Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

[Scode68]

So I?ve been trying to grease the steering shaft on a 1996 90HP Johnson with no success using the hand pump. The ball in the grease fitting moves in easily when pushed so I don?t think it?s the grease fitting. How can I force some grease in there without having to disassemble everything? The steering is stiffer than it should be but it still turns.

 

[mikesea]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

get yourself a propane torch,i have often freed up the steering by heating the steering section,it will take alot of time,you may even use mapp gas instead of propane,idea is to heat the gunky old stuck grease ,start at the top because the fitting is toward bottom,after a while try shooting in new grease,you should remove the grease fitting and insure no plug up in fitting or just inside the steering arm,let me know how it works,again it will take alot of heat to get job done,lots of area and thickness 2 cover

 

[robert graham]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

Maybe remove that zerk fitting(it's either screwed in or pressed in), stick a wire in to clear away some old hard grease. Clean zerk fitting or install new zerk(Autozone) to be sure it's not plugged with old grease. You should be able then to shoot fresh grease in with your grease gun. Good Luck!

 

[Scode68]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

I wish I had thought of the heat thing when it was 90* out and not in the 40s. Maybe I?ll luck out this weekend and the wind will no t be blowing.

As far as the fitting goes, can it be removed with a regular socket or do I need to get a special one? I attempted to remove the fitting a while back but stopped in fear of snapping or rounding it. It doesn?t seem like there is much for a regular 6-point socket to grab onto.

I just poked the ball with a wire to see if it moved and it went in very easily.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

Use a needle tip grease gun adapter ... you can get much higher grease pressure with them. Heat's a good idea as well. Some motor (even new) are very hatrd to get grease in. My '07 -Tecs are tough and were even brand new ... must be tight clearances. Be careful, the fitting may be cast into the housing ... mine are.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

Heat, penetrating oil and work it. When all is well put a new grease fitting on and pump it till the fresh grease comes through.
Just my 2 cents though.

 

[Scode68]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

Never was tight before when my in-laws had the boat, but it sat for two years before they dropped it off in my driveway. Thought it was the cables at first but thats not it.

Cast in grease fitting, now that sucks!

 

[mikesea]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

im confused,is it a fitting with a ball or the bs cast kind,if the cast kind I guess all you can do is try pushing a wire in the hole,you can get some parts cleaner with the tube attached to squirt in there to insure the enterance is clear,hopefully the heat will help you

 

[Scode68]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

Looks like the kind you would see on a car.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

The cast in ones have the ball also. Only difference, they are not removable. You need more pressure not a removable fitting!

 

[Scode68]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

Would the cast in ones also have it so you can fit a socket or wrench on them?

What years or models had the fittings cast into them?

 

[justbehindit]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

I've got the grease problem as well but finding my grease fittings is more of quest since the schematic shows 1 fitting. Where the heck are the shaft grease fittings on a 1982 70 hp Sea Horse long transom? Also, the connector rod (173700) is bent. Will that affect steering? Steering this boat is like trying to turn a destroyer with a pair of vice grips.

 

[Scode68]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

I'm waiting for the weekend and haven?t looked at the motor in a while but I think you have to tilt the motor in order to see or access the fitting.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

The zerk is either screwed in or pressed in, should be no problem to remove to access the grease hole and clean out older, hardened grease. Maybe better to install a new zerk since they are cheap and easy to put in. After you get it cleaned up maybe use a "softer" marine type grease rather than a stiffer chasis or wheel bearing grease. The zerks on my Yamaha also has little rubber caps on each one to keep the salt water out. When I pump the zerk on my steering shaft the grease always oozes out around the top bearing right under the lower cowl. Good Luck!

 

[Scode68]

Re: Getting Grease Into the Steering Shaft

I put caps like that on all the grease points on the front suspension of my 68 Mustang so that sounds like a good idea.

God knows what kind of greaase my in-laws put in there but I hope it was the marine type.