Winterising my Outboard

[Noddy]

Maybe I am a little early but I am looking to winterise my Mercury 2 Stroke 60hp Outboard. It will be left outside on the boat all winter but will be well covered up. Any advice would be appreciated?
Also is it a good idea to remove the trailor wheels for the 4 months she will be laid up?

[slimtim]

There are people on here who know much more than me about it but this is what I know (whether its right or not I don't know!)...

- First run the engine through with fresh water and rinse everything down
- Disconnect battery and take it out of boat
- unscrew spark plugs and pour some two stroke oil into the cylinders
- Lightly screw plug back in (finger tight)
- Remove prop and grease shaft...not sure if you should put prop back on
- I guess drain and replace oil in gearbox...you have to skirt the oil up from the bottom to make sure you don't get air in it.
- Grease everything
- grease some more
- oops, you missed a bit, grease it some more
- I guess it might also be a good idea to cover the engine with something to try and minimise frost damage

There are probably lots of other things too. Speaking from past experience, always check and wiggle the steering from lock to lock regularly over the winter!

Hope that helps

Tim

[Nasher]

Give it a good service and keep using it.

With the right gear the boating is sometimes much better in the colder months, as there are less fairweather boaters about to spoil the veiw and get in the way.


Nasher

[Noddy]

Thanks Slimtim - you have confirmed some things I know and added a couple more.
Nasher I would like nothing more than to Rib all the year round but am limited by location!?

[Nick Hearne]

Do not forget the trailer!
Check wheel bearings repack with grease, also the drawer bar top up the grease nipples!
I have always had the idea of removing the wheels over winter, but have yet to do it!
You may be better off jacking it up & leaving them on as well as the wheel clamp, as if taken of your insurance may be invalid!!
Nick