Taking off outdrive
 

Is it necessary to take off your outdrive and bring it inside for the winter when winterizing your motor? What are the benifits? It is a bravo one outdrive.
Thanks

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

No. it is not necessary. leave the drive in the fully down position when it's in the place where it will stay, and that allows the water to drain out fully.

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

If it is going to freeze where you are it is a goog idea to change, or at least check the oil in the drive to make sure no water has gotten into the drive that may cause it to crack when it freezes.

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

Good advice.

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

the drive should be removed and serviced every season.the splines on the input shaft need to be lubed with a "spline" lube-to avoid wear and siezing of the shaft in the coupler-also,the older drives,these have grease fittngs on the u-joints-only way they can be lubed is by removing the drive.
while the drive is off,everything can be inspected-gimbal bearing,shift cable and drive shaft bellows...trust me,pull that drive once a season !
reinstall it,after servicing it-no need to store it inside...
also,if the bellows are more than 5 seasons old,i recomend you replace them...

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

I agree with everything that pelican stated. :D And let me also add that if your prop has the rubber hub, then it wouldn't be a bad idea to store the prop inside when the outside temps gets below freezing for an extended period of time.

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

no need to pull the wheel if it has a rubber hub-freezing temps will never damage it...age and impact will tear it up,cold weather isn't a factor...just be sure to pull the wheel once a season-lube splines and rinstall

side note:
use no grease with mettalic compounds-especially "never sieze" you can create a galvanic reaction...

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

Not what my prop guy says. http://www.southeasternprop.com/index.htm He said that some times once the rubber shrinks due to the cold, that it will not expand back to its original diameter therefore resulting in a spun hub. I can't prove if he's right or wrong being as it seldom stays below freezing very long down here. Anyone want to put their prop in the freezer for several days to test his theory? :D

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

depends on the chemical properties of the rubber in the hub. Some are affected by cooling and heating. Most modern two-piece hub designs are not, however. So Flo-Torq and similar hubs are safe in the cold.

Re: Taking off outdrive
 

it gets prtty cold in new jersey...last year we had record snow fall...
never have i had a client's prop "spin a hub" due to the prop being exposed to cold weather...there's 1000's of outboard powered boats in my area-same boats sit all winter with their wheels on-my own rig included,i've yet to see or hear of anyone else experiencing any problems...