Steering Wheel

[Themanofsteel]

I have a 1988 Bayliner with a 85hp Force Outboard. The steering wheel is pretty tough to turn. Can I or how do I losen it to make it easier to turn.

 

[Simple_Man]

If it is tuff to turn in both directions, then you need to disconnect the steering cable at the motor to see if the motor move easy, or the steering wheel moves easy. let us know.

 

[Themanofsteel]

It is tough to turn in both directions. OK I'll try doing that.

 

[Simple_Man]

if the motor moves easy then it is the steering cable, if the steering wheel moves easy then the king pin on the motor needs to be freed and greased.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Unhook the steering link at the cable end.
​Try turning the wheel, easy?? hard??
​Easy? then the motor needs lube.
Hard? then the cable needs to be replaced or you might get lucky and lube it.
Sometimes the cable at the steering tube gets stuck and can be heated and lubed.

IF??? the motors tight??
DON"T add grease until you get it hot.
The grease has been in there for 25+ years and is probably hard as a brick.
If you try to add grease now, it will pop out the grease fittings.

I posted a big post about how to lube the kingpin a while ago.
See if you can find it.

 

[Themanofsteel]

Ok. Thanks

 

[Themanofsteel]

No Title

I finally got to disconnecting the steering wheel. The wheel turns fine. No stiffness. The engine is definitely still tough to turn. I'm guessing something in the photos I uploaded needs some maintenance.

 

[Jiggz]

The first pic shows the kingpin. And yes, if the motor is hard to turn when disconnected from the steering arm, you need to do some maintenance on the kingpin. I surmise it still moves so it shouldn't be that hard. First you need to push out the old grease. To do this you need a little heat and at the same time a full size grease gun with marine grease on it.

While warming up the kingpin try to shoot grease. You should also at the same time have someone slowly turn the motor on each side. You should see old grease coming out on each end of the kingpin. Continue to do so until you start seeing new grease spurting out and the motor is lighter to turn. DO NOT OVERHEAT THE KINGPIN, THERE IS A NYLON WASHER THAT YOU COULD DESTROY.

 

[Themanofsteel]

What is the King pin and how do I warm it up?

 

[jerryjerry05]

A small propane torch with a spreader attachment.
Find the grease fitting on the mid section.
Under that is the kingpin.
It's encased in OLDDDDD grease.
The top of the kingpin has a bushing .
Too much heat can melt them.
But it would take a lot of heat.

Heat it up real good especially around the zerk.
Then add marine grease and turn the motor back and forth.

 

[Themanofsteel]

No Title

In the two photo, one reveals the king pin I think. A plate was covering the lower part of it. I removed. The other pic show a small hole where I think you pump in the grease. It's wasent plugged. Should it have been? Let me know.

 

[Jiggz]

The first pic which shows the tag is the kingpin. The hole in the center is actually for a zerk fitting to shoot grease. If this was left open it would freeze your kingpin especially in salt water, hence making it very hard to turn. If the hole has no more threads, you need to redo either by using helicoil or enlarging the hole and re-tapping for a larger size zerk fitting. Make sure you get the zerk fitting first to know what size of drill and tap you will need.