Cobra Winterizing Plugs on gimble ring..........

[Fordiesel69]

The local mechanic says to NOT remove the plugs on the outside as the part behind them falls in and you cannot get to rethread in. Rather just dump antifeeze into the hose once the impeller is removed.

Also while on the topic of winterizing, I always pull the outdrive to lubricate. Is there anything special to the cobra like shifter position ideal for removing or installing?

Lastly what is the best gear lube to use in the cobra. My marina put in quicksilver synthetic blue stuff.

[bruceb58]

There is the screw on the port side of the outdrive that you shouldn't remove. The drive originally had a cobra emblem over it in case your emblem still happens to be on. This is on the drive itself. Not on the gimbal ring.

You can use any GL-5 lube in it. I prefer using Mobil1 75W-90.

[Lou C]

He is talking about 2 different things, the bolt that is in the center of the UPPER unit, which was covered by the Cobra emblem, is the one you should never remove. On the pivot housing, which is the part the upper gear housing is bolted to with the 6 nuts, there are two screws on the starboard side and one on the port. You have to tilt it up to see the lower one on the starboard side. When I remove them (rod em out like any drain) water does come out the port side one. The upper on on the starboard side may be an air vent to assist in draining. Not much water comes out but enough that you might get a crack if you didn't drain it. I'm not sure pouring in AF through the raw water intake hose would flush out all the water. I put OMC triple guard grease on the threads of the drain screws and they come right out. Here is a pic to make it more clear...cobra drain 1.jpgcobra drain 2.jpg

BTW the Merc Hi Performance gear lube (blueish green stuff) is fine in a Cobra, I've been using it for years....