Motor Winterization

[Fishhead]

Stabilize the fuel and run through the motor.

Change the Lower Unit lube EVERY fall when you put it up. If it does happen to get any water in the oil it could freeze and crack your lower unit. Better safe than sorry and Lower unit lube is cheap. While your doing that, pick up replacement washer/seals for the screws that fill and drain the lower unit. They are about a $.80 apiece, again good cheap preventative maintenance.

If you have a water pressure guage disconect the hose from the back of the gauge and drain of water, this could also freeze and wreck your gauge.

Replace the fuel filter and plugs now, that way your boat is ready to go in the spring when your ready to go.

If your storing outside, place moth balls in the boat and compartments to keep rodents out. They will chew up your wires and cause all kinds of electrical headaches.

If you can't keep your batteries charged, take them out or they could freeze or at least shorten the battery life span.

Grease all fittings to get out any water that may be in the bearings and other areas, again the freezing thing.

Check all nuts, bolts and screws to make sure they are tight. Check electrical connections for corrosion.

If you store outside, make sure its covered good and tight, bow tilted up and drain plug out.

Finally fog your motor cylinders and piston. Just shoot it through the spark plug holes for each cylinder and rotate the crank shaft manually and spray cyclinders again. This is to make sure you have covered all the metal areas.

Come spring just fill up your tank, add some fuel treatment like injector cleaner or the like and your good to go.

Good luck, its really a whole lot easier and quicker than it sounds once you've done it a time or two. Its also a whole lot cheaper than having the dealer do it.

[Topwater2004]

Fish,

Thanks for the info.

I had already filled and stabilized the gas before I put the boat up. Was going to do everything else myself before the bad luck hit.

I was mainly concerned about turning the motor over and spraying the fogging oil into it.

My brother is going to give it a shot for me on Sunday, as I watch from the back seat of my Jeep.

I think all the other things can wait, just need to get the cylinders lubed up, hopefully I will be back on the water by mid-late April.

[Fishhead]

IMO its best to turn the motor by hand, cranking it over can create too much friction IMO. There should be a nut on top of the flywheel that you can put a socket on and move the pistons.

I winterize alot of my buddies boats every year, I'm no expert but after 25 years of boat ownership you learn a thing or two.

Not sure how far you are from NKy, but if you get in a pinch and can't get it done, I offer my services to you, no charge (except maybe a chance to fish those strip pits of yours a time or two LOL). You and I have had our differences, maybe once or twice LOL, but I know how it is to be laid up, been there/done that and was lucky enough to have friends who came through for me.

Good luck and hope you have a quick and full recovery, spring is right around the corner and them basses won't wait.

[Topwater2004]

Thanks Fish.

I was going to crank the motor with the battery, but I will have my brother do what you said, just manual turn. I think there is a rope pull up there too that I could use to turn it, if I could find the rope.

Hey don't worry about arguements. I like everybody on this board, even if they don't agree. Its impossible everyone can agree on everything.

If people didn't argue, no one would ever take the time to think.

Have a good rest for the winter, Mr. Bass is out there, hunkered down getting stronger every day.

Good Luck, and thanks for the info, you definetely gave me some good pointers.