Winterize & Remove Outdrive

[Ted.Mac]

I am new to power boat ownership by virtue of buying a 1992 Glassport 17.5 bowrider in excellent condition. The engine is a Mercruiser 3.0L with Alpha-One outdrive.
As a resident of Massachusetts, it is time for me to winterize.
I have received some advice for doing this. I have been advised that I should remove the outdrive from the boat and store it indoors for the winter. It was explained to me that the outdrive can hold water (antifreeze?) after flushing with antifreeze. My concern is the need for special tools, which I do not have, to remove the outdrive.
I am familiar with the internal combustion engine having been my own mechanic for most of my life. This however is new to me and I want to get it right.
I question why just draining the block, even without running antifreeze through it, would not be sufficient. I've successfully done that, many times, with automobile engines mostly in my youth.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Winterize & Remove Outdrive

It always a good idea to take the drive off annually to inspect the u-joints and gimbal bearing. Also a good idea to change the lube before winter in case there is any water in it. As long as you can store the drive in the down position, there really is no reason to have to store it inside. That is totally your call.

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Winterize & Remove Outdrive

outdrive should come off in 10 minutes, 6 nuts and 2 nuts on trim rams ,shifter in forward.
make a stand for it out of 2x4s. then in spring check alignment and grease coupler. alignment shaft is 50.00 on ebay or make one. gasket set is 10.00 to put back on. i put rv anti freeze in to make me feel better,but if you raise trailer and can get all the water out the air wont freeze some on here swear by that.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winterize & Remove Outdrive

yep, this is some of the reason why ya remove your drive annually.

It always a good idea to take the drive off annually to inspect the u-joints and gimbal bearing.

check alignment and grease coupler.

that's a couple more..

outdrive should come off in 10 minutes, 6 nuts and 2 nuts on trim rams ,shifter in forward.

this is a reason why too. that's how long it takes to steal one too... and they do get stole..

assuming raw water system (not closed cooling w/a heat exchanger)as for the water in the drive.. when the drive is full down. the water will drain down and out. the will not be water in the water side of the drive in this condition, anti freeze either. gravity drains it out. the water that's bad is when it gets into your gear lub side of the drive. water intrusion via a bad seal or the likes. that's why ya change the gear lub at the end of the season for winter layup. another reason to remove the drive is to inspect inside the bellows for gear lub + rust on ujoints drive shaft, gimble brg.

as for anti freeze in the block. your choice. air don't freeze. anti freeze that has corrosion protection may be better because the anti corrosion.

go to the diy or adults only sticky at the top of the i/o forum. go to #9 and get the service manual that applies to your rig. it'll have winterizeing section in it. it'll tell you exactly what to do to winterize per mercruiser...

 

[Spurlee]

Re: Winterize & Remove Outdrive

I've winterized my outdrive and, more importantly, the engine for years using RV antifreeze.

Look here: www.sterndrives.com for some good instructions on winterizing procedures. It's not hard but an assistant helps. I'm new here; I'll bet there are good instructions on this forum, too.

Outdrives will drain their water out when lowered. If you have a bad seal and water gets into the gear oil you might crack the nosecone. But you should have discovered the bad seal when you changed the gear oil while winterizing anyway...

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Winterize & Remove Outdrive

Hey Ted, the u-joints can have zerc grease fittings on them. Make sure to pump them full of grease, when you have the drive off. Also, there may be a greasefitting on the base of the outdrive mounting plate (transom plate), that allows you to grease the gimbal bearing. Don't foget the other zercs on thepivot points of the outdrive.

I think the alpha I Gen II dont have u-joint zercs.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterize & Remove Outdrive

Ayuh,... Head on up to the Adults Only section,...
There's a Winterization thread there that pretty much covers it All...