petrel

Yes, Yes, I am just getting around to starting this project! The parts from Andy have been sitting next to the front door for two weeks. Hopefully, just one more question. Andy at Shipyard recommended that I remove the lower engine covers and drain the engines instead of pumping the oil out. Has anyone else ever done that? Any things to look out for?

Is Andy the best source for those as well?

I ordered everything from Andy today (including pump kits.) I thought it was interesting that he recommended draining the engine oil, as opposed to pumping it out. Everything I've read indicates that most folks pump it out the dipstick hole. Should I add a Yamaha service manual to the purchase, or will the online tutorials and instructions you gentlemen have been kind enough to provide be sufficient? Thanks again for all of the help!

Ok, that makes more sense.

Wait a minute!...Buy an EPIRB and STILL spend the night in the water! Was their delayed recovery because they did not have a GPS EPIRB?

my truck is a '97 and had to be drilled for the first hitch, as it had no provision for a receiver hitch when I purchased it. I thought it would be unlikely to find another hitch with the same bolt pattern as my 1997 Brand X hitch, so I went ahead and drilled the other two holes.

I think my post was misleading. I was able to re-use four out of the six previous holes and had to drill two new ones. Thanks.

The perplexing thing about this arrangement is that I had removed an old rusty class IV hitch to upgrade to the XDR. The old hitch never flexed, or at least I never noticed it, even when I loaded my tractor too far forward on my utility trailer and brought the rear suspension down onto the overload springs! Towed the trailer 400 miles round trip this weekend with no obvious ill effects, but I still don't consider the matter closed. I will try to get the tongue weight measured this week. Thanks for your input!

Putnam is in receivership. The receiver gave me the cell phone number for Rex Putnam and I left him a message asking him if the hitch had been recalled or if some had been defective. I missed his return call, but he left a message acknowledging one recall of mobile home hitches, but noting that their time tested design was sound and if used as rated there should be no problems. Called the dealer who sold it to me and they indicated that some flexing was not out of the question, but if the hitch showed any signs of fatigue at the flanges or welds they would send me another one. I took it for a test run and it towed fine and an inspection revealed no fatigue so far. I will keep a very close eye on it for this weekend and probably replace it next week. Thanks for your thoughts on the matter.

Just installed a new Putnam Class V XDR receiver hitch on my F350. While my son was hitching up my boat, I thought I saw the receiver flex as it took up the tongue weight. We jacked the trailer up again and measured the distance from the bumper to the top of the receiver, then put the weight back onto the hitch. It deflected exactly 1/8" with the load of the trailer on it. The hitch was installed per the instructions, and torqued to specifications with locktite on all of the bolts. Is that flexing normal, and I've just never noticed, or do I have an issue with my new hitch? I haven't measured my tongue weight, because I haven't had any towing issues or inordinate loading of my truck's rear suspension. Will call Putnam tomorrow, but wanted to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

Thank you for the torque information. Is there a rating for the lower unit plugs too? By the way, I've corresponded with Andy at Shipyard and he is helping me get my order together. I told him that he was highly recommended by this group.

This is great information. Thanks for the expert guidance. Parts (and where to purchase them), tools, and step by step procedures! I sincerely appreciate it.

Gentlemen, thank you for your thoughts on this topic. While we are on this subject, would you give me an idea of the special tools involved (if any). I understand you need an oil vac and a 73mm oil filter wrench, anything else? Also, do you replace the lower unit plug seals each time as well?

My F250s are due for 200 hr. service. I had the dealer do the initial 100 hr service, but I was considering performing the oil and filter change and lower unit lube change myself for the 200hr service. I am curious about what other's service philosophies are for these engines. Am I throwing away money having a dealer do it, or is it money well spent to get my engines in front of trained eyes every 100hrs or so?

Fishing: Cobia on a casting plug or jig, one limit of flounder, swordfish, crush the spadefish. Boating: Use the boats more!