88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

[Fordiesel69]

I want to make sure I have this right. Three main questions:

Gimbal ring was serviced last year and as a result everything was freshly serviced. Coupler, u-joints, etc were all lubrincated. I put 83 HRS on it last season, so can I just skip pulling the drive and redoing it all over again for this season? This way I can just wait until fall and do it when I winterize?

Secondly, to refill the drive, I pump oil from the low hole to the mid hole, then remove the hose and install into the mid hole, then pump up to the dipstick line. Correct? Question is, the local marina says to be a little generous and fill about half way up the dipstick as a margin of saftey. Should I be OCD and get it right on the full line or do what they say and add a bit extra?

Lastly, how do I check and change my trim fluid? I don;t kow the history of the system so I don;t know if it gets milky. I want to make sure it is good and if not, the easiest way to drain and refill.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

You fill from the middle hole. If you fill it from the bottom you can possibly wipe out your drive.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

Secondly, to refill the drive, I pump oil from the low hole to the mid hole, then remove the hose and install into the mid hole, then pump up to the dipstick line. Correct? Question is, the local marina says to be a little generous and fill about half way up the dipstick as a margin of saftey. Should I be OCD and get it right on the full line or do what they say and add a bit extra?

YES you should be OCD!! And you should follow the OEM OMC instructions to the letter (that Bruce posted above!)

MANY OMC drives have been destroyed filling them wrong! (MANY "DEALERS" have filled them WRONG and destroyed drives)

Fill it through the FILL-PORT. DO NOT go by "what the Marina says" (I didn't know Marina's could talk anyway..... )

There have been people since OMC went out of business that have been successful filling them the way you described but YOU WILL NEVER GO "WRONG" following the OEM OMC manual procedure.

After you fill it to the FULL line with the drive level, and the dipstick RESTING ON TOP OF THE THREADS, ("to allow for a slight over fill" according to OMC)

THEN run the drive, long enough to get the bubbles to the "top" and recheck the oil level with the dipstick screwed all the way IN.



Screw it up and you WILL be replacing the drive......



Cheers,



Rick




Oh, and by the way, UN-winterizing should NEVER include replacing the drive oil.

You should ALWAYS replace the drive oil when winterizing. This way you find that water leak (and oil contamination) before letting the drive sit all winter and allowing contaminated oil to sit in the drive until Spring........by then the damage may already be "done"

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

I don't remember the 87 manual mentioning checking it either of the 2 ways above......but they were pretty clear about initial fill to the FULL mark with the dipstick resting on top.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

I did drain it during the winterizing but the marina;s were all out of the oil that I prefer.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

I did drain it during the winterizing but the marina;s were all out of the oil that I prefer.

It's probably good that you drained it. But leaving it drained is also a good way to run it drained next year. That's happened to a lot of people too.

You don't have to buy your oil from the Marina. You can get suitable oil from just about any Walmart, Napa Auto Parts or other auto parts place.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

I use mobil-1 gl-5 75w-90 in my Volvo and my Cobra when I had it.

 

[Four Winns Erie]

Re: 88' Cobra unwinterizing questions.

You can download the OMC Cobra Factory Manual here:http://www.mediafire.com/?j74z0nib459gh