Winterizing a 1998 Sportster 1800 with twin 717's

[trdehmer]

In the next month I'll have to winterize my Sportster, figure I'll change the gear lube in the cones and grease any zerks I see. I'll put stabilizer in the gas, and spray some fogging oil into the cylinders (or should I do it through the top of the air intake port/rubber plug??).

How do I flush the system with RV Antifreeze? Both sides have the hose hook up deal (flush kit?), do I just let RV Antifreeze gravity feed through the system while running each engine? Anything else I need to consider?

Based on what I can tell, it's almost impossible to get to the carbs to drain the gas out of them...

 

[Lumps]

you have to pinch off some the hoses. I can't remember the exact ones but there is a nice picture in the shop manual. just put a funnel in the upper flush port and gently pour in the anti freeze. make sure its the kind that is ok for aluminum. once you have poured in enough for it to come out the clear hose in the bottom of the engine, there is a clamp you remove and then you pour in some more to protect the tuned pipe. I didn't run the engine while filling with anti freeze. it takes too long. you should clamp off the right tubes to avoid filling the engine. just make sure they are on tight so it doesn't leak past your clamps

I haven't seen anything about draining the carbs. I think this is covered by the fogging. you are supposed to spray in to the carb until the engine stalls. or at least that's the way I did it, I just followed the manual.

the only other thing I can remember is to fill the gas tank and oil reservoir to keep condensation from forming.

 

[trdehmer]

I found these on Youtube - no mention of clamping hoses and they attached to the rear of the Jetboat, not sure if mine is the same, but if it is the method on Youtube looks real simple. Guess I'm not sure what the flush kit method wouldn't work either - if the goal is to flush out salt water, wouldn't the RV Antifreeze get to all locations??

Step 1:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw1Z1xI3zq4

Step 2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rcON2QAJ_Q

 

[Lumps]

let me check the manual and I can see if I can give some better details. but the purpose is to make sure there is no un-protected water left in your engine to freeze. these engines do not drain on their own.

if you are in salt water your need to flush your engine on the garden hose everything time you are out or the salt corrodes the water jackets in your various parts. let me take a look in the manual about the claps

 

[Lumps]

I have the 98 manual still. PM me if you want it. but here is the diagram for the hose clamps:

 

[trdehmer]

So, basically its saying to clamp off those 3 hoses, then I could pour antifreeze through the saltwater flush fitting up by the oil cap while engine is running - then all done (flushes antifreeze reverse through the engine it would appear)? Do I need to pump antifreeze through the saltwater flush connection, or would gravity fed (via funnel) work fine?

I take it there is no connection outside in the rear to hook up a flush system to pump through the engine right?

thank you for the help!

 

[Lumps]

I would not do it when the engine is running. it takes some time for the antifreeze to go through the engine and I don't know how it would dissipate heat. there are 2 different flush connectors on the 717 boats (or at least on mine there was). one is on top under the lip of the engine bay cover the other is a garden hose threaded port on the jet drive. I used the jet drive one for flushing after salt water or if running on the hose but not for the anti freeze. I attached a quick release hose adapter to it.

the anti freeze I always used the top one since I let gravity move the antifreeze (via funnel). it is quite slow to drain so you have to pour a little at a time.

the manual also talks about topping up the grease nipples since they want to make sure that there is no moisture stuck in there to freeze. but you have to be careful not to force out too much. I can't remember the issue maybe barings? I cant remember

 

[trdehmer]

Huh, everything I've heard when winterizing with antifreeze is that the engine should be running.....

 

[Lumps]

from the manual:

NOTE: The engine will not have to run during this
operation but should have been ran before to exhaust
water from cooling system components.
Some hoses have to be plugged to prevent draining,
before filling cooling system jackets with the
antifreeze.
Use hose pinchers (P/N 529 030 400).

 

[LawnDart]

I just plug the holes on the transom instead of pinching the hoses, then fill from the hose attached to the head. It doesn't take much antifreeze.

 

[r3cc0s]

so my single 657x I gravity filled, while making sure the engine drain line (goes to exhaust port) and transom port off the big hose off the block were plugged and I did use the starter while gravity filling in spurts to try to ensure the antifreeze didnt' end up in the block (which apparently isn't really possible unless the exhaust fully fills up with water)

I would imagine if you could use a 1/4hp sump and a big bucket, you could cycle the antifreeze through the motor serveral times while running, which would 100% make sure all the coolant got through everything as with the gravity fill, I did not see any coolant come out of the Jet nor the ski hook/pisser

I asked my mechanic and another friend if that was a problem, and was told it should be okay

 

[r3cc0s]

I believe https://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?67608-1996-XP-Winterization is applicable, however when they refer to a "T" connector, I'm not sure we have a T connector on our engine drain line