Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

[PistlePeat]

A friend had his boat winterized and shrink wrapped last fall. The outdrive was put in the "up" position, the battery removed, and then the shrink wrap was applied covering the whole outdrive. Just noticed a huge oil spot under the boat, and the front of the drive (the nose in front of the propeller) is cracked wide open.<br /><br />Obviously, there was water in there and it froze. But where was the water? Could there have been that much in the gearcase (and the mechanic forgot to change the oil), or was the outdrive not drained of cooling water before it was tilted up?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

No Doubt the Exhaust Cavity filled with rain or snow or whatever,+ Froze...........<br /><br />That's 1 of the reasons Why drives should be left Down....<br /><br />There's a Tiny weep hole in the forward end of the bullet,+ but it Plugs,+ Well,... You See What Happens............

 

[achris]

Re: Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

The #2 reason for leaving the drive down is to avoid a 'set' in the bellows. Then they split and let water into the gimbal and unis. Not nice!

 

[Mahoney]

Re: Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

Ever since my impellor housing cracked due to leaving the drive up and freezing, I always keep it down now. I am new to boating and was just going by what I usually saw driving around, it seems 80% of all boats I see parked, have thier drives up for storage, I am not sure why they do this.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

it seems 80% of all boats I see parked, have thier drives up for storage, I am not sure why they do this.

Ignorance

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

cause they like paying people like me. I say leave them all up

 

[rabidfish]

Re: Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

I have never (25 years) had the nose of a lower unit "freeze crack" from the drive unit being left in the trailer position. <br /><br />If it had water in the oil, it should have been drained during winterizing. I'd want to take a close look at that crack to determine how it got there...<br /><br />Also: Bellows don't split from "taking a set" in the trailer position. They split because they dry rot. Then get pulled hardest while in this position. Bellows in good condition do not split from this. Bellows with dry rot cracking are not in good condition...

 

[Laddies]

Re: Mercruiser Lower Unit Split Open

I am with Rodbolt leave them up, Mercury Marine just don't know how to store their products anyway