TOPIC: 1978 85hp 85ETLR78C winterizing

Hi,

Will be putting my little G3 away for the season before too long.. need to be sure I am winterizing the motor right..

Things to do:

drain and refill lower unit.

Add stable (sp) to the gas, run the motor to circulate it through fuel system.

While motor is running spray seafoam into both carbs to the point where the engine falters, shut motor off.

Remove spark plugs, spray seafoam into each hole, slowly turn engine over, reinstall plugs..

???~~~> drain carbs (not sure is this is necessary nor possible...can't remember..

That's all I can remember.. what have I missed? (other than wishing there was no such thing as Winter!!!


Thanks,

Kerry

Grease the throttle/shift/timing linkages under the hood, and grease the steering and tilt tubes on the motor.

All that work for the week and few day between Christmas and New Years...

Deac, depends on where you live I guess. Salt water area would need a thorough flushing also. In my North East WI area our home grown mice for some reason think outboards make excellent winter housing, especially when they can chew up the wires and foam insulation on the motor cover to make a cozy retreat. If possible plug up any entrance holes with steel wool and either put in some mothballs or Bounce fabric softener sheets to deter the intruders. I've also given my motors a "misting", not a soaking, with WD40 to keep corrosion away and keep the wiring soft.

Thanks guys... what about draining the carbs?

Drain them. It won't hurt. I am only familiar with the 3 cyl. OMC's but the 4 cyl. can't be too hard to drain.

There's a gasket on that drain plug you don't want to drop and loose! (I've been known to "crack 'em loose long enough to drain the gas, never taking the plug out completely). Can't remember it it's 9/16" or 5/8", but an open end wrench will get it done.