www.iFourWinns.com

It's my first boat and soon to be first winterization with full service. I've got the three VP manuals and have gathered everything I need to winterize, change oil, etc... The drive is going to come off (going to make a stand out of my motorcycle jack) so I can check bellows, grease everything up, and check alignment (bought the tool). In the manual it calls for a few different types of VP grease and hence my question- What do you all use for the different greases? I'd like to run up to Autozone and buy what I need so if there's any advice on what to get for everything I'll need grease for it'd be greatly appreciated. By the way, I've got an SX drive and if there's a grease zerk on the outside somewhere I don't see it. Nothing said in my manual about one either so I guess I've got a newer drive? Thanks for any input.

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

Your gimbal zerk is on the starboard side of the transom shield, recessed in a little hole. It shouldn't need more than a few pumps, and best to do it while the engine is running (the gimbal is turning anytime the engine is running). As soon as you feel resistance in the grease gun, stop pumping!

I too noticed that Volvo seems to want to use a different lube or sealant between every two parts in the system. You'd spend half your life just managing your inventory of chemicals. I use Mobil1 synthetic grease for everything on the trailer and the gimbal bearing, and things like electric engine hatch lifts, etc. - anything that gets lubed by a grease gun gets the Mobil1. I do have several tubes of the Volvo "blue grease" for anything that seems to warrant a specific Volvo product (for example that's what I'll use on the drive shaft splines if I ever get to the point of servicing my drive myself). I have a big tub of Volvo prop shaft grease. That's it for me (other than a couple of different types of electrical grease for those applications).

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

Mike is right re the location of the zerk, if it's not there, it or the tube that takes grease to the gimbal has come loose and fallen out!

There are 3 types of grease needed:

Wheel bearing EP grease for the gimbal (and UJ) bearings

Molybdenum disulphide grease for the driveshaft splines ( "Molyslip" type).

Waterproof grease for the:
- propshaft splines and external shift linkages.
- tilt rods, bushes and clips.
- Also for the outside of the UJs coupler, the nose of the input bearing carrier and the end of the drive bellows that it is pushed up against.

I use the Mercruiser green stuff, " Special Lubricant 101", only because I found it easier to get locally than the Volvo stuff.

Also:
- Engine oil is needed for the drive shaft O rings,
- White sealing compound, which is non setting, for the 6 studs ( in the event of the outdrive paint being damaged, to stop any corrosion from seizing those studs in the holes they fit into)
- Gasket sealant/ adhesive for the bellows where they locate onto the transom shield and intermediate (tilt) housin to ensure water stays out ( plus it's used to locate the water seal in it's groove).

All good fun!

Graham

I use Mobil 1 on most everything.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

When you put it back together, you should use VP or Mercury spline grease on the drive shaft splines and coupler. No other type.

Here's an example: http://www.wholesalemarine.com/p/92-802 ... rease.html

I use the following on the propshaft http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... %2F+Teflon

Cheers,

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

This site is great. Thanks for all the replys and lining me out with what to get. By the way, found the grease zerk. I thought I saw one on there when I got the boat but didn't look far enough back when I looked later on.

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

Graham R, what white sealing compound and gasket sealant/adhesive do you use? They're the last two things on my list. HT32, got the spline grease, thanks for the link.

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

I bought the official VP stuff; still on the original containers after 8 seasons.

Graham

Thanks Graham. Gathering up all the stuff for service is a job in itself. Sounds like they'll last a while though.

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

On my old '88 OMC I use OMC/Bombardier triple guard grease on the propshaft and driveshaft splines (great stuff holds up in salt water) for the gimble and ujoints I use Pennzoil Marine wheel bearing grease...

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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

Lou, do you have an alternative for the non-setting white sealing compound used for bellows, etc...?

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

The non-setting white sealant is only used on the 6 studs; the bellows use the gasket cement.

Graham

Volvo may spec something different...but in my OMC shop manual they specify the non-hardening gasket sealer for most bolts and gaskets and the bellows as well.. .I use the OMC gasket sealer (I'm sure Permatex has an identical product) on the gasket between the drive and the pivot housing (OMC Cobra has a gasket there Volvo SX does not)...the same 6 studs as the Volvo has...and also where ever the OMC manual indicated (thermostat gasket and bolts....threads on the bolts for the drive water pump...water pump gasket...etc). That stuff works great and really does not harden even after sitting in salt water. Bolts installed with it come right out even after 6 months in the water...I use it on everything...anode bolts...water pump bolts...etc...

I can get this stuff from my OMC dealer but I want to see if I can find out what the equivalent Permatex product is....

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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

Lou,

The gasket cement Volvo supply is what you use I'm sure: I don't really understand why they need that white non-setting stuff as well ( marketing, I guess).

As to the best stuff, do a search on Youtube; "Fred Wenlock, handier household help" ( the accent may throw you a bit!)

Graham

The stuff I use (OMC gasket sealer) is a brown goop in a small can with a brush in the cap..it's good stuff and works as OMC said...but I'll take a look at the vid too....

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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