steering issues
 

Although its Feb and my boat wont see water for months I know im going to have the same problem I had last year. Which was with the steering disconnected from the outboard it is not very easy to move back forth as it was years back. I have routinly greased the the midsection but it just gets more and more difficult each year after sitting for the winter. I have looked briefly through my shop manual and from the looks of it to get any access to the "swivel pin" one would have to remove the power head. I have tried to heat it up to loosen the grease but no luck. Anyone had any experience with freeing this up? I have plenty of time as we are waiting for another foot of the white stuff and I dont take the shrink wrap off until april. Any help would be great, thanks.

Re: steering issues
 

• 1st, Remove any cowling parts that are near the motor pivot.
• Remove the carburetors, fuel lines and fuel pump.
• Disconnect ther steering cable or hydraulic ram.
• Use an oxy-acetylene torch with a rosebud tip to heat the entire pivot column, without igniting the old grease. (Just warming it up)
• Using a pneumatic grease pump, pump a very large quantity of strong petroleum solvent into the pivot grease fittings. (Use a cut 55 gallon drum base to catch excess solvent and grease).
• To force solvent upward in the pivot column, you can wrap the base of the column with a rag, and then put a worm-screw clamp around it.
• Pump new molybdenum grease (NOT LITHIUM GREASE) into column until it comes out everywhere. LOTS AND LOTS OF NEW GREASE!!!
• Reassemble fuel system and cowlings

This is only a temporary fix. It could do you for a couple of years or more. A real fix means pulling the powerhead to access the pivot pin.

Re: steering issues
 

thanks for the advice father, the only question I have is the engine is fuel injected and I would prefer to not tamper with that setup, you think it will be ok to leave it be?

Re: steering issues
 

You can put a welding blanket below the fuel system, and then tie it up around the powerhead to keep it out of the way. A rosebud on an oxy-acetylene torch puts out a considerable amount of heat. That's why I would remove the lower cowling, to prevent damage to the fiberglass and paint from the torch heat.