Are there any negatives to removing the leg for 6 months?

[sickwilly]

I have a 2004 4.3 merc carb alpha. I just hit 100 hours and have some oxidation on the rear outdrive, and feel like its time to change the impeller.

My plan is to winterize like normal, but after I drain the oil out of the outdrive I was thinking I would remove it and put it in my garage. Then over the winter I can replace the impeller and either rub out the oxidation or do some touch up painting. This would also mean I am breaking the leg in half while not attached to the boat to do the impeller.

I store my boat for 6 months, so the outdrive would be empty of gear lube for 6 months, and the back of the boat would have the drive missing for 6 months (but will be indoors in a barn).

Are there any problems with this strategy that I am not thinking of?

Would it be better to just get the job done over a long weekend and store it with the outdrive back on and full of oil (which means I just don't do any touch up painting).

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Are there any negatives to removing the leg for 6 months?

Howdy,

Storing your outdrive in your garage wouldn't be a problem nor would leaving it off for any length of time (make sure you thoroughly drain water from the block, manifold/risers, oil, and steering coolers etc......and if it gets below freezing in your garage, any pooled water in the drive)

A downside of leaving the drive without oil in it could be forgetting that it doesn't have oil in it and installing it......you only do that once usually (per drive ) That happened to my brother at a Four Winns dealer.....they didn't bother to put oil in the drive and he picked it up thinking it was all 'done' (they said it was "done")..... he only made it about halfway around the lake


Cheers,


Rick

 

[John_S]

Re: Are there any negatives to removing the leg for 6 months?

I remove mine every year for winterization. I built a stand and leave the oil in it. Block off the bellows area, such that the mice don't want to make a home in there. Also check the engine alignment, per maintenance schedule (once a year). The replacement gasket set is around $10.