Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

[JASinIL2006]

Hi, I'm in the midst of getting the boat ready for the season. I checked alignment and it looks great. Now I'm lubricating everything that needs lubed, and I am having a devil of a time finding/seeing the zerk on the coupler. I know there are two models, one with a zerk and one without, and I'm fairly certain mine has one. (I believe I saw it last winter when I had the engine out for a restoration.)

Is there some trick to getting to it? I can't even see it; the starboard side of the Y-pipe seems to be right where I'd see the zerk. I couldn't even get a hand back in there to feel around for it. Am I missing some obvious way to get at that sucker?

I don't suppose I can just get just squirting some spline lube into the opening on the coupler before I install the outdrive, can I (he asked hopefully....)?

If not, how do I get at that thing, short of pulling the engine or growing 6' arms with an extra set of elbows?

Thanks!

Jim

 

[thumpar]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

You just put the spline lube on the splines before reinstalling the drive. No grease gun needed. The only zerks you need to worry about before drive install is the u-joint zerks.

 

[dubs283]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

You just put the spline lube on the splines before reinstalling the drive.

the seal just forward of the gimble bearing wipes most of the grease off doing it that way

using a long screwdriver, place an ample dollop of grease directly in the coupler spline cavity and smear it around - been greasing many a coupler this way for years without fail

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

You just put the spline lube on the splines before reinstalling the drive. No grease gun needed. The only zerks you need to worry about before drive install is the u-joint zerks.

Yeah I just make sure the spline grooves are full, most of it gets scraped off when it slides in, but as long as the shaft is well coated you should be OK.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

Sometimes you have to "bump" the key to get it to turn slightly then use one of the flexible 12" extension on your grease gun.
That's what I need to do....in addition to laying face down on top of the engine just to see the coupler......

Mark

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

Sometimes you have to "bump" the key to get it to turn slightly then use one of the flexible 12" extension on your grease gun.
That's what I need to do....in addition to laying face down on top of the engine just to see the coupler......

Mark

+1

The Zerk on the coupler spins with the engine.
Figure out which way the zerk points and mark the front pulley to match.
Bump the engine until it is pointing the way that is easiest to reach.
I find that "2 O'Clock", looking aft, is about right.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

Assuming I can find the zerk and get my gun on it, how many pumps of grease does it take?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

From the Mercury #32 Service Manual....

1. Lubricate the engine coupler splines through the grease fittings on the coupler by
applying approximately 8-10 pumps of grease from a typical hand-operated grease gun.
If the boat is operated at idle for prolonged periods of time, the coupler should be
lubricated ... Bravo Models - every 50 hours; Alpha Models - every 150 hours.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

Thanks, UncleWillie. I looked through my manual (#17) and couldn't find anything but the location of the zerk.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

Thanks to all of you guys, I was finally able to find the zerk and grease the coupler. There is a gap in the stuff around the rear of the engine at about 2 o'clock that allows access to the grease plug.

To get at it, I had to crawl into the engine compartment and sit on the deck, one leg folded under me and the other leg wrapped around the front of the engine while I ducked under the rear of the sunpad with the grease gun. I'm 6'3", so it was a tight fit, and for a couple of minutes I was afraid I was stuck (and with no one within earshot to help extract me)!

The important thing is that the coupler got greased and the engine fired up on the first try. I think I'm ready to go boating.

Thanks again for the help!

Jim

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Aaargh! How to reach zerk on coupler?

Next season, just put a handful of grease on the inputshaft and install it. I think merc put a fitting there so owners don't have to take the drive off to service it properly.