omc 1988 cobra upper unit winterize

[Coors]

I had a rebuilt upper unit installed. Trying to unscrew the 3 plugs in order to make sure the drive is fully drained of water(tilted up and then down), the screws are too tight, even using an impact driver. My question is: I poured eco anti-freeze down the drive hose from the t-stat housing, and spun the engine over a few times- am I good?

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: omc 1988 cobra upper unit winterize

If you loosen the six nuts that hold the drive onto the pivot housing and pull it back a tad,the water will drain out.

Beyond that,we then fill the block and manifolds with RVfreeze until it comes out the drive intake.

Lots of ways to do it,and lots of opinions.Just my way for 30 years.Haven't lost one yet.

You have serviced the engine?

DHP

 

[Boatin Bob]

Re: omc 1988 cobra upper unit winterize

I usually pour antifreeze down the drive water hose as well only I have to take it off the oil cooler and do it from there and when I remove the 3 drain screws from the drive antifreeze usually comes out one of them so I think you'll be fine. Even when I've pulled those 3 out prior to pouring in the antifreeze there has been very little water drain out.

 

[Coors]

Re: omc 1988 cobra upper unit winterize

changed oil; etc, marked dipstick(from my old omc dipstick thread-thanks all), drained 2 block plugs, 2 exhaust plugs, power steering cooler(that is hidden waaaay behind engine), lower recirc pump hose; fogging after (had a rubber hose from pump to carb- made new copper line). re-plug on muffs, fog, and re-drain, then anti-freeze to upper unit again- am I good to go?

 

[marinemech1]

Re: omc 1988 cobra upper unit winterize

your probably ok--don't sweat
correct method is to remove small drain screws (i know that sucks)easiest is to remove drive unit assembly (grease u joints as this is annual service anyway}
reinstall drive
if you can't get drive off easily you could pour antifreeze down water intake hose as well as shift cable tube
p.s. if changing gear oil rember it must be filled from the middle screw

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: omc 1988 cobra upper unit winterize

I fill my drive from the bottom screw untill it gets to the middle screw,put the screw in and fill the rest of the way up.It holds 64 ounces of gear lube.
I'm pretty sure thats what the service manual says....Maybe i have been doing it wrong. I better look that back up:%