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Author Topic:   Steering gear lube

radiokid posted 05-12-2004 10:43 PM ET (US)
I have a teleflex setup on my 15 Dauntless and last year it began freezing up to the point where I could not move the motor without a wrench. I could lube the exposed shaft once I got it loose but this would not last very long. I'm looking for a procedure to keep this steering gear limber as I had to take it to an independant shop which although the gear is now lubed I got the boat back with a failed VRO pump. Thats another story tho. Any help would be appreciated
Thanks
Al
AQUANUT posted 05-12-2004 11:09 PM ET (US)
okay maybe I can help....obviously someone has already addressed the steering cable issue.
did they replace the steering cable..or did they just clean and lubricate it?

the key is when replacing the cable....or even just removing it from the tilt tube, I usually take lacquer thinner and clean the entire stainless part of the cable..with it fully exstended.....use sterring wheel to accomplish this....once in the fully exstended position..I lubricate it with mercury 2-4-c marine grease. it includes teflon in its composition.

on select motors....usually larger hp ones...there is a special nut on both ends of the tilt tube....it is a great seal...on other mercury motors..there is room for error....there is a plastic collar device, a spacer, and an "o" ring, replacing this in correctly will allow intrusion of water......first goes on the spacer, then the "o" ring, then screw on the threaded collar divice..
in that particular order.
it is imperative, especially if you tilt your engine often..that you grease the zerk fittings often..this will keep the tilt lubricated!
radiokid posted 05-13-2004 02:05 AM ET (US)
The dealer just freed up the gear and lubed it. I noticed that when the exposed shaft was lubed manually with marine grease it seemed to restore the ease of movement. So I'm thinking that the sticking must be coming mostly from there. I have lubed the zerks on the tilt but this does not seem to get any grease onto the steering shaft. So I am left with greasing the shaft externally. I have seen those nuts with the zerk fitting that goes on the end of the steering gear. Can I retro fit one of those and use it to get grease inside that tube? Would that be a good solution? I suppose the other end needs some kind of lube as well. It looks like some disconnection is in order to shoot it into the steering cable. I tried to disassemble the nut off the tube to get inside once but had no luck. Thanks
AQUANUT posted 05-13-2004 08:08 AM ET (US)
Unfortunately, in most cases this may require that you rovove engine to accomplish, but on some of the smaller whalers..like the 13/15 sports
..it is not

on the steering link {stainless, shaped like the letter "L"}
where the s-link arm connects to the steering cable..in most cases portside...remove nut and two washers...lift steering link arm out of steering cable....1 nut easy to do, check to see if there is restriction/resistance felt while manually turning motor from port to starboard. if it feels free continue..
on starboard side, most cases, back off the large brass/stainless/alluminun nut that connects the steering cable to the tilt tube{looks like a piece of threaded pipe painted black}..once nut is free of tube ,remove steering cable...from helm, turn steering wheel completely clockwise, til it stops...at this time inspect steering cable [engine end] and lubricate vigorously, once lubricated, re-insert into tilt tube..continue on reversing the process of removal in reverse.

note: if at the point you rmoved the first nut..the engine is not free to turn port to stbd,,,,,there should be a zerk on the port side pivot tube[where the engine attaches to engine bracket] lubricate it til you see grease oozing from tube..be sure to turn engin p to stbd several times to insure total lubrication of pivot tube...

if I had your problem, that is what I would have done,
your dealer most likely did this, if it starts happening again.....there could be other issues
radiokid posted 05-13-2004 07:52 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the tips. THis is a good project for Sat.
Al

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Author	Topic: Steering gear lube
radiokid	posted 05-12-2004 10:43 PM ET (US) I have a teleflex setup on my 15 Dauntless and last year it began freezing up to the point where I could not move the motor without a wrench. I could lube the exposed shaft once I got it loose but this would not last very long. I'm looking for a procedure to keep this steering gear limber as I had to take it to an independant shop which although the gear is now lubed I got the boat back with a failed VRO pump. Thats another story tho. Any help would be appreciated Thanks Al
AQUANUT	posted 05-12-2004 11:09 PM ET (US) okay maybe I can help....obviously someone has already addressed the steering cable issue. did they replace the steering cable..or did they just clean and lubricate it? the key is when replacing the cable....or even just removing it from the tilt tube, I usually take lacquer thinner and clean the entire stainless part of the cable..with it fully exstended.....use sterring wheel to accomplish this....once in the fully exstended position..I lubricate it with mercury 2-4-c marine grease. it includes teflon in its composition. on select motors....usually larger hp ones...there is a special nut on both ends of the tilt tube....it is a great seal...on other mercury motors..there is room for error....there is a plastic collar device, a spacer, and an "o" ring, replacing this in correctly will allow intrusion of water......first goes on the spacer, then the "o" ring, then screw on the threaded collar divice.. in that particular order. it is imperative, especially if you tilt your engine often..that you grease the zerk fittings often..this will keep the tilt lubricated!
radiokid	posted 05-13-2004 02:05 AM ET (US) The dealer just freed up the gear and lubed it. I noticed that when the exposed shaft was lubed manually with marine grease it seemed to restore the ease of movement. So I'm thinking that the sticking must be coming mostly from there. I have lubed the zerks on the tilt but this does not seem to get any grease onto the steering shaft. So I am left with greasing the shaft externally. I have seen those nuts with the zerk fitting that goes on the end of the steering gear. Can I retro fit one of those and use it to get grease inside that tube? Would that be a good solution? I suppose the other end needs some kind of lube as well. It looks like some disconnection is in order to shoot it into the steering cable. I tried to disassemble the nut off the tube to get inside once but had no luck. Thanks
AQUANUT	posted 05-13-2004 08:08 AM ET (US) Unfortunately, in most cases this may require that you rovove engine to accomplish, but on some of the smaller whalers..like the 13/15 sports ..it is not on the steering link {stainless, shaped like the letter "L"} where the s-link arm connects to the steering cable..in most cases portside...remove nut and two washers...lift steering link arm out of steering cable....1 nut easy to do, check to see if there is restriction/resistance felt while manually turning motor from port to starboard. if it feels free continue.. on starboard side, most cases, back off the large brass/stainless/alluminun nut that connects the steering cable to the tilt tube{looks like a piece of threaded pipe painted black}..once nut is free of tube ,remove steering cable...from helm, turn steering wheel completely clockwise, til it stops...at this time inspect steering cable [engine end] and lubricate vigorously, once lubricated, re-insert into tilt tube..continue on reversing the process of removal in reverse. note: if at the point you rmoved the first nut..the engine is not free to turn port to stbd,,,,,there should be a zerk on the port side pivot tube[where the engine attaches to engine bracket] lubricate it til you see grease oozing from tube..be sure to turn engin p to stbd several times to insure total lubrication of pivot tube... if I had your problem, that is what I would have done, your dealer most likely did this, if it starts happening again.....there could be other issues
radiokid	posted 05-13-2004 07:52 PM ET (US) Thanks for the tips. THis is a good project for Sat. Al