Johnson V4 swivel grease

[JOFO17]

I have a mid 80's Johnson 140 that doesn't turn easily with the steering disconnected. I have read many posts from the past regarding this issue of hardened grease at the top pivit point. I haven't seen any recent posts, so I am wondering what is the best solvent to use now in 2021 to loosen up this hardened grease? Many of the older posts say penetrating oil, but I know there has to be something better.

 

[racerone]

----If water get in there you get corrosion.------The corrosion products build up and jam up the works.----Not really a hardened grease issue !

 

[JOFO17]

Well that ain't good. I was hoping to push enough grease up there to free it up a little. Plenty of grease comes out of the bottom.

 

[racerone]

Sorry ----I edited the other post.---It appears there is bushing not a bearing.----Same issue with corrosion like there is on all plastic bushings on outboards.---Understanding corrosion and what takes place makes it easy to understand.

 

[F_R]

What happens is corrosion builds up around swivel bushing, #3 causing it to squeeze tightly onto the swivel pin #7. No real cure, except to take it apart (not an easy job) and clean the corrosion out, then keep it greased in the future.

Not recommended, but some have been known to heat the crap out of it with a big torch, partially melting the bushing

 

[Chris1956]

I had the same issue on my Mercury. I was able to mitigate it (not fix it), by tilting the motor up. Now I tied a rope around the antiventilation plate and transom bracket and tightened it like a tourniquet. Turn the steering while tigntening the rope.

This forced the motor up on the swivel pin, closing the bottom opening and opening the top space between the motor and swivel bracket. Now when you pump grease into it is easier for grease exit the top bushing.

This can help make it turn easier.

 

[flyingscott]

Try pumping tranny fluid into it.

 

[JOFO17]

I have seen videos where they installed another Zirk fitting up at the top of the tube, but that was not on a Johnson outboard. Has anyone done this with good results? For now I am going with the PB Blaster option to try and free it up enough to squeeze some grease up there. I taped up around the bottom bushing so no grease would come out. It held but grease started coming out of the little hole facing the transom. Is there a hole like that up top too?

 

[racerone]

Corrosion products form between the bushing and aluminum.-----Oxygen joins with the aluminum to form aluminum oxide ( white powder ) thus there is more material now ( oxygen ) and the works jams up !!

 

[JOFO17]

No matter how much I tried to block grease from coming out at the bottom it still came out. I ended up installing a Zirk fitting at the top and hitting it with blaster. I was able to pump in the grease and push out the remaining dirty looking blaster. Now she moves nice and free. From this point on BOTH fittings will get grease after every trip.