Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

[rheyboer]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

remove the hose up at the t-stat housing Stan

I hate to be an idiot, but I am what I am. Are you talking about the bigger hose (with the clamp) from the right side of picture 2? Remove other end and pour? Any other places to pour the AF? Any other pictures or drawings would be greatly appreciated.

I have an Alpha 1 and have winterized it the last few years. Never used the AF, but I have some and might as well use it. I do recall my manual saying something about removing the top of the thermostat, but I didn't want to mess with it b4

 

[heyttown]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

The bigger hose on the right side of pic 2 actually travels on top of the motor on the port side and turns into the tstat housing that you see in pic 1... if you look in pic 1 on the right hand side down low you will see some threads sticking out, that actually turns a 90 degree elbow and the hose connects from that to the PS cooler....Im guessing I can take that hose of at the stat housing and dump AF down it till it comes out the drive.

 

[rheyboer]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

Thanks. Very helpful.

 

[eddy pons]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

winterize properly;always run motor,fog motor,change oil ,filter,gearlube,stabalize gas,grease everything with a fitting,disconnect battery,,drain all water out of motor and static fill motor with bio-degra antifreeze, this way no corrosion will form inside block,,wether its a month 2,or 20 months you will never have a problem,,its called maintaining your investment,and if your doing it your self your saving lots of money,,,average marina charges,,$200.00

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

this way no corrosion will form inside block

Doesn't matter much, the inside of the block is already very corroded from unprotected raw water running through it all summer. That is why the core plugs have to be brass, the steel ones rot out too quickly. If you drain the water out of the block via the drain plugs, there is really very little to be gained by filling the block with antifreeze. The main purpose of using antifreeze is to protect the low spots (traps) in the system that can't be readily drained of water.
--
Stan

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

is there anything to drain in the outdrive? Can the outdrive freeze?

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

is there anything to drain in the outdrive? Can the outdrive freeze?

There is a small hole in the starboard front of an Alpha to let it drain.......
If this hole is clogged & your exhaust cavity fills with water, their is a potential for freeze damage.....
Storing with the drive in the down position will prevent that.....

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

i love how quickly the answers come!

I'll have to look for that plug, I want to keep the plug out all winter?

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

i love how quickly the answers come!

I'll have to look for that plug, I want to keep the plug out all winter?

What plug? If you are talking about the outdrive, there is no plug. He said the hole can become clogged.

 

[PowerAddict]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

ooohhhhh, I see. I misunderstood. So just make sure that the outdrive is down and that small drain hole is unclogged. Gotcha.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

ooohhhhh, I see. I misunderstood. So just make sure that the outdrive is down and that small drain hole is unclogged. Gotcha.

There is no plug......
As long as the drive is down, it won't collect water & any water that is in there will drain through the prop, whether the hole is clogged or not.... .....

 

[rheyboer]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

is there anything to drain in the outdrive? Can the outdrive freeze?

You should change the gear lube.

 

[heyttown]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

Not sure if I should start a new thread but decided not to as it pertains to winterizing,but kept it here since I started this thread...

Alpha one drive, I want to change the outdrive fluid. The previous owner sent all fluids he had on hand for the boat...I have a 10oz tube of pennzoil marine Pwer trim and tilt fluid.(Im guessing this fluid which is yellow in color is for my trim pump located near my battery) Am i correct?

It also came with another 10oz tube of Pennzoil high viscosity lower unit gear lube...Says SAE 80w-90 API GL-5 performance on the front...Im guessing this is strictly for my outdrive...However this fluid is also yellow in color and my reserve bottle under the cowl is actually dark colored fluid....

Am I way off base here, or are these the wrong fluids?


Also Im used to changing the gear fluid on outboards that have a vent near the top, and another hole near the bottom of the leg to drain and refill with.
On this outdrive I can only find 1 screw that says OIL VENT above it...But cant find how it would drain?
If I do drain the fluid will drain my reserve bottle also? I want to go with all new when I do this.
Any advice...?

Outdrive was replaced last summer(have paperwork from marina,that shows new bellows, and impeller installed...Would you pull the drive that only has 1 full season on it? Im guessing 6 trips out on the water and maybe 15 hrs max in that time frame.I bought the boat from a friend so I know how much it was used before I bought it.

