Lay-Up And Recommissioning; Lay-Up; Propeller Shaft Coupling; Fresh Water Cooling System - Universal M3-20A Operator's Manual

LAY-UP AND RECOMMISSIONING
LAY-UP
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 following procedures will allow you to perform your
own lay-up and recommissioning, or you may use them as a
check list for others. These procedures should afford your
engine protection during a lay-up and also help familiarize
you with the maintenance needs of your engine.
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
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 a cradle. The flexibility of the boat often 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 CODLING SYSTEM
A 50-50 solution of antifreeze and distilled water is recom-
mended for use in the freshwater coaling 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 mixture of the antifreeze concentration throughout the
cooling system. Now recheck the antifreeze solution's
strength.
LUBRICATION SYSTEM
With the engine warm, drain all the engine oil from the oil
sump. Remove and replace the oil filter. (Place some paper
towels and a plastic bag around the filter to catch the oil dur-
ing its removal.)
When installing the new oil filter, be sure to apply a small
amount of oil on the rubber sealing gasket at the base of the
filter. Fill the sump with the correct amount of oil for your
engine model. (Refer to the SPECIFICATIONS section of this
manual.) Usc an oil with an API specification of CF or CG4
or better. Run the engine and check for proper oil pressure
and make sure there are not leaks. Stop the engine, check oil
level and add oil as needed to bring level to dipstick full
mark.
32
A..
CAUTION:
00 not leave the engine's old engine oil
in the sump over the lay-up period. Engine oil and com-
bustion deposits combine to produce hannful chemicals
which can reduce the life of the engine's internal parts.
FUEL SYSTEM
Top off your fuel tanks with No.2 diesel fueL Fuel additives
should be added at this time
to
control algae, and a fuel con-
ditioner such as STABIL. Care should be taken that the addi-
tives used are compatible with the primary filter/water
separator used in the system. Change the element in your pri-
mary fuel filter/water separator, if the fuel system contains
one, and clean the separator sediment bowl.
Change the fuel filter elements on the engine and bleed the
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.
RAW WATER CIRCUIT
Close the through-hull fitting: Remove the raw water intake
hose from the fitting. Place the end of this hose into
fl
5-gal-
Ion bucket of clean fresh water. Before starting the engine,
check the zinc anode found in the heat exchanger on the
engine and clean or replace it as required. Clean the raw
water strainer, if one is installed in the inside of the hull.
Start the engine and allow the raw water pump
to
draw fresh
water through the system. When the bucket is empty, stop the
engine and refill the bucket with an antifreeze solution
slightly stronger then needed for winter freeze protection in
your area.
Start the engine again 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 pro-
tect 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 (:-;ome
antifreeze mixture will accompany it, so catch it in a bucket).
Examine the impeller. Acquire replacement. if needed, and a
cover gasket. Do not replace the impeller (into the pump)
until recommissioning, but replace the COver and gasket.