steering and paint

[5string]

I had stuck steering on my 1994 48hp johnson. It was stuck on the top swivel of the motor. I disconnected the steering cable and took off the bottom motor cover and removed the grease fitting and an allen screw next to the grease fitting(don't know what it is for) and sprayed it with penetrating spray, wouldn't budge so I took a 24" 2X4 and laid it on the arm and hammered it loose(about an hour off and on throughout the day along with the spray. It turns real hard but it does move, I'm going to put a propane torch on it a little to see if it will loosen up more. What process is used to paint a motor like this? I would like to paint the whole lower unit white like it was when new and is it OK to heat this up a littlt to loosen the motor, I can't get grease in the top fitting, I replaced the fitting but it must be cruded up inside and I thought the heat might break it up.<br /><br />Roger in Swansboro NC

 

[alcan]

Re: steering and paint

Hi 5string<br />First make sure that the steering tensioner is loose. There are plastic bushings in the swivel so be carefull with the heat. Heating is a good way to get the thing to loosen up a bit. Most of the time it is only a temerary fix. It my last a whole season. Next year you'll have the same problem only worse. No matter how much greese you think you have pumped to it. Unfortunetly the only way to insure a permenate job is to disassemble it and clean it and keep it greesed.

 

[alcan]

Re: steering and paint

Hi 5string<br />Sorry I forgot to address your paint question. Painting outboards is fairly simple. Do a good job of degreesing. Give it a light sanding, prime the bare areas with zink cromate primer. Paint with color match paints. This is available at your dealer or marine store. It comes in rattle cans. If you take your time, it will look brand new. Alot of times if I am painting a black or white motor I just use crylon brand paint. Be carefull when using differnt paints some are not compatable, then you will have a real mess.