I have a Clymer book, but dont really trust it...
First boat with an I/O and learning as I go.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

Not sure if I should start a new thread but decided not to as it pertains to winterizing,but kept it here since I started this thread...

Alpha one drive, I want to change the outdrive fluid. The previous owner sent all fluids he had on hand for the boat...I have a 10oz tube of pennzoil marine Pwer trim and tilt fluid.(Im guessing this fluid which is yellow in color is for my trim pump located near my battery) Am i correct?
That is the trim pump, what you put in it depends on the year.....

It also came with another 10oz tube of Pennzoil high viscosity lower unit gear lube...Says SAE 80w-90 API GL-5 performance on the front...Im guessing this is strictly for my outdrive...However this fluid is also yellow in color and my reserve bottle under the cowl is actually dark colored fluid....
10 oz is not going to refill your drive, I suggest that you forget that tube & get Merc gear lube & don't mix them......

Am I way off base here, or are these the wrong fluids?


Also Im used to changing the gear fluid on outboards that have a vent near the top, and another hole near the bottom of the leg to drain and refill with.
On this outdrive I can only find 1 screw that says OIL VENT above it...But cant find how it would drain?
If I do drain the fluid will drain my reserve bottle also? I want to go with all new when I do this.
Any advice...?

Outdrive was replaced last summer(have paperwork from marina,that shows new bellows, and impeller installed...Would you pull the drive that only has 1 full season on it? Im guessing 6 trips out on the water and maybe 15 hrs max in that time frame.I bought the boat from a friend so I know how much it was used before I bought it.

I have a Clymer book, but dont really trust it...
First boat with an I/O and learning as I go.

It's a time thing as well as a use thing....
You should pull the drive & lube the u joints & change the gear lube....
Generally this is done at winter layup to make sure there is no problems with water intrusion in the drive or bellows & have the water sit in there over the winter.....
If there is a problem then you have all winter to fix it as well & not lose valuable boating time......
The drain plug is located at the front port side on the bottom of the drive, btw.......

 

[heyttown]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

It's a time thing as well as a use thing....
You should pull the drive & lube the u joints & change the gear lube....
Generally this is done at winter layup to make sure there is no problems with water intrusion in the drive or bellows & have the water sit in there over the winter.....
If there is a problem then you have all winter to fix it as well & not lose valuable boating time......
The drain plug is located at the front port side on the bottom of the drive, btw.......

Thanks, Had to go out and check again...Didnt see the lower plug, I was expecting a drain on the side like my outboard, but this is actually on the underside and wasnt visible with my drive down as low as I can keep it...Had to go feeling around.

 

[heyttown]

Re: Winterizing....Updated with Pics!!

Figured I would keep this going....I finally got in all the parts I ordered to winterize the boat. Marinas were out of oil filters for weeks around here.

Ok I took the boat out for 1 last trip, basically just to go out,burn some fuel,enjoy the water,and top it back off with fuel and stabil and bring it home...I pumped all the oil out,changed the filter and put in 4 new quarts of Merc 25w40 I believe...Started the boat on muffs in drive,got it up to temp to cycle oil, and open tstat....Fogged it with 3/4 can of fogging oil, motor ran rough,but would never die..just some smoke coming out exhaust... I shut it down, pulled my block and manifold plugs to drain, pulled my power steering hose off,blew the water out,then filled with AF. I pulled the tstat and I have a new 140deg stat to put in. With the stat out,I poured 1 1/2 gallons of AF in the block,and thats it...seems kinda small amount,I figured it would take more,but im guessing.


questions.

1.Is 1 1/2 gallons of AF enough to fill all the small cavities where water could puddle in the block?

2.Should I pour AF in my hose the comes from the stat into to exhaust Manifold,everytime I pull my manifold plug I get a handful of small metal particles that im guessin is flaking off the inside... Im hoping this is normal?

3.Getting ready to change the gear lube, How hard is it to pull the outdrive to inspect and lube everything? Im guessing I should drain the lube,pull the outdrive, reinstall the outdrive then add the gear lube?

4.I see links posted for a pdf file of manuals, can someone point me in the right direction for my manual. 1997 searay,3.0lx Merc serial# OK155527 alpha 1 drive serial OK 206014

Im looking for some detailed instructions on pulling the outdrive.
Thanks again, this site is great.