs. Clean the flame arrestor, Set the dwell, set the base timing, (check for advance) set idle mixture then finally set idle speed idealy with the boat in the water in foward gear. That's every year.
Plug wires every couple of years depending on hours and salt exposure.

Oil and filter change, and gear lube should be done during winterizing.

As far as your fuel tank.... if your not sure if it's steel then just fill it 90% full. If you find that it's aluminum.... just leave it.
if you find out that its fiberglass...... start crying

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

fuel filter, and Oil change

at end of season, prior to layup

Points, plugs and wires

at beginning of season. along with cap, rotor, condenser and points and plugs... also, dwell and time it as cj points out.

don't know about yers. but my 75 has a steel fuel tank. i'd leave it full. my boat was stores for 15 years allegedly prior to me getting it. i almost had to remove it to remove the rust that had built up over the years inside it. the rust would show up on the fuel filter. plugging it eventually. i got away with repetitive fuel filter changes. but i'm in favor of topping off the fuel tank...

read the service manual ya got the link to. it has winterizing procedures in it.... along with bringing back into service after layup..

 

[JustJason]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

fuel filters are optional on carbed motors for winterizing.... but mandatory on efi.
However.... if you can't get at the tank the easiest way to find out may be just to take your old fuel/water seperator off and cut it in half, look for rust.
Now you have an excuse to do the fuel filter

 

[terankinjr]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

Anyone have a working link or any other way to open the link for the manual? Aside from it taking a long time to load, it eventually throws an error saying that the file is corrupt.

-Tom

 

[terankinjr]

Re: 1977 188HP I/O Merc winterization

Ahh it finally loaded.... saving it now... its a 1977, should be Manual # 2 right? Not manual #1?

-Tom