Outdrive Rising During Storage

[bick]

Before the winter, my outdrive was lowered all the way so water would not stay inside the exhaust or prop opening. I have noticed during the winter that the drive was slowly rising up. Has this happened to anyone else?

I added protection to keep water from entering and could always remove the cotter pins from the ram arms to drop it but this winter has been very mild anyway.

I'm just curious why it would slowly go up while in storage.

 

[JoLin]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

1. Is there a female boat stored nearby?

2. Did you leave your Viagra aboard?

(you'll be happy to know that's all i have)

 

[riptorn]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

Are you lowering it right down touching the ground? Remember that the ground freezes up to about two to four inches in the winter depending how cold it is. Plus snow sitting on the boat will weigh it down. I know this because when we go up the the cottage we cannot open the front door because the deck rises up blocking the bottom so we can't open the door
You should take your prop off during the winter. The rubber packing in the prop will last longer from slipping.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

Is your battery on, or off/disconnected? My sister's boat got a problem in the switch (on an outboard) and it started doing random tricks, like raising the motor while underway.

otherwise I'd be guessing, but some kind of hydraulic expansion, maybe caused by temps?

Disregard the statement above. All boats are female. Unless yours is, um, well that's just all too wierd to work out.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

Water in the hydraulic fluid expanding when it freezes?

 

[bick]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

It was not touching the ground and never did. I also removed the battery. Some kind of hydraulic expansion or possible water in the fluid makes sense to me.

How would I replace the hydraulic fluid? This is my first boat. I have the manuals so can look it up. Is it easy?

 

[tswiczko]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

If there were enough water in the fluid to cause your phenomena it would probably break fittings when it freezes. If not then it would definitely turn your fluid milky after a couple cycles try cycling it before you have it changed then check it. also with that much water intrusion there would have to be space for the water in the system,check your fluid level.

If it is not over full you probably do not have water in it.(unless it was low to begin with which would indicate a leak)

As far as the phenomena you are experiencing I would have a couple of guesses but they wouldn't indicate a problem.

Could also Be spring fever

 

[Maclin]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

I am not speaking from specific outdrive experience, and I am not charging for this either! but Hydraulic systems do not like to compress air, so you may just need to bleed the system. Air bubbles tend to expand once the pressure is removed.

 

[90stingray]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

Got no idea on the drive rising... maybe the compressed air idea. I sure hope not water. What is on the cavitation plate? Is that a homemade hydrofoil?

 

[bick]

Re: Outdrive Rising During Storage

I will look into bleeding the system when it comes out of storage. No homemade hydrofoil, I just taped on a piece of cardboard covered in duct tape to shield any rain/snow from entering the exhaust port. It was my easy (lazy) way of protecting it from water intrusion and freezing.