Conference wahoo::fishing

    You may want to put this in the Power Boats File also.  They
    discuss motors, boats, etc.
    
    I'd like to know myself, I have an owners' manual, but I'm
    sure they've left something out.
    
    jd/
    

    To winterize your motor is no biggy. All it takes is some lower
    unit gear case oil, some grease, a spray can of Mystery oil or 
    Liquid Wrench, and a spray can of engine fogger. 
    
    1] Change the lower gear case fluid because occasionally a small
    amount of water can slip by the seals and bearings and contaminate
    the oil which could cause problems with freezing (if left outside)
    or lack of lubrication to the lower unit gears. This should be done
    at each years end. I've had the lower unit case crack because of
    freezing of water in the case, this can get very expensive.
    
    2] Fogging the engine to stablize the gas in the carb., gas lines,and
    cylinders is important so you don't get varnish build-up, which
    could clog a fuel passage.
    
    3] Spray each cylinder with Mystery oil or Liquid wrench to keep
    the walls, rings, and pistons from rusting. 
    
    4] Last, remove the prop and grease the shaft in order to prevent
    prop to shaft seizing.
    
    The fogging can take place by running the motor in a barrel (assuming
    it's a small enough motor) with the prop removed. It's ok for running 
    short periods of time giving that the water level in the barrel
    is high enough to cover the water intakes.
                                                          
    
    
    
    
    I hope this was helpful. 
    
    
    					Note looking forward to this
    
    
    
    
    								Jim

    There is a device you can get for running the motor without putting
    it into a lake or drum of water.
    
    It looks like an elongated set of ear muffs with suction cups.
    You attach the suction cup part to the motor where the water
    is normally drawn into the motor and the other end to the garden hose.
    You then turn on the water and start the motor.  The water is then drawn
    into the motor so you can run it in your front yard and drive your
    neighbors crazy.  This should make part of your maintenance easier.
    I know that Spags had them but you could probably get one at any
    marine dealer.
    
    

    CAUTION  Too much water presure and blowen pump seals!!!!!
    
    Advice is to turn on water VERY LOW start motor then turn up presure.
    
    I know people who used to use them and did once blow their seals..
    
    Bassin' Bob
    

    Thanks for all the advice.   For anyone interested, I also posted
    this in the BOATS file and got some good responses there.  

    This note covered winterizing the outboard, but really didn't say
    much about the rest of the setup.
    
    Sadly, I stripped my boat down the other day...
       
    Talking to Joe T. the other day, he mentioned something that I hadn't
    considered.  Putting the trailer up on blocks to raise the tires
    off the ground.  This will keep them from deflating and keep them
    from freezing to the ground - so come that first warm day in March,
    you won't have to mess around...                                 
    
    (ya see, Joe's good for something besides poetry, occasionally 8^)
       
    Batteries are something else to consider.  I'm going to charge mine
    up and put it on some wood in the basement.  I'll probably kick
    the charge back up in a few months...
    
    Any other suggestions/comments?
    
    donmac                                                              
                                                                     
    

Yeah...

Aside from putting gas conditioner in your gas tank, fogging oil in the 
carb & cylinders, changing the lower crankcase oil, and removing the prop 
and greasing the spline....(whew), I also sprayed the entire engine, inside 
and out (remove shroud) with WD40 to add additional protection.  I also made 
sure to get some up into the throttle control cables.

You also want to be sure that you've allowed all water to drain from the 
pump after your final flush so that it doesn't freeze in there.

Beyond that...it's wait for springtime!

joe

    And some more...
    
    Pull the wheels off the trailer, repack the bearings, store the
    wheels out of the elements, at least cover them, this protects
    them from the UV rays. Also check the lights and if the trailer
    goes in the salt you may need to clean all the terminals.
    
    CC

    
    Don't forget to check the livewell ;-)
    
    Steve

>>    Don't forget to check the livewell ;-)
    

That's not a problem for Don....he never had occassion to use it this year!!

(heh...heh)