I've read that you should store an I/O with the lower drive unit down.
I wasn't able to do this because I had disconnected the batteries and
had to trailer it over to storage with the drive up. It is inside a
building so water collecting in the bullet shouldn't be a problem. I
also sprayed the bellows with marine grease to help prevent it from
drying out. Should I have to worry about anything in the spring when
I lower the unit? Should I grease anything up prior to this?
Thanks for any help!

It needs to be lowered if it's going to freeze where it is. There's water
still trapped in there until it is lowered.

--
Steve
=======================
Remove the not dot from my address to abuse my email box
"werlax" wrote in message
om...
I've read that you should store an I/O with the lower drive unit down.
I wasn't able to do this because I had disconnected the batteries and
had to trailer it over to storage with the drive up. It is inside a
building so water collecting in the bullet shouldn't be a problem. I
also sprayed the bellows with marine grease to help prevent it from
drying out. Should I have to worry about anything in the spring when
I lower the unit? Should I grease anything up prior to this?
Thanks for any help!

Not sure what kind of "marine grease" you used but as a general rule grease
isn't good for boots. A good reason for storage with the drive down is to
prevent the boot from taking a "set" in a non-operational position, which
increases the chance of the universal joints dinging it next spring.
You are probably going to be OK but Mercury Marine recommends it down for a
reason. When I have mine stored I start the engine every 2 weeks (no longer!)
and raise/lower the drive and put the wheel hard over port/starboard, etc just
to make sure everything stays free.
Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving (well, coming up!)
Mike

Orig msg "I've read that you should store an I/O with the lower drive unit
down.
I wasn't able to do this because I had disconnected the batteries and
had to trailer it over to storage with the drive up. It is inside a
building so water collecting in the bullet shouldn't be a problem. I
also sprayed the bellows with marine grease to help prevent it from
drying out. Should I have to worry about anything in the spring when
I lower the unit? Should I grease anything up prior to this?
Thanks for any help!

"Steve Barker" wrote in message ...
It needs to be lowered if it's going to freeze where it is. There's water
still trapped in there until it is lowered.

Well, I had lowered it after winterizing it. It sat in my driveway
for a couple of weeks in the down position prior to trailering it over
to the storage building. I ran antifreeze through the system until it
came out the lower unit as well. I'm pretty sure all the water is
out, but I was curious about any other reasons there might be for it
being stored down.
Thanks!

(CaptMP) wrote in message ...
When I have mine stored I start the engine every 2 weeks (no longer!)
and raise/lower the drive and put the wheel hard over port/starboard, etc
just to make sure everything stays free.

The boat is at a private storage location, so I'd have to contact the
owner of the building in order to get into it. I might just have to
get over there to quick connect the battery and lower the drive, but
otherwise it'd be too inconvenient to do as you suggest. I made sure
to lube up the steering line and the other things recommended in the
manual. I'll just have to trust my winterizing and check things over
well in the spring before starting it up.
Thanks much!

don't worry about raising/lowering the drive in storage. Just get it in
the full down position, and forget about it.


"werlax" wrote in message
om...
(CaptMP) wrote in message
...
When I have mine stored I start the engine every 2 weeks (no longer!)
and raise/lower the drive and put the wheel hard over port/starboard,
etc
just to make sure everything stays free.

The boat is at a private storage location, so I'd have to contact the
owner of the building in order to get into it. I might just have to
get over there to quick connect the battery and lower the drive, but
otherwise it'd be too inconvenient to do as you suggest. I made sure
to lube up the steering line and the other things recommended in the
manual. I'll just have to trust my winterizing and check things over
well in the spring before starting it up.
Thanks much!

I like to store mine in the down position so as not to stretch or form the
bellows to the up position after setting all winter.

Don Dando

"werlax" wrote in message
om...
"Steve Barker" wrote in message
...
It needs to be lowered if it's going to freeze where it is. There's
water
still trapped in there until it is lowered.

Well, I had lowered it after winterizing it. It sat in my driveway
for a couple of weeks in the down position prior to trailering it over
to the storage building. I ran antifreeze through the system until it
came out the lower unit as well. I'm pretty sure all the water is
out, but I was curious about any other reasons there might be for it
being stored down.
Thanks!