1970 65hp merc steering stuck

[Daveg99]

My friend just got a 1970 starcraft and the steering will barley turn. I can turn it if I have someone turn the wheel while I turn the motor by hand but its really hard to turn. The steering has one cable that leads into a tube that slides back and forth. I am going to disconnect the cable and see if the cable slides without the motor connected. If it isnt the cable and its the motor sticking how the heck to I grease the motor up so it turns.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: 1970 65hp merc steering stuck

Most of the motors have a grease fitting that will allow grease to be injected into the motor's swivel assy.

 

[Daveg99]

Re: 1970 65hp merc steering stuck

so I need to get me a grease gun. I am going to work on it today after work. I'll take pics and post them up tonight along with the progress I have made.

 

[Daveg99]

Re: 1970 65hp merc steering stuck

we disconnected the steering cable and the steering wheel turned very easy but the motor didnt turn easily. It isnt the cable or the tilt tube. We added grease to the little nipple on the engine mount and grease squeezed out of the top but nothing came out the bottom. Tomorrow we are going to try and heat up the bottom part with a torch and see if we can melt some of the dried up stuff that is stopping the motor from turning easily.

 

[mthieme]

Re: 1970 65hp merc steering stuck

Be careful. The motor is attached to the pivot mount using rubber bushings top and bottom. If you trash these, it's a major job to replace them.

 

[Daveg99]

Re: 1970 65hp merc steering stuck

well we heated it up and removed the zerk fitting and added some motor oil while working the motor back and forth. It worked and we had a successful day out on the lake today.