First startup of the season since winterization. What should I know or do?

[Philster]

Lifelong 2-stroke outboard guy most of my life. When I ran an I/O, it was stored at the marina year round and they winterized and summerized.

So, with the boat now in my driveway my plan for tomorrow is that I am going to hook the water up to the outdrive and fire the 502 up (actually going to put a huge barrel under the drive and have it in water with hose continually over-filling barrel because my water pressure is low and muffs scare me with low pressure).

Battery is charged. Full winterization was performed in November, which included 9/10 full tank with fuel treatment. Drained block, of course. Grease service, and full synthetic oil and lube changes for the 502 engine and Bravo drive.

Is there anything else I need to know at this point? Next week she heads off to a boatel, and before I make my first request to have her forklifted into the water, I need to know she will fire up.

Ran perfectly when she was shut down in November and was fresh off a major marine surveyor's review.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: First startup of the season since winterization. What should I know or do?

This should be interesting reading for a bravo owner. http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/11/11b1r5x.pdf Things to pay attention to are gimbal ring clamping screws and rear motor mounts with that powerful engine. Have fun.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: First startup of the season since winterization. What should I know or do?

Howdy,


It appears that you did everything most should do when you 'put it up" last winter!

WHEN was the raw water pump inspected/impeller replaced last?

That would be the only thing I would want to do....


Also, NOT using "muffs" means that you'll have a DRY impeller attempting to "suck" water out of a container..........and that you'll be asking that dry impeller to lift water from about 2 feet below.....

(when the boat is actually sitting in the water, the water level is slightly above the level of the raw water pump on a Bravo.....so after a few min in the water .......... it's actually submerged in water......the impeller gets wet almost immediately)

If you submerge an outboard or an Alpha using a "drum".... the raw pump is also submerged..........


I suggest you just use the "muffs" and don't run the engine any higher than about 1500 RPM or so.....



Once you get the boat in the water, look carefully in the back for any water leaks etc, if it's going to sit in the water all summer....


Also, if you're going to leave it in salt, make sure your anodes are in good shape and the Mercathode is working......



Cheers,


Rick

 

[ziggy]

Re: First startup of the season since winterization. What should I know or do?

i pretty much followed the book for summerization. in my case it's.

1 install a fully charged battery with clean and lightly lubed terminals
2 drain anti freeze
3 check cooling system to be sure all hoses are properly attached
4 readjust drive belt tension
5 check engine alignment
6 check engine, transmission, stern drive unit, power steering and power trim pump oil levels
7 check engine mount fasteners
8 be sure that drain plugs are installed and drain valves are closed.

the link sl gave ya is for your system, what i stated is from s/m #2. not bravo.

the adults only sticky at the top of the i/o forum has a summerization thread in it. it's a good read too.