This is the first time I will be winterizing my '97 VLX, and I have a few questions. It has a Walter 1.46 to 1 tranny, What plug do I pull to drain the water. It has 2 plugs on the right side one big one on the bottom and one little one on the top. Neither of these plugs have any marks on them like they have been removed, but it did come from So Cal so it may have never had the water drained from it. They both have square heads. What kind of oil goes in the tranny? Is one of those plugs to drain the oil and the other the water? How do I change the oil? Do I have to use one of those sucker pumps? I pretty much need the whole run through with winterizing a VLX. I can drain the block easy, add anti-freeze, change plugs, and fog cylinders. But the thing that really gets me is how to get the sun pad down after pulling the battery. Do you have to dissconect the electric motor and just put it on the floor then drop the pad? I need lots of help I didn't get an owners manual and it is my first V-drive. Thanks

I got one more question. When I fill up at the gas station I have to pump the gas at like 2 gallons per minute or gas will gurgle out the over flow and the place where you insert the nozzle. It is not even close to being full. What am I doing wrong and how can I fix it.

let's see some pics. <BR> <BR>We have always just paid to have ours winterized so I can't help you there. <BR> <BR>About the sun pad. You might as well just take that whole thing out because although it is pretty cool, it takes forever to put up and down and becomes a big time hassle out on the lake. The motor on ours shorted out this last year and getting rid of it was the best thing. <BR> <BR>About the gas, I have had that problem at just a few pumps, I think it just depends on the gas station and what kind of pumps they use.

Gas fill depends on the angle of the boat often. Like Clint said, try a different station. Or, try jacking the front of the trailer some while at the pump. In the water the boat sits at a different angle. <BR>Use a vacuum suction unit to remove the oil. It'll connect to the top of the dipstick tube or have a line that drops down into it. Same thing for tranny fluid. <BR>Do a search on winterizing. There are a few threads.

<a href="http://www.themalibucrew.com" target="_blank">www.themalibucrew.com</a>

Thanks for that site. I've seen it before but forgot about that one. I also found out that I need a air-fuel seperator in the over flow line of the gas tank. It will completely take care of the filling up and over flowing gas problem. A easy $50 fix. That one came from westsiderides.com also a good site.