asking: Alpha gen2 adding grease fitting clarification

[LandOfRath]

I have a 2000 Mercruiser Alpha Gen2 with stiff steering, I have unhooked the cable and it moves freely. The Drive is hard to move by hand with cable unhooked. After two days of spraying the upper and lower pivot points on the gimbal ring it is starting to loosen up but I would really like to add a grease zerk and get some good quality grease in there to see if I can get it loosened up through the summer then take it apart this next winter for some maintenance.

I have found the Sticky on how to install it but in the photos it looks slightly different than mine having a steel plate behind the two bolts, guessing its an alpha gen 1 in the photos? are all the measurements the same on all the alphas? And can you add one the the lower pivot point as well?

Thank you.

 

[alldodge]

This is a @Bt Doctur question
If he doesn't respond, send a PM

 

[Bt Doctur]

A1, GEN II, Bravo there all the same . There should not be a plate where the fitting gets drilled Have you removed the drive? rusted U joints will make turning very difficult

 

[LandOfRath]

A1, GEN II, Bravo there all the same . There should not be a plate where the fitting gets drilled Have you removed the drive? rusted U joints will make turning very difficult

No I have not pulled the drive unit yet, but now I will soon as the rain goes away. The boat sat for 2 years before it ended up in my driveway. Is there any reason not to put a grease fitting on the lower pivot as well?

 

[alldodge]

Its very rare to see a lower pin wear out, and don't know of anyone installing one there

 

[Bt Doctur]

Same here ,never had a issue with the lower and never tried a grease fitting install there.

 

[LandOfRath]

Ok sounds good, ill try to get the drive unit pulled this afternoon and see about the U joints. Thanks for the info. Will be a lot more fun with good steering.

 

[LandOfRath]

Ok pin was only around 5/8 of an inch in and I think I over drilled a tiny bit. But its full of fresh marine grease now and still stiff. I pulled the drive unit but the u-joints all move very smoothly.
Not sure where else to look.. might just pump in a bit more grease and move it a bunch to see if it loosens up..
How easy should I be able to move the drive around by hand? I don't really know just how easy it should move, I assume it will be harder than power steering?

 

[alldodge]

If the pin is pulled to disconnect the steering arm from the ram, it should move easy enough