coolings
New Member
This is my first year owning a boat. I live in the Panhandle of Florida. I refused to pay to have someone winterize, service, my boat. So here is what I did. I read the service manual. And talked to a lot of friends.
First step was to change the oil. Everything went well until I went to take the oil filter off. It was stuck. Part of it ripped. I ended up paying a former MM mechanic to take it off. While he was at it, I had him install the remote oil filter adapter. My oil filter was under the engine and very hard to get to. Why MM did not order the boat with the remote adapter beats me. The parts were less than $200. Probably the best money I spent on the boat yet. Now the oil filter is on the top of the engine, near the drive lube monitor.
Second was to change the fuel filter. I tried to install a Racor fuel water separator. One with the metal bowl of course. It would not fit. There was not enough clearance between the bottom of the engine and the bottom of the boat. A regular filter went back on.
I then changed the drive lube. This was probably that hardest to learn. I removed the drain screw from the bottom of the outdrive. Then I removed the oil vent screw. Quite a bit of lube flushed out. The manual called to remove the reservoir, or monitor. I removed it, but wrong. To remove the monitor remove the hose to the outdrive. Then disconnect the wires. I tried to loosen the large nut under the monitor. That turned into a nightmare. I got the monitor back together and reinstalled. I bought an outdrive lube pump and pumped the oil back into the outdrive. Two fulls quarts did the trick.
Next, I checked for leaks. I ran the engine to operating temp. It took awhile to start, but probably because I did not fill the new fuel filter with gas before install. Everything looked okay. I then drained the water from the block. I thought I had only three drain points. I have four. One port side, three starboard side. On the starboard side some sediment came out. All of the sediment was black. Not sand like I expected. I think I need to stay out of shallow water...lol. I will pour a cup of antifreeze in the outdrive before it gets cold again.
I decided not to fog the carb. If it gets warm and the winds are down, I will be back on the water! In the mean time I will fire the engine every two weeks. Afterwards I will drain the block again. Much easier than I expected. On a side note, why is it easier to drain the block than change the oil?
First step was to change the oil. Everything went well until I went to take the oil filter off. It was stuck. Part of it ripped. I ended up paying a former MM mechanic to take it off. While he was at it, I had him install the remote oil filter adapter. My oil filter was under the engine and very hard to get to. Why MM did not order the boat with the remote adapter beats me. The parts were less than $200. Probably the best money I spent on the boat yet. Now the oil filter is on the top of the engine, near the drive lube monitor.
Second was to change the fuel filter. I tried to install a Racor fuel water separator. One with the metal bowl of course. It would not fit. There was not enough clearance between the bottom of the engine and the bottom of the boat. A regular filter went back on.
I then changed the drive lube. This was probably that hardest to learn. I removed the drain screw from the bottom of the outdrive. Then I removed the oil vent screw. Quite a bit of lube flushed out. The manual called to remove the reservoir, or monitor. I removed it, but wrong. To remove the monitor remove the hose to the outdrive. Then disconnect the wires. I tried to loosen the large nut under the monitor. That turned into a nightmare. I got the monitor back together and reinstalled. I bought an outdrive lube pump and pumped the oil back into the outdrive. Two fulls quarts did the trick.
Next, I checked for leaks. I ran the engine to operating temp. It took awhile to start, but probably because I did not fill the new fuel filter with gas before install. Everything looked okay. I then drained the water from the block. I thought I had only three drain points. I have four. One port side, three starboard side. On the starboard side some sediment came out. All of the sediment was black. Not sand like I expected. I think I need to stay out of shallow water...lol. I will pour a cup of antifreeze in the outdrive before it gets cold again.
I decided not to fog the carb. If it gets warm and the winds are down, I will be back on the water! In the mean time I will fire the engine every two weeks. Afterwards I will drain the block again. Much easier than I expected. On a side note, why is it easier to drain the block than change the oil?
