25 Evinrude steering frozen

bfitz

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Dec 5, 2003
Messages
32
Hi everybody. I just picked up a mid 70's Evinrude 25. Its in fair shape but my first project is that the steering is frozen. That is to say the engine won't pivot on the steering shaft that runs from below the powerhead to the lower[not the tilt tube]/ I'm open to suggestions for freeing it up. One fellow suggested using a torch and trying to get it to move with heat. I apologize for not knowing the names of the parts but I'll work on that, I searched for this issue but if I missed a thread would appreciate being directed to it. Thanks BF
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Sorry, gotta disagree. If you get it hot enough to do any good, you will just damage the steering bracket liner. Being in a salt water area, I've dealt with the problem many times. Corrosion around the outside of the liner is what is causing it. The only practical way to get it out is take it apart and scrape it out.

OK, here is what you have to do: First, you need something heavy to clamp the motor to (like a boat). Second, you need some way to lift a very heavy weight (like a hoist or two guys with arms like the Impossible Hulk). You also need a pair of lifting slings to go around the bottom of the lower cowl area in rear and the front carrying handle. Now remove the clamshells from the lower motor mounts, and the lower front mount. I also remove the honkin' big spring to get it out of the way, but that isn't totally necessary. Now use the lifting equipment to pick the whole thing up out of the swivel bracket, steering it back and forth as you do. I've never seen one that you absolutely can't steer back and forth, with force.

Once you get it out, remove the upper liner/bushing. It is made of some sort of material that looks like wood, but isn't. It also breaks like wood, but there is no reason to break it if you follow directions. There is a pin through the side of that wood bushing. Drive it out with a pin punch from the outside, knocking the pin towards the center. Now note that the liner has a split down one side. Using a hammer and suitable tool, collapse the liner along one side of the split, towards the middle. Once you get that done, the liner can be lifted out. Remove the co-pilot spacer and plate. Remove the lower liner also. Now scrape all the crud out, clean everything up, and put it back together, lubricating everything liberally with a quality waterproof marine grease. Insert the lower liner once the pivot shaft is back in the hole. Be sure the zerk is open so it can be greased in the future.

Not a real hard job with proper equipment, a sweat-builder without.
 
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bfitz

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Dec 5, 2003
Messages
32
F-R...I'm going to print that out and do that in the future. Today, I lucked out and freed it up. Pumped the leg full of grease, put a 2 X 6 in the clamps and pulled. It turns!..It's stiff, but it moves. So after I get it to run and whatnot I'll pull it down and clean it out like you say. Thanks
 
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