1988 Force Steering hinge/pin seized

[remoheadsam]

Hi I bought a second hand outboard, It has been serviced and it runs fine. However i never checked the steering hinge.......
Does anyone know the best way to start stripping this down or how to try and free it up????
The engine has not been used for 12 months
Thank you

 

[john from md]

Re: 1988 Force Steering hinge/pin seized

If you are talking about the king pin, the large pin that serves as a pivot, you will need to pull the engine. The easiest way to do that is with a ring which can be screwed onto the crankshaft above the flywheel. That and an engine hoist or multiplied block and tackle are needed as the engine weighs about 250 pounds.

Hoisting rings can be purchased on ebay, from mercruiser.com and maybe iboats.

John

 

[RRitt]

Re: 1988 Force Steering hinge/pin seized

i have read reports where people have successfully fixed this problem with torches. Two people standing on opposite sides hitting the swivel bracket with heat .... working engine back and forth .... applying pressurized lubricant into grease fittings. I think I read one report where an engine went from barely turning to a free swivel.

I also read in one forum where somebody said they fixed the problem by loosening the bolts on bottom plate. That was/is a bad idea. If that bottom plate works free then you engine could pop off boat and sink to bottom of lake.

 

[remoheadsam]

Re: 1988 Force Steering hinge/pin seized

Thank you very much, both of you...........

 

[Matthew A.]

Re: 1988 Force Steering hinge/pin seized

I was able to remove a frozen kingpin on my Force using a propane torch on the pivot bracket However, in order to do so it required enough heat to melt the nylon sleeves that are fitted inside the pivot bracket that the king pin pivots on before the king pin could be removed. Inorder to prevent such problems from reoccurring I took the time to drill and tap the pivot bracket to accept threaded zerk fittings, on both the steering pivot and the motor tilt/trim pivot points as well. To do this you first have to remove the engine block, motor pan, motor leg cover, motor leg and L.U.. All straight forward and easy to do. Two to two and half hours work with friend and unseized bolts.

 

[remoheadsam]

Re: 1988 Force Steering hinge/pin seized

Great stuff, I did it, took my time but it all come off ok and now it's free......I did drill and tap it twice to put grease nipples in..


Thanks again Sam