tilt tube installation

[sti1471]

I took my 80hp mercury off my boat to repair my transom. Now that the transom is rebuilt, I am putting the engine back on the boat. The working room was limited, and the steering cable was very difficult and almost "frozen". So the only way that I could get the engine off the boat was to remove the tilt tube. Now the engine and the transom clamp are seperated. I have the transom clamp (engine bracket) bolted back up to the transom but I cannot seem to get the holes lined up to insert the tilt tube. the engine is only attached to the boat by the "shocks" that attach it to the transom bracket, so it has movment up, down and what not to make adjust,ents to line it up. I have used pullies to raise the motor, pull the motor towards the front of the boat and so on and so on, but I am always about 1-2" off of them lining up before it seems to get wedged in between the transom clamps..

Any advise will be great.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: tilt tube installation

It would be easier to "raise the bridge", rather than "lower the river". I recommend you remove the transom clamps from the boat and reassemble. Now you can install the entire motor onto the boat. Did you remove the tilt tube from the steering cable end? If not, this is the time. Clean it up real well.

 

[sti1471]

Re: tilt tube installation

What do I use to clean it? Also what do I use for grease on it? I noticed there are grease nipples is several areas, but I do not have a grease gun. Is there a way to grease these points without a grease gun to fit those nipples?

 

[*EdC*]

Re: tilt tube installation

To clean out your tilt tube .... Try a 12 gauge shot gun barrel cleaning brush. Get 'em at Walmart for a few bucks. Mount on a cordless drill and have at it. A little Navel jelly will help if it real bad. Clean throughly and grease. Get yourself a chepo grease gun. One that can accept plastic tubes. Merc makes an anti-corrison grease that works good. Merc 2-4-C is as good also. Seachoice make a fitting that goes on the end of the tilt tube that has a Zerk fitting buitl into it. Worth having.