Winterized and drive pulled - an off season to do list

[burtonrider11]

So thanks to the warm fall, I just winterized our boat in November in MI. I also, for the first time since we've owned the boat, pulled the drive. I drained the gear lube first and didn't see any water in the lube - just a nice blue-green gear lube color, sweet relief. After pulling the drive, I inspected the U-joints, all look good, frankly looks brand new, our boat is a 1997. The gimbal bearing is nice and shiny, moves freely, I didn't see any water intrusion/rust etc in u joint bellows and we don't have any issues with water intrusion in the boat, so I believe the bellows is good.

So here are couple of questions, issues that I'd like to tackle:

My lower drain plug did have some metal shavings - I'll post a pic, but I understand that some shavings are okay, hopefully this is okay.

How do I go about lubing the U joints, I don't see any zerk fittings.

What type of grease should I use for the drive shaft?

There is tons of left over grease in the bell housing area up near the gimbal/input housing, should I leave it or clean it out?

I want to change the impeller since my drive is in the basement this winter - any recommendations on kits and procedure, a link would be great!

Also, can anyone recommend a kit for gaskets and seals? I am replacing any that I touch this winter.

Our drive desperately needs a new paint job. Can anyone recommend prep/primer/paint suggestions? We have some really bad scale on ours that I will probably lightly sand off since I am repainting anyway.

I've posted some pics below. If anyone sees anything or has any other ideas, suggestions are welcome.

PIcs here: http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/burtonrider11/library/Drive pull 2016

 

[Bondo]

My lower drain plug did have some metal shavings - I'll post a pic, but I understand that some shavings are okay, hopefully this is okay.

Ayuh,.... I wouldn't loose any sleep over that tiny bit of fuzz,.....

How do I go about lubing the U joints, I don't see any zerk fittings.

If there's no zerks, nor plugs in holes for zerks, their sealed, 'n non-greaseable,....

What type of grease should I use for the drive shaft?

See my signature,... I use plain ole chassis grease,...

There is tons of left over grease in the bell housing area up near the gimbal/input housing, should I leave it or clean it out?

Ayuh,... Clean it out, it's purged grease from greasin' the gimbel bearin',...

Also, can anyone recommend a kit for gaskets and seals? I am replacing any that I touch this winter.

18-2619 is the gasket set for puttin' the drive back on,...

Get the water pump "Kit", 'n it'll have the rest of the gaskets you'll need,...