Grease - characteristics

[Jair Amorim]

Hi !

I?m repairing an low unit of a 1990 Johnson outboard 25HP, and the repair manual reccomends the use of OMC Triple Guard Grease for the bearings, but I have Sierra Premium Marine Bearing Grease at hands. The question is: are the same type of grease (for ball and needle bearings)? The OMC grease offers better protection, or I can?t worry about this?

If there's anyone that can help me, I would greatly appreciate it !

 

[psteurer]

Re: Grease - characteristics

The OMC triple guard is suppose to be a good grease. But you can use what you describe below or any other that is called a marine grease. I use the marine grease from Walmart.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Grease - characteristics

I have been using Yamaha blue marine grease for years. I regularly smear it on my tilt/trim motors and parts of the motor at and below the water line for corrosion protection. I am always amazed at how long that stuffs hang around before washing off. Just dont use it on the zincs...

 

[James R]

Re: Grease - characteristics

As far as I know you are reffering to a heavy grease as used in a grease gun, not an oil. Lower units are filled with a Hypoid oil specified for lower units.This is similar to 90W automotive gear oil with additives.
The bearings run in this.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Grease - characteristics

No, he means grease.

The Johnson/Evinrude Triple-Guard Grease Is serious grease. I use it on everything, every chance I get. My lawnmower, bike, skateboard, scissors, mouse ball...

According to my tube (part number 508298) Its "totally waterproof, wont wash out"

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Grease - characteristics

I can't image where you would use Triple Guard or any other grease for the internals of a lower unit. Gear oil is the only thing used there.

 

[sred137]

Re: Grease - characteristics

I think he means when putting the lower unit back together you should smear some grease on the bearings.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Grease - characteristics

Oh, why? You're going to fill it with gear oil. It's not like there's no lube.

 

[psteurer]

Re: Grease - characteristics

Maybe the grease is for the seals in the lower unit and not the bearings. It does not make much sense to grease bearings there.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Grease - characteristics

To hold the stuff together during assembly.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Grease - characteristics

Funny this subject. Just a day or two ago I was surfing oldomc.de (may be old-omc.de).....Google search it and enjoy yesteryear) and got onto a '40 OMC brochure which pointed out that the lower units were grease filled with zerks and all. The other thing I noticed in their brochures as early as '49 were some of the technological advancements we have today and are advertised as record breaking, were invented back then and are being re-introduced like they are current technology.

I THINK the hypoid oil is used because it is easier to introduce into the lower unit, covers all the gears and bearings better being a liquid, and provides a better thermal path to the outer housing/water medium since it is free to move about, hence transfer heat, cool at the housing walls, and do it again.

Being a Merc guy, they have a similar multipurpose grease, a blue/green semipaste about half way between 90w and NG #2 that I like. On their lower unit oils, they comment about the additives that help it to stick to metal and avoid water dilution.

Mark

 

[steelespike]

Re: Grease - characteristics

Could the instructions be refering to needle bearing or ball bearings without cages that need to be held in place for assembly.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Grease - characteristics

.... thing I noticed in their brochures as early as '49 were some of the technological advancements we have today and are advertised as record breaking, were invented back then and are being re-introduced like they are current technology...

I don't think a lot of new ideas are coming out these days: just new materials technology which makes some old ideas more practical than they were with old tech materials.

Funny

 

[Jair Amorim]

Re: Grease - characteristics

Really, I know the lower units are filled with hypoid oil, but as I'm new in this stuff, the service manual was the first way to learn about, and after read it, the doubts started...

The use of grease, it's just to assembly the parts, and probabilly more important for the seals, not for bearings. As the seals are in contact with salt water, I'm worried with the correct grease.

Thank's to all everyone who helped me in this post!

Jair

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Grease - characteristics

greasing seals and bearings despite that fact that they are immersed in hypoid insures that on first startup that they are adequately lubed. A "dry" seal on a shaft will overheat and perhaps blister. Since seals in a lower unit are probably more important to keep water out than lube in (although both are important) they should always be greased.

BTW- when I was a kid, hypoid and/or 80/90W was referred to as "rear-end grease" or "transmission grease." Maybe that was local vernacular, but I think it was telling as to its purpose.
FWIW- my 2c