'79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

[Nivekt]

Hello Guru's,

I haven't greased either of these since I bought the boat 3+ years ago. When greasing the trunnion bearings, is it as simple as removing the pivot cap cover and slathering some marine grease on the bearings/liners? Do I have to worry about replacing the cap gasket once I pull it off or is it reusable?

As far as the steering actuator, how many pumps of grease should I feed through the zerk fitting? Will grease evacuate from some point on the actuator to show me it is full once I am pumping? Is marine grease okay or should I use something else? Ive done some research on these topics but its hard to narrow down my search parameters to get any usable results. Thank you for you time.

-Nivekt

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

every 800 should have grease fittings on the trunnions under the steering bumpers

a few good pumps until you see grease or hear grease crackling out

 

[floattest]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

I work on the same drive you have.

Marine grease is not mandatory, but it's preferred.

The steering linkages just need a couple pumps each season. You can easily see when the grease is exiting the bearing. that's the indicator that you're done.

On the trunions, like Howard said, take off the rubber bumpers, they just pry off with a screwdriver, and use the zerk to pump in the grease. You should see the grease exit at the inboard side of the bearing caps. The liner has holes in it and the bearing cap has a groove that provide a path for grease. The only way to get this simple bearing greased properly when it is assembled is with the zerk fitting.

If you did take the side covers off I would replace that gasket. Those side covers have a spacer, gasket and o-ring, they are for the cooling water to get to the engine. I prefer that those gaskets as well as the o-rings in the ends of the trunion be in good shape.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

As Howard said, on the trunions.

As for the tru-course steering cable, there is no provision to actually grease the cableways themselves. Only the shaft that turns the steering gear. There is one zerk on the outside of the intermediate housing near the gear itself. It is where the shaft comes thru the IH. The other is on the inboard end where the shaft is supported at the front end. There is also a nylon bushing in there. I am not sure what you mean when you say 'steering actuator'? The above mentioned zerks only take a short squirt of marine grease. They are only 1/2-5/8" bushing ways.

On my '75 the steering became so difficult, it took two hands to muscle the steering while underway. Not being familiar with the whole setup, I did not know where the resistance was coming from. In the process of removing my engine and outdrive for a floor reno, I disconnected the Tru-Course drum from the IH. It was immediately obvious that the cables themselves were the culprit.

I clamped a post to the back of the boat and fished the cable (with drum attached) up out of the engine bay and clamped the assy to the post, as high up as I could get it. I had my son go up and repeatedly, slowly turn the wheel from lock to lock. As he did that I sprayed Tri-Flow, alternately down each cable way as each cable was being drawn in.

After doing this numerous times, the steering freed right up and to this day it's practically like I have power steering when under way.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

Thanks for the replies everyone. I have found all the zerk fittings and greased everything up. I did have trouble with the zerk on the actuator(see pic) where Im not totally sure it took the grease. I was able to get my zerk coupler on it although it was a major PITA to reach and it seemed to fill up rather quickly as grease came pouring out around the fitting. I wasnt able to tell if the ball in the zerk was seized or not as I could only reach the fitting with my coupler and the tips of my fingers.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

What is that all about? I hate to show my ignorance here but I have no clue what that is? Is it some kind of power steering? I knew OMC toyed with that on the stringers but if that is what it is, I've never seen it before.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

What is that all about? I hate to show my ignorance here but I have no clue what that is? Is it some kind of power steering? I knew OMC toyed with that on the stringers but if that is what it is, I've never seen it before.

It is number 81 on this exploded parts diagram. Part number 982083: Actuator and Valve Assembly.

Picture isnt showing up so well. Let me try photobucket.....

Much better.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

I'll be damned. That is stringer power steering on a hydro mechanical drive. I never knew!

Does it still use the double cable and drum steering cable?

 

[Nivekt]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

I'll be damned. That is stringer power steering on a hydro mechanical drive. I never knew!

Does it still use the double cable and drum steering cable?

Im a novice at best with this boat and couldnt tell you either way. If you could link me to some pictures of what you are referring to, I could tell you whether or not my boat has that setup. On a good note, I took the boat out yesterday(Monday) with a couple buddies. She ran all day without a single problem. Tons of power, everything worked great and she stayed cool. Here are some pictures of Lake Murray.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

That is stringer power steering on a hydro mechanical drive. I never knew!

Does it still use the double cable and drum steering cable?

it uses a push/pull helm cable like Cobra/Mercruiser etc.

 

[Nivekt]

Re: '79 Stringer 800 Greasing trunnion bearings and Trucourse Steering actuator

it uses a push/pull helm cable like Cobra/Mercruiser etc.

Thanks Howard.