96 Sportster Winterizing Questions

[larrybr45]

Total novice to boating/engines, but did find helpful information on winterizing.

Have a couple very basic questions that are likely obvious to everyone else, but again, I am a novice and this forum is great for knowledge.

Instructions state
1. Water in drain hose must be free to flow out. How do you check the hose. Do you disconnect at the engine and pull the hose out and view? I guess I missed the part about disconnecting.

2. Cooling system flush - instructions say to flush the cooling system with fresh water to prevent sand etc. from clogging..How is this done, is it part of winterization?

3. Lubricating engine - Instructions state to pull out air intake silencer cover plug and spray lube for about 1 minute, of which engine is running for 30 seconds, then I must switch off fuel and turn off water from hose. Is this lube the same thing as fogging oil?

4. When lubricating, it says close fuel valve..Where is this valve, is it the fuel on/off/reserve switch by the driver seat, or is there a special valve somewhere on the engine?

thanks again for these silly questions.

 

[seadoosnipe]

It's always fun to get a "silly" question, as you've put it. No, really, when you don't know and your wanting to learn, there is no silly questions. These procedures are posted as a sticky though.

Winterizing can be considered different, depending on geographical location. Here, in the deep south, it rarely freezes. So, I have less problems with winterizing than you, up north.

The cooling system of the Rotax engine is TLCS, which stands for total loss cooling system. That means, when you pull your boat out of the water, all the water in the motor drains out. The only water you'll have left in your boat is in the water box, which is the big round thing in the back of the boat, at the end of your exhaust system.

I don't advocate shutting down and running the motor till your fuel system is dry. There are rubber gaskets that can freeze and crack. So, use a bit of "Stabil" fuel stabilizer and allow it to run through the motor a bit, till you know it's in your carb(s). This will keep them from geling up on you.

I use Lithium spray grease to protect my cylinders. The reason for fogging is to make sure you have a barrier between the metal of your motor and the atmosphere. Oxygen to metal creates rust, when you add a bit of moisture. You can buy a can of fogging solution, pull the small rubber plug from your air box and spray in while the motor is running. Then, shut it down. Or, you can shut it down for the winter, remove your spark plugs, spray a bit of lithium grease into each cylinder, then tap the starter to roll the motor over. You can also roll it over by hand from the back side of the motor. You have to remove the shaft guard. Then, when you got a bit of lithium inside the motor, you'll want to protect your water jacket.

If you look at your exploded view, you'll get a better understanding of your water flow for the 717cc. Look where the connection is to flush the motor. You'll see a "T" right below it. Where the line leads off to the right, this is your water outlet and comes out the back side of your hull. That line will need to be pinched inside the motor compartment behind the "T". Then, look at the line (I think it's 17) leading to your motor from the pump. Pinch that line. Then, you'll see a line leading off the bottom of your manifold to the exhaust (line 16 I think), pinch it. Now, look at your loop of the tuned pipe. This is the highest part of your cooling system. Take off the small line at the top of the pipe. This is the "Tell Tale" line that you monitor when the boat is running, to make sure you have water flow. THis is where you'll want to see your coolant flow from. Now, mix up a gallon of 50/50 coolant. Pour into the back flush connection until you see coolant flowing from that tell tale connection. When this is done, un-pinch all the lines and let everything drain out. Your engine is now protected for the winter.

If you want to carry it one step further, you can keep your motor warm. Here in the south, it only freezes a couple times a year. I have a small heat lamp I use inside my Challengers engine compartment. I put it in the rear of the boat, facing the backside of my motor. In other words, I keep it away from my fuel tank. Then, when I close down my engine cover, I put a small stick in between the cover to hold it open ever so slightly, to keep fuel vapors from building up.

I think that pretty much covers everything. Good luck......

 

[larrybr45]

Trying to piece everything together and have more basic questions...
1. You mention taking off small line at the top of the pipe. How Do I see that antifreeze is getting through, does it come out, or do I see orange coming through the pipe? OR, after I disconnect, somehow antifreeze comes in the back end of the hose I disconnected and I will see it come out of the small hose on the end I just disconnected?
2. Can I pour straight antifreeze, must I mix?
3. Some posts talk about running engine until antifreeze comes out the back, in your process, I do not run the engine at all for putting in antifreeze, correct?
4. When I unpinch all the lines, where does the antifreeze drain out at?

sorry, again basic questions, but it is kind of fun trying to piece this together and actually do it (eventually)

 

[larrybr45]

Winterizing 96 sportster followup

Trying to piece everything together and have more basic questions...
1. You mention taking off small line at the top of the pipe. How Do I see that antifreeze is getting through, does it come out, or do I see orange coming through the pipe? OR, after I disconnect, somehow antifreeze comes in the back end of the hose I disconnected and I will see it come out of the small hose on the end I just disconnected?
2. Can I pour straight antifreeze, must I mix?
3. Some posts talk about running engine until antifreeze comes out the back, in your process, I do not run the engine at all for putting in antifreeze, correct?
4. When I unpinch all the lines, where does the antifreeze drain out at?

sorry, again basic questions, but it is kind of fun trying to piece this together and actually do it (eventually)