stiff moter swivel

[ibew1933]

Hi, working on my 1985 merc 60hp to free up the swivel, I'm applying heat and the grease will only flow down, is the one center grease fitting the only one or does the two top ones that grease the lock levers to hold the motor up also supply grease to the swivel? thanks ed

 

[Don S]

Re: stiff moter swivel

You probably can't fix it with just heat. They have plastic bushings on the steering pivot arm, what happens is corrosion starts building up between the bushing and the housing, which causes it to sqeeze the pivot shaft.
Only cure I have found it to pull the powerhead, drive, and driveshaft housing and remove the pivot shaft and replace the bushings and clean out all the corrosion. Then put it all back together.

 

[ibew1933]

Re: stiff moter swivel

I'm a fair do it yourselfer and have the merc repair manual but have never pulled the powerhead ,do you think I can do it ? time line one day or two? thanks ed and the other two grease fittings do nothing for this .right?