every spring, every forum...millions of posts "I can't make my drive go down...HELP!!!" here is your help. put it down for the winter. the trim rams have mucho pressure to raise drive. not much to lower. and it isn't just the rams sticking, it is the boots, u-joints and shift cables.

My mechenic/marina removes the drive and stores it inside for the winter. In the spring, allingment is checked and drive re-installed. Seems to work well as I have never had a problem.

Padraig

Its also two fold for the guys up north....when you store with the drive up and the prop uncovered in the snow you collect snow/sleet/rain in the hub and lower unit.....if you have it full and it freezes you run the risk of splitting the drive! Having the drive down lets all of that run out and you have less problems....Also the bellows boot is less likely to crack during the winter when its down....

I'll admit I stored my boat drive up last year, but won't be doing that again this winter with my new one.

You guys are bumming me out with all this "storage" talk!!! Ahhhhh!

hahaha you southerners and your 12 month boating seasons!

Just as important......raise it in the spring before you move the boat....save a skeg.