Leave outside with drive off?

[m1dn]

Hello,

Was wondering if someone could help me - is it safe to leave boat outside for a week wirh outdrive off?
Got a grinding sound on last outing when we got back to dock, same on muffs now.
Most likely ujoints or gimbal shot, or both i guess, based off what i read so far.

Ordered whole kit with new bellows, but parts will take a week to arrive.
Looking to take drive off meanwhile to inspect and see if ujoints need to be replaced as well.

Will it be okay to leave it off for some time?
And can the drive be left on side or needs to be upside position?

 

[achris]

Fine to leave the drive off, just throw a rag in the hole or cover the whole thing. And no issue with leaving the drive laying on the ground either.

Chris.

 

[tank1949]

Hello,

Was wondering if someone could help me - is it safe to leave boat outside for a week wirh outdrive off?
Got a grinding sound on last outing when we got back to dock, same on muffs now.
Most likely ujoints or gimbal shot, or both i guess, based off what i read so far.

Ordered whole kit with new bellows, but parts will take a week to arrive.
Looking to take drive off meanwhile to inspect and see if ujoints need to be replaced as well.

Will it be okay to leave it off for some time?
And can the drive be left on side or needs to be upside position?

Mud dobbers love holes!

 

[tpenfield]

Leaving the outdrive off is done all the time for winter storage, or repairs. The only concern is plugging up the hole (with a rag or something) so the critters don't make a home in your boat.

 

[GA_Boater]

Some owners make a plywood plate to cover the opening and use the outdrive mounting studs to keep it on. It's little harder for critters to get inside.

 

[achris]

Mud dobbers love holes!

All we have to worry about is a red-back spider or 2......

 

[Stinnett21]

All I'll add is don't leave the drive sitting empty for long periods. I know you said week but sometimes that turns into months. Condensation is your enemy.

 

[m1dn]

Update: took the drive off, thanks everyone.
Some water in gimbal bellow, but ujoints and gimbal move okay, no noise/sound.
However boat produced grinding noise, even on muffs - i guess on high rotation speed that might still pop up right?

Gimbal kit coming next week, also contemplating replacing ujoints while the drive is off..

 

[Rick Stephens]

If in doubt always replace u-joints.

I leave my drive off every winter. Last winter mice ate every roll of blue paper towels in the boat, there were several. I have never seen the like. I willfigure a way to plug the hole next winter.

Grinding noise - pop the top cap off and take a look inside the upper case next. Only an o-ring in there, so an easy look-see.

 

[tank1949]

If in doubt always replace u-joints.

I leave my drive off every winter. Last winter mice ate every roll of blue paper towels in the boat, there were several. I have never seen the like. I willfigure a way to plug the hole next winter.

Grinding noise - pop the top cap off and take a look inside the upper case next. Only an o-ring in there, so an easy look-see.

Bad OD u-joint grinding kinda of reminds me of CVA joints going bad. Yeah, mice and rats will eat anything. Been there. Squirrels too! Now, my boat has poison for those little sh---.

 

[m1dn]

Updates: With old gimbal alignment looked okay, but when we banged new one in, alignment tool get's stuck on shaft.
Looked inside with flashlight, all gears all intact.

Makes me think the alignment bolts on engine were moving and that's why i had periodically had the grinding noise.
Now when we banged bearing in, it moved again and is now misaligned again.

Checking my theory later in the week, friend comes over and I'll go find where the alignment bolts are

Or just read that bearing might be off too, alignment tool and couple good whacks each direction is what everyone says

 

[Rick Stephens]

The gimbal bearing needs to be aimed at the coupler. THEN you can align the motor.