Westerbeke 4.5 BCG Operator's Manual page 46

LAY .. UP & RECOMMISSIONING
General
Many owners rely on their boatyards to prepare their craft,
including engines and generators, for lay-up during the off-
season or for long periods of inactivity. Others prefer to
accomplish lay-up preparation themselves.
The procedures which follow will allow you to perform your
own lay-up and recommissioning, or will serve as a checklist
if others do the procedures.
These procedures should provide protection for your
engine/generator during a lay-up and also help familiarize
you with its maintenance needs.
If you have any questions regarding lay-up procedures, call
your local servicing dealer. He will be more than willing to
provide assistance.
Propeller Shaft
Coupling
[Propulsion Engine]
The transmission and propeller half couplings should always
be opened up and the bolts removed when the boat is hauled
out of the water or moved from land to water, and during
storage in the cradle. The flexibility of the boat oftens puts a
· severe strain on the propeller shaft or coupling or both, while
the boat is taken out or put in the water. In some cases, the
shaft has actually been bent by these strains. This does not
apply to small boats that are hauled out of the water when
not in use, unless they have been
dry
for a considerable
period of time.
Fresh Water Cooling Circuit
A 50-50 solution of antifreeze and distilled water is recom-
mended for use in the fresh water cooling system at all times.
This solution may require a higher concentration of antifreeze,
depending on the area's winter climate. Check the solution to
make sure the antifreeze protection is adequate.
Should more antifreeze be needed, drain an appropriate amount
from the engine block and add a more concentrated mixture.
Operate the engine to ensure a complete circulation and mix-
ture
of the antifreeze concentration throughout the cooling
system. Then recheck the antifreeze solution's strength.
Lubrication System
With the engine wann, drain all the engine oil from the oil
sump. Remove and replace the oil filter .and fill the sump with
new oil. Use the correct grade of oil. Refer to the ENGINE
LUBRICATING OIL pages in this manual for "engine oil
change".
Run the engine and check for proper oil pressure and make
sure there are no leaks.
A
CAUTION:
Do not leave the engine's old engine
all in the sump aver the lay-up period. Engine ail and
combustion deposits combine to produce harmful
chemicals which can reduce the life of your engine's
Internal parts.
Fuel System [Gasoline]
Top off your fuel tanks with unleaded gasoline of 89 octane
or higher. A fuel conditioner such as
MARINE.STABIL ·
stabilizer should be added. Change the element in your
gasoline/water separator and clean the metal bowl.
Re-install and make certain there are no leaks. Clean
up any spilled fuel.
Fuel System [Diesel]
Top
off
your fuel tanks with No.
2
diesel fuel. Fuel additives
such as BIOBOR and DIESEL KLEEN should be added at
this time to control algae and condition the fuel. Care should
be taken that the additives used are compatible with the
primary fuel filter/water separator used in the system. Change
the element in your primary fuel filter/water separator, if the
fuel system has one, and clean the separator sediment bowl.
Change the fuel filter elements on the engine and bleed the
fuel system, as needed. Start the engine and allow it to run
for 5 - 10 minutes to make sure no air is left in the fuel
system. Check for any leaks that may have been created in
the fuel system during this servicing, correcting them as
needed. Operating the engine for 5-10 minutes will help
allow movement of the treated fuel through the injection
equipment on the engine.
Raw Water Cooling Circuit
Close the through-hull fitting. Remove the raw water intake
hose from the fitting. Place the end of this hose into a five
gallon bucket of clean fresh water. Before starting the engine,
check the zinc anode found in the primary heat exchanger on
the engine and clean or replace it as required and also clean
any zinc debis from inside the heat exchanger where the· zinc
anode is located. Clean the raw water strainer.
Start the engine and allow the raw water pump to draw the
fresh water through the system. When the bucket is empty,
stop the engine and refill the bucket with an antifreeze
solution slightly stronger than needed for winter freeze
protection in your area.
Start the engine and allow all of this mixture to be drawn
through the raw water system. Once the bucket is empty, stop
the engine. This antifreeze mixture should protect the raw
water circuit from freezing during the winter lay-up, as well
as providing corrosion protection.
Remove the impeller from your raw water pump (some
antifreeze mixture will accompany it, so catch it in a bucket).
Examine the impeller. Get a replacement, if needed, and a
cover gasket. Do not replace the impeller (into the pump)
until recommissioning, but replace the cover and gasket
Intake Manifold and Thru-Hull Exhaust
Place a clean cloth, lightly soaked in lubricating oil, in the
opening of the intake manifold to block the opening. Do not
shove the cloth out of sight. (If it is not visable at
recommissioning, and an attempt is made to start the engine,
you may need assistance of the servicing dealer). Make a
note to remove the cloth prior to start-up. The thru-hull
exhaust port can be blocked in the same manner.
CONnNUED
Engines & Generators
40