BillK2632
Well-Known Member
Even here in NC I winterize lat Nov - early Mar. Marina is closed on weekends during the winter and except for a few days it's really to cold to be out in an open boat, so I just put it up. So had it put on a wash rack Saturday, got the drive back on and fired it up - started up and ran like it was just put away yesterday!
Couple of interesting things:
Other than it taking longer than expected to get the drive on, all seems well.
No big mechanical projects this spring, ready to go boating!
Couple of interesting things:
- I decided to pull the drive and store in my garage over the winter - first time doing this. I made a little cover for the bell housing (boat is stored in 3 sided dry storage)
- Before I put the drive back on, check the alignment with my tool - slides in fine / easily and I can turn it with two fingers easily. Same as always.
- Had trouble getting the drive on the last inch or so. I don't know if it was that the steering was turn a to one side or what. I struggled with it awhile, then stopped pulled it off and checked everything, then it went on, but I still had to give it a pretty good push - seems in the past it has gone on easier. Once I got the nuts started it snugged up with no problem, there was never a "hard" stop like when the shifter is in the wrong postion or the splines are not lined up, just a tight fit in the last inch. The one difference is I had a Sierra gasket set from when I bought my shift cable kit last year. First time using a Sierra vs OEM gasket set - could the O rings maybe be slightly larger on the Sierra kit?
- Also, back in the winter I replaced my fuel fill hose, it was original and I had had issues with the fuel feed line a couple years ago and figured it would be a good idea to change the fill - was was pretty hard and permeated, had a gasoline smell on the outside.
Other than it taking longer than expected to get the drive on, all seems well.
No big mechanical projects this spring, ready to go boating!