how to winterize mec. outboard

[josephtoo]

how to winterize a mec. outboard

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how to winterize mec. outboard

Joe, This topic has been covered many times. Remove prop, add stabilizer to fuel, run motor until warm, fog motor and turn it off. Let it drain in running position. Change gear oil, grease fittings and steering rod.

 

[kvjimbo]

Re: how to winterize mec. outboard

I understand turning it over by hand removes residual water from the water pump. Some owners also remove the plugs, spray fogging oil in the cylinders and then turn the flywheel a few turns before replacing the plugs.

 

[hotrod53]

Re: how to winterize mec. outboard

Joe, this may be a newbie question, but why remove the prop? This is my second year with this used motor and I did the other steps. Is this just to insure that there is nothing wrapped around the shaft?

kvjimbo .. just a clairification, its important to know that you ONLY turn the motor in the proper direction of rotation or you will hose up the impeller.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how to winterize mec. outboard

Hotrod, I recommend that the prop be removed for two reasons. First, it is safer to remove the prop when running the motor on the flusher device. If someone (or something) pushes the throttle into gear, and you are walking around the boat, something bad could happen. I leave the prop off all winter and paint it up in the spring.

The second thing it to make it convenient to grease up the prop shaft splines, before re-installing the prop. In saltwater, props can corrode to the propshaft in 1 season.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: how to winterize mec. outboard

2 stroke--change the lower unit grease. Put a water muff on the engine and idle it up to normal temperature. Disconnect the fuel line and idle it until the engine starts stumbling. Spray fogging oil into the carbs--it'll quit. Replace the spark plugs.

4 stroke--change the lower unit grease. Raise the motor (tilt) as high as you can and then drop it down to normal level. Drain the engine oil and remove the oil filter. Replace the oil filter and fill the motor up with motor oil.

On both motors--try to use 100% gasoline with stabilizer additive. 2 strokes can be stored without any gasoline in the carb. Modern EFI 4 strokes need to be stored with treated gasoline in the fuel system.

If you have electricity, the battery will last so much longer if you keep them on a Battery Tender to maintain a trickle charge.

Oh, and let me say I have done very little winterization of my 26 year old Yamaha 115 hp 2 stroke. Had I been changing lower unit grease yearly, I wouldn't have toasted the bearings and seals. That's why there's a 24' Bennington w/Yamaha 150 hp sitting in my driveway.

I don't pull the prop that often. You need to look for monofilament fishing line to be wrapped in the prop--it happens sometimes.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: how to winterize mec. outboard

It is best to change the gear oil after the motor has been run and fogged. if some water were to get into the gearcase during flushing, and you left it in there all winter, that would be bad...