Steering swivel

[Jeffreyi]

I just bought a 16' ob with a 1989 force. The motor runs fine but I'm going to have the carbs re-built (some small leaks) and do all of the required lubrication on the lower. One, sort of , problem is that the steering is stiff. We disconnected the linkage and turned by hand and it was a bit stiff. My mechanic put some grease in the fitting and it was slightly better. He suggested that if we could grease it with a power greaser (like in an auto shop) that may force out any old grease and loosen it further. Any thoughts out there??
Thanks.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Steering swivel

keep putting grease into and turning it

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Steering swivel

Make sure that a stiff steering cable isn't contributing. With the steering link disconnected, operate the steeing wheel. You should be able to one-finger it.

 

[Jeffreyi]

Re: Steering swivel

Make sure that a stiff steering cable isn't contributing. With the steering link disconnected, operate the steeing wheel. You should be able to one-finger it.

 

[Jeffreyi]

Re: Steering swivel

Thanks. We did disconnect the linkage and hand turned the motor...still a bit stiff. As JUSTINTIME suggested I will keep well greased. As long as it doesn't get worse I'll be fine.

 

[Jeffreyi]

Re: Steering swivel

Thanks.
I did what is suggested. Still a bit stiff. Any other ideas??

 

[roscoe]

Re: Steering swivel

PB Blaster applied to the external surface, along with heat, and more grease pumped into the fittings.

 

[Jeffreyi]

Re: Steering swivel

Thanks roscoe.. Two follow up questions: 1) PB Blaster to the exterior, what would that do?
2) How much heat? Hair dryer of torch?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Steering swivel

PB Blasster from the top down, hopefully some will seep in and loosen the grease.
Of course, once the new grease starts coming out, it will fill all the voids and prevent any blaster from getting in.

I don't know how many zercs you have on there, but if you can remove one, and pump grease into another, it may help to flush it out.

hair dryer - maybe
heat gun - yes
torch - ok, but lets be careful you don't melt anything or touch off the fuel

I would use the heat gun.

 

[RRitt]

Re: Steering swivel

the swivel bracket is aluminum and the swivel pin is steel. if your zinc anode is neglected then you can get serious corrosion problems with swivel. Much more likely with salt-water exposure. In addition to all of the above check your sacrificial anode and make sure to keep it in good condition. If it is corrosion and a worst case scenario comes to pass then don't use a factory swivel pin. Get a metal shop to make you one out of solid aluminum and be done with the galvanic problem for good.

 

[stoudt21]

Re: Steering swivel

i sort of had the same problem with my steering. steering bar that runs through the transom bracket and connects to the steering rod is stuck. i cant turn my steering wheel in either direction. so i used pb blaster on the rod and heated up the rod a little bit and tried to rock it back and forth to see if the old grease would break lose but nothing would happen it would not budge at all. what do i do with it?

 

[RRitt]

Re: Steering swivel

are you sure that it's the part inside steering tube that is stuck and not the kingpin that runs through swivel bracket? Neglecting your anode will seize up the kingpin before cable. With steering link disconnected your engine should move so easily that you can push it right/left with your pinky finger.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Steering swivel

Be careful with heating the engine kingpin and case. There are two plastic sleeves in there; top and bottom, about three inches long each.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Steering swivel

If it is indeed your steering cable, you are SOL. Water gets in and rusts the inside cable. They almost never come free. Buy a new cable 80-120 bucks or buy a whole new helm--package deal is not much more, Overtons, iboats? West Marine, etc.

 

[Matthew A.]

Re: Steering swivel

Just replaced the oem kingpin for nice shiny new aluminum one 14" x 1.125" ...had to melt the nylon sleeves in order to get em out. Drilled and tapped the old press in zerk hole for a threaded one. No more popping the zerk out everytime I go to grease the swivel. Had to remove a few thousands of an inch from the new king pin as well as smooth out the upper bracket hole. After placing the pin in ice water for 10 minutes and torching the upper bracket hole, the new pin was easy to install. Can't wait to try it out on the water.