Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

I have a problem getting my outboard to turn left and right (Just as you would steering the boat)
I picked up a 1990 70hp evinrude engine, so so on cost, it was okay, but not a steal. I straighten out quite a few things that were related to being in salt water with minimum maintaince.

The last big problem I have is getting the engine to freely turn on its steering arm and shaft. I can get it to move side to side, but I have to use a piece of plastic pipe about two feet long to get the leverage.

I have been PB blastering the top of the steering shaft for about a week, when I started it took a lot of effort to move the engine, now it takes a fair amount of effort so there has been improvement, however I seem to have it a plateau, there has been no improvement for the last few days.

I finally got the tilt an trim working so I was able to raise the engine and grease up the shaft, the main problem there is the grease comes out at the bottom of the shaft, but not the top. As best as I can find that is the only grease fitting for the steering shaft.

So here we are, has anyone else ran across this problem? Any suggestions?, hopefully not pull the outboard apart, I would hate to try pulling all those bolts, something is bound to break off. My only other thought was maybe hose clamp or do something to keep the grease from coming out the bottom, thereby forcing the grease to come out the top.

Suggestions?

Thanks
JSB

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

very common on an unmaintained salt water motor, the grease is dried up, water has gotten in there, and rust has formed. you can try heating the swivel tube, turning back and forth, and trying to get grease into it. if not it is take apart time.

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

very common on an unmaintained salt water motor, the grease is dried up, water has gotten in there, and rust has formed. you can try heating the swivel tube, turning back and forth, and trying to get grease into it. if not it is take apart time.

Not a bad idea on heating it up. I had purchased a cheap heat gun to remove cowl/hood decals. I could heat up the steering tube.

Also I had a thought of removing the zerk grease fitting and trying to force some PB Blaster in that way.

Thanks for the reply, if anyone else has a idea, chime in please, you never know your idea just may work.

THanks
JSB

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

TD has it right on. You have to dissolve the dried up grease.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

Put some pb blaster in a empty grease cartrige and force it in

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

Put some pb blaster in a empty grease cartrige and force it in

And thats not a bad idea either. Kinda of what I intend to try next.

This afternoon I started out with a heat gun, and soon decided that was not going to work, so went with a propane torch. Previous to this I had to use a piece of plastic pipe, and I had a distinct shudder as I twisted the engine back and forth. After the heat, (and I was at it for three hours) I no longer have the shudder, but now a squeak, but no big improvement in amount of effort needed. I pulled of the zerk/grease fitting and inserted a piece of baling wire as far as I could go, then tried a pb blaster and grease hit. Still no grease at the top of the shaft.

Next step, borrow my neighbors come along, pull the engine off the stand and set it on its head, remove zerk/grease fitting fill the opening with PB blaster and hit it with air. I just got the distinct feeling the hold up is at the top. I get plenty of grease coming out of the bottom of the shaft, just nothing at the top. I have been putting pb blaster at the top, but I do not think a lot of this is getting into the shaft alley. So..... maybe letting gravity help is the way to go.

Any thoughts, anyone.

Thanks

JSB

 

[Ocean31@bellsouth.net]

Re: Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

Well, here is the latest, in hopes it may be of some assistiance to someone else.

I pulled the engine off the stand and laid it on the ground, with the zerk/grease fitting up.

After removing the grease fitting, I pumped in paint thinner using one of those West System plastic syringes.

After letting the paint thinner set for a minuite, I hit is with about 40lbs of air using a small compressor and blow nozzle.

After spending about two hours doing this I was able to loosen it enough to do a two hand twist of the engine, without any pipe assistiance. Since it was about to rain, that was enough for one day, pulled the engine back up and put it on the stand. After putting it on the stand I pumped it back up with grease and commenced moving it back and forth.

End result, pretty well the same, it has become a two hand twist, one hand on the steering arm, and one hand on the back of the cowl. Not the one finger turn of my other 70, but a lot better then the long piece of plastic pipe that I started out with.

Again maybe this would be of some assistiance to others.

Take care, and thank you for everyone that chimed in with a suggestion

JSB

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Freeing up a sticking 1990 70hp evinrude

keep working it, may have rust in it to work out.