www.iFourWinns.com

Hi all,

So, since it is fast approaching that time of year in the Northeast, I am starting to think about winterizing the boat. I know this topic has been covered in a ton of threads, but I have one question...In some of the D.I.Y. checklists I've seen for sterndrives, it says to remove the outdrive to inspect/grease the gimbal bearing and u joint. This sounds like a huge job! Does everyone do this every year? And, is it really a job that a backyard, (very) limited skilled mechanic can tackle?

Everything else involved with winterizing I have tackled on previous boats, but this sounds intimidating!
Thanks for the input.

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1998 Horizon RX
Haddam, CT

It's a good thing to do, but not needed every year. It depends on how anal you are.
It is possible to do it yourself, but for me, I would not do it. I would have it done by a certified Volvo shop.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

It's a good thing to do but according to Volvo Penta, it IS required every year.

If you don't have an Owners manual, you can download one from Volvo. http://www.volvo.com/volvopenta/global/ ... search.htm

It recommends (among other things) to check alignment and inspect Universal Joint and Shaft Splines every 100hrs or every year (whichever occurs first)

The drive MUST be removed to to do this......Volvo indicates that it is a "dealer" procedure. Anyone can do it with the right tools and it ain't rocket science, but it does require *some* mechanical skill and an alignment tool.

Both Mercury and Volvo recommend checking the alignment every 100hrs/yearly. If the alignment is "out" it WILL destroy the coupler......The drive & engine MUST be removed to replace it.


Regards,


Rick

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1987 Four Winns Liberator 211, formerly OMC 460 King Kobra powered, replaced in 2006 by a 1997 Mercruiser 454/Bravo III

Double Edit.............

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I should look into having it done professionally.

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1998 Horizon RX
Haddam, CT

Where can you buy the alignment tool? The local marine shop told me I'd be alright without it, guess he didn't really want to order it.

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 210
VP 5.0 GXI SX
"THE GREEN HORNET"

If a local "Marine Shop" told you'd be "alright", I'd get a new "Marine Shop". There is no other way to align a drive with a coupler.

If you want an alignment tool, you can get them on ebay or you can make one if you have access to a lathe. Expect to pay anywhere from $40-75 or so for one.

_________________
1987 Four Winns Liberator 211, formerly OMC 460 King Kobra powered, replaced in 2006 by a 1997 Mercruiser 454/Bravo III

Thanks, I'll check ebay.

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2003 Four Winns Horizon 210
VP 5.0 GXI SX
"THE GREEN HORNET"

Removing the drive is not difficult...but they are heavy and if you have a bad back it can be hard to handle because of the weight (close to 100 lbs I'd guess). I built a stand out of 2x6s with adjustible casters under it so I can remove my Cobra each season and check the bellows for water...check the alignment (if you're going to maintain your own sterndrive...just get the tool....I have a Sierra one)..grease the gimble bearing and ujoints and lube the splines on the driveshaft that go into the coupler...Getting the drive back on can be a little challenging because you are trying to keep the driveshaft aligned with the gimble bearing while the ujoints are trying to flop around ....again having a stand to hold it makes it much easier...
I do feel it needs to be done each season for the following reasons:
1 if there is water in the bellows and you don't know about it...you will cause several hundred dollars (as much as a thousand possibly ) in damage from water rusting the gimble bearing and ujoints.
2 on a Volvo it is the only way to grease the driveshaft splines which needs to be done each season....
3 you want to check the condition of the gimble bearing and ujoints and if they are getting worn...replace em. If if the u-joints fail at speed it can destroy the transom assembly costing you thousands...
4 Checking the alignment is important because if it's off you can ruin the coupler which requires an engine pull to replace.

If this sounds like a lot...keep in mind that sterndrives by their nature are the highest maintenance marine power system there is...it's the nature of the beast and both outboards and straight inboards don't need as much maintenance to stay reliable...but they all have their quirks...
If you don't maintain it sooner or later it willl cost you (or the next owner)...

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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

Good suggestion regarding making the stand. I was wondering about the weight and how to physically handle it.
I did fail to mention that I trailer my boat, use it only in fresh water and (unfortunately) didn't put a lot of hours on it this summer. I am curious if a trailer boat vs. a boat that sits in the water all summer would have an affect on the decision to do this job every year? The dealer did a full winterization last fall, which included this work.

I defintiely buy into the idea of preventative maintenance, but sometimes you can over think these things!

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1998 Horizon RX
Haddam, CT

Unless you have a list of services that were part of the winterization, I wouldn't guarantee that it was done. To some places, winterization means just that...drain the water and add antifreeze, to others is the full seasonal service...oil change, drive service, etc.

When I first got my boat, we replaced and serviced any regularly scheduled items after the first season to put me on a fresh schedule knowing exactly what had been completed.

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

I'd go by what Volvo says...if they say to do it once a year...do it...if water gets in and you keep running it then you'll be posting...why does my boat make growling noised when I turn or trim up....Yes a trailer boat is much less at risk than a moored boat like ours but you can still get leaks.
And if it has ujoints that have to be greased...there is no other way to do it...the splines on the driveshaft as well need to be greased each year...
Like I said I/Os are not low maintenance machines....and if they're neglected they turn in to money pits real fast.

_________________
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

Someone mentioned alignment. What exactly is being aligned? And as far as wear, does anyone have any pictures on what the wear looks like? I'd like to do this myself this year and I don't want to screw it up.

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Alexj



1995 Four Winns Horizon 190
OMC 5.0 RL

The engine/coupler/drive. Adjusting the alignment involves shifting the engine on its mounts. Checking it involves inserting an alignment tool through the gimbal bearing and into the coupler to make sure the drive shaft doesn't encounter any binding or interference.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

This job is not very difficult but you should know.... there are a few o rings on the drive shaft that you should replace and there is one other oring type gasket (not sure what the proper name would be) but you should have them on hand to replace them before you put the drive back. If you have never done your own drive service and are somewhat mechanicaly inclined it is a good learning experience.
Also you should pull ther drive to check the bellows. Your only one crack away from you boat sitting on the bottom of the lake!

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike