Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990 88sp

[toddschubert]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Bingo! grease come out of hole directly on top of fitting in picture. didn't see any from swivel bearings though. I couldn't get any grease showing after pumping a good amount in middle fitting but maybe I need to pump some more.
Balmy 65 deg here...grilling some fish and tomatoes in between messing w boat. we took her out again today.
I gotta say that motor is sweet. Feel like I could start it by looking at it the right way! lol

 

[toddschubert]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Glad you were talking about steering arm when I made comment about shift rod not going through swivel tube...boy was I wrong. was going from memory which is going to sh**.

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Geeze..Just when I think I have things figured out. Haha.

TODD: Thanks....and I'm jealous. We wont see that scene here for at least 5 more months!

I didnt notice your hole near that upper fitting--the one near the Tilt Ram pivot. Is that were you are saying grease come out of???? I dont have that open hole. I put a fitting in an open hole, right where your upper fitting is....I do have a circle depression in the casting where your hole is open, but it is not open/drilled on mine. Weird.

Just trying to be clear, Can you confirm again if that upper fitting took grease, and it came out that open hole? Sorry for all the questions

I put a fitting in right-smack where yours is, so if the channel/hole goes all the way in, I got to swivel/tube/ is blocked in the upper area, regardless if I have that open hole near the shaft or not. wonder why I have a circle there but not drilled in? Strange. Yours was a '93 correct?

 

[toddschubert]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Hole grease comes out when filling top fitting

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Thanks for the clarification. Much appreciated. Gonna try some more heat, I'm tempted to drill that circle out, but then again, Ive got everything loose. Might just as well take it apart and see whats what. Will post when I get it apart, with some pics for others.

 

[toddschubert]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

That hole casting is on stb side as well but looks to be not a through fitting (its plugged if so)

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Ok,, couple pics.

Got the whole swivel/clamp/TNT unit off...It can be done!!! Again, I'll take some good pics in future post. Once I got going-wanted to keep at it. Tuff bolts required patience. Just have to get the large rusty nut off the bottom of the swivel bracket, and the steering arm portion will slide out of the bracket. I'll then be able to clean it, and see what the issue truely was. Out of time tonight. Great chance to clean up and paint the bracket/TNT area also. Since the lower is off, might as well do a seal job + impeller job also.

Thanks for all the tips. Knowing someone actually took one off without messing with the powerhead was a huge thing.

 

[Kyleb100]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Thanks for the pics! Let us know how it goes

 

[Kyleb100]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Found the grease zircs on my 94 88 SPL today and greased everything up. The zirc for the swivel didn't take very much though and it acted like it was plugged up. I got around 4 pumps in and then it became too hard to pump any more grease. Any idea why this is?

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

kyleb, I believe I have only one zerc mid shaft..I did place a fitting in a open hole where others have the fitting, but no grease is going in at all. I'm not sure if it goes all the way in on the 1990 or not.

However, The other one will take grease, if your getting some in and its stopping-then your blocked. It should and will come out top or bottom (preferably both). My issue was the top area not getting grease. It flowed the old black stuff out of the bottom no problem. Try lots of ATF and acetone over time, then some moderate heat to melt old hard grease. Then try new grease again. It worth it to go thru alot of grease if you can "flush" out all the old and get all new stuff in there.

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Ok, I'm hoping Surrender can chime in here-or anyone that has taken out the Steering/swivel shaft. Ran into some trouble.

Attached is a couple pics of where I'm at. I was very happy to get the large nut on the bottom off. Had to cut 2 sides down carefully then it spun off with a cold chisel. The shaft and threads are intact.

Issue now is that the same end (threaded and) that goes through the "roundish" mounting block that attaches to the leg housing, is frozen in. See the pics. This shaft should be able to come up and out the top of the swivel brack. Theres nothing holding it in anymore. I did the PBlaster & heat thing. I spent 4 hours patiently working at it to no avail. Just up from the threads where it enters that "block" is bound.

I'd like to keep the shaft, as its in pretty good shape. But maybe I have to really pound on it. I was trying NOT to mess up the threads.

SURRENDER--how did you get yours out? If I have to sacrifice it I will. Maybe some sort of gear puller can grab that "block" along with a socket on the end of the threaded shaft.

I'm just about there with this swivel thing..If I can get it out,,I'll be able to get the bushings and rebuild it. Happy so far! I'm just now stuck!! Arggg.

 

[Kyleb100]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

rothfm, I think I was trying to get grease in at the same zirc that you had troubles getting grease to go in. I found the zirc for the tilt ram pivot and greased that up. Although I will need to go and look again for the seemingly mythical swivel zirc tomorrow morning.

My factory service manual should be arriving tomorrow.. hopefully it will shed some light.. will let you know

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Yea, let me know what you find. Again, I had only one existing fitting for the swivel about Mid way. There was a hole on the upper port side near the ram shaft pivot,,,so I put a fitting in to match Todd's picture...But noting would go in-I wasnt sure if that one actually went all the way in or not.

The "Mid" one took plenty of grease and it came out the lower pivot area.

Got the whole thing off, just trying to figure out how to get the arm out of that lower mounting block. Real bound in there.

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Well, Steering arm still NOT out of the swivel yet. I"ve mashed the threaded end now pretty good. The splines are extremely locked onto the mating splined lower "mounting round" block (for lack of what to call it). I'm afraid I may have to get a blade in between the swivel bracket, and this mounting block and cut the arm...But then I'll have to find this lower splined block, as well as a compatible Arm! Argg. Well thats what is expected for a salty old motor

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

my 88spl is not a 1990....ITS A 1995!! Geeze, I never really checked when I got this boat/motor--just took the guys word for it. Just decoded the Model and YEAAA its "EO" 1995. Bracket tag matches the block (nothing swapped). Makes me even happier.

But the steering still makes me sad...Theres no getting the arm/shaft out of that lower mounting block.. By tomorrow night, i'm going to be cutting the between the block and lower edge of swivel bracket. UNLESS anyone has any other thoughts.

I'm gonna be on the lookout for an arm, and lower mounting block.

 

[toddschubert]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

One good thing in your favor is its a popular motor and parts are readily avil. I'd stop messing w it and try to locate another one.....just saying
Happy holidays

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

One good thing in your favor is its a popular motor and parts are readily avil. I'd stop messing w it and try to locate another one.....just saying
Happy holidays

Agree with that Todd....Happy holiday. I did find an entire swivel bracket, exact pn match that has everything in it (minus TNT of course).. It looks very clean and swivels free..For 150.00 Didnt want to spend much $--but that a good easy fix for a tuff problem. I'm going to go that route. Its another story if you can get them apart, but not in this case.

 

[rothfm]

Re: Looking for the Masters of Swivel Bracket knowledge! very sticky swivel on 1990

Well, that looks like it will be the conclusion of this thread...Original question was about trying to fix this stuck steering and if one can remove bracket without removing the powerhead. Due to a couple things frozen solid...Ive ordered a complete swivel bracket with steering arm.

With members help I've learned that Yes, the swivel bracket can be removed fairly easily without removing the powerhead (easily if you are patient with old crusty bolts). Its components, bushings, bearings and steering arm can then be replaced if you can free the lower large nut on the bottom, as well as get the shaft out of the lower housing splined block(thats were my attempt ended)

In My case i was just about there, even got the nut cut off aok..but now way was the steering arm shaft coming out of the lower mounting block--I tried everything. So, in this case it makes more sense to get a replacement swivel bracket, prefferably one with the arm already installed. I got a clean one for $150. Its gonna save me so much time and aggravation.

Also note: my Johnson 115 also has this same setup and it too can be removed without removing the powerhead. So this job can be done with some ease, at least on "some" motors.

thanks to all for the input, knowledge and pictures...this community is great, and its nice to know others are willing to lend a hand to others when needed.