www.iFourWinns.com

I've pretty much done what Rick lists every year....I change the engine and drive oil in the fall when I winterize it...because you don't want acids and combustion by products sitting in the oil all winter (marine engines with carbs run rich and cool compared to auto engines so there is more chance for this) and for the drive if there is water in the gear oil you don't want it sitting there either. Plus if I find a problem...I can take it my mechanic then...rather than finding out when everyone is in a rush to get their boats in the water in the spring...
I remove the drive and check the bellows...gimble...ujoints...and clean out any crud that got in behind the shift bellcrank on the pivot housing of the Cobra....that can cause it to stick in gear...I have found that since I've been removing and replacing the drive myself...and using a really good coating of OMC gasket sealer on the gasket...this area does not get the crud from salt water creeping in like it used to.....

If you keep your boat on a good regular maintenance schedule you will have way less problems and spend less in the long run...and for those of us running sterndrives in salt water....it's the only way to make them last....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

No one mentioned replacing the fuel filter. Do most replace this item each year?

LouC - you apper to be the site guru...

This fall I want to RR the gimbal bearing and universal joints and both bellows on my Volvo SX - I bought the alignment tool. I've got a good set of tools and a bit of know how. I've got the VP manual (and the Seloc that I bought as a paperweight). I plan to build a basic stand to keep the drive upright and help with positioning. I've seen the full bellows and bearing kit online. I did all my own winterizing (pretty easy) and have prepped the boat for summer and had her out twice with success (knock on wood).

Is this something I should be able to conquer in your estimation?

I bought my '99 FW Horizon 180 4.9L VP SX last summer. It had 70 hours on it and other than the impeller - the thing was pretty much in perfect condition. I kind of think the drive has never been off or that it's only been off once - maybe in the early '90s. I get a slight 'growl' when turned hard to port or starboard - which I've read is pretty standard.

I'd love to include engine alignment in my annual maintentance schedule as well as checking and lubing the the UJ and GB. Just deciding if I should buy the parts and have the town's only mechanic do teh labor or pull the trigger myself.

Thanks for the feedback.

Jef
Moku'ula
'99 FW Horizon 180 4.9L VP SX

Fuel filter...I do at winterization....some like to do it at the first spring start up...
Bellows...gimble...ujoints....well now you're getting into the more serious stuff....
I'd start with building a stand to hold the drive....they are heavy enough that you don't want to have to lift it risking a back injury...
I built one out of left over 2x6s and put adjustable casters under it so the height can be adjusted precisely...and that makes getting it off and on easier. Once you have it off you can see what you have...the bellows should not have any water in it...grease is OK...(from greasing the gimble bearing) and there should not be gear oil in it either...that would suggest a leak in the input bearing seal in the upper unit of the outdrive. Any water in the bellows and there is a leak and you have to replace it. I like to spin the gimble with my fingers...it should spin very smoothly with no rough spots...if so leave it alone....if you feel any looseness in the ujoints they may need to be replaced...I had my bellows and gimble done by my mechanic when it needed to be done so I can't say just how difficult it is to do....

As far as being the guru....I'd have to pass that title to Rick....I've removed the drive and repaired a lot of things....but never R+R'd a whole engine....transom...etc....
I did do part of my deck/stringer job....and that was enough fiberglass experience for me for a while!

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II