Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

[jayrodoh]

When doing my yearly spring maintenance of greasing u joints and replacing the gasket and o rings, I somehow botched the gasket install and ended up with a bellow full of water, explains the mystery water that sometimes appeared in the bildge and the sudden grinding noise that ended our trip yesterday. Sucks as we just had bellows, ujoints, and gimbal done 3 years ago.

Can I winterize the drive off the boat, or should i pump grease into the gimbal, remount the drive, and run it long enough to suck some antifreeze into it?

I cleaned off the nasty grease, water, and hosed everything down with WD40 until next spring we'll have it fixed again.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

You could, but you also may not get the AF into the engine to protect it. Why not just pour the AF into the motor and manifold.Once you fog the engine ,remove the drain plugs, probe the holes to make sure it is draining completely, install the plugs, and pour it in thru the hoses.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

You have a Mercruiser 170 (aka 470). The engine already has antifreeze in it. or should have. You have a closed cooling system. Just drain the heat exchangers raw water side and riser and you're done.

 

[jayrodoh]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

I'm not worried about the engine, closed cooling makes it pretty easy to do. It's the drive I'm wondering about, normally it gets coolant through it before I pull it for the season. I wasn't planning on putting it back on since the bearing it shot.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

It's the drive I'm wondering about, normally it gets coolant through it before I pull it for the season.

assuming ya store it in the down position, anything ya run through it, water, anti freeze, just runs out anyways, it's empty on the water side.
yes, ya can store it w/o the drive. i've been doing that for the last three years or so now. works good.

made me that cover so the elements don't get in over the layup.
as for greasing the gimble brg. i grease it, then spin by hand and grease it again. i get good application of new grease this way.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

You DO NOT need antifreeze, especially in the drive. Just stand it up and let it drain

 

[jayrodoh]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

Cool, thanks.

Yes, boat is always stored with drive off, that way I can keep the bow up and it fits better in the car port we had built a little better.

 

[mercs4mark]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

assuming ya store it in the down position, anything ya run through it, water, anti freeze, just runs out anyways, it's empty on the water side.
Yes, ya can store it w/o the drive. I've been doing that for the last three years or so now. Works good.

made me that cover so the elements don't get in over the layup.
As for greasing the gimble brg. I grease it, then spin by hand and grease it again. I get good application of new grease this way.

nice cover i need to make one

 

[jayrodoh]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

What about when I go to fog the engine, won't lack of water running through the exhaust melt my flapper and elbow?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

i fog mine prior to removing the drive.
if the drive is already off, i believe ya can feed water right into the bell housing. just be sure the hose don't fall off the bell housing.

 

[StevNimrod]

Re: Winterizing Drive Off The Boat

I made a bolt on part for situations like yours when you want to run water (or coolant) through the system while the drive is off, but want a secure connection so you aren't worried about the garden hose accidentally coming loose.

I'm also in Cleveland, so if you want to use it be my guest. If so, send me a PM.