Stiff turning 1979 45 Chrysler

[dungbeetle46]

Just bought a boat with a Chrysler 45 hp and the steering was very hard.

I removed the cable at the motor as it has rotary steering and the tried to turn motor by hand which was a task in itself.

needed to push all my body wieght against side of motor just to turn it, so I greased the nipple on the side of shaft where the engine turns until grease oozed from bottom of shaft but made no difference.

any suggestions what to do now
Thanks

 

[healey8390]

Re: Stiff turning 1979 45 Chrysler

Do a search on stiff/hard steering and youll fing countless threads with some good tips. Some people have luck heating up the pivot shaft and working it back and forth. If that doest work youll have to take king pin out and clean it.

 

[dungbeetle46]

Re: Stiff turning 1979 45 Chrysler

Thanks, will do

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Stiff turning 1979 45 Chrysler

What i had to do.The grease fitting was stuck.It has a small spring and tip in it.You need to take a punch and tap the center of the fitting.This will allow grease in and out.The second motor the grease fitting was gone so I used a spray white lithium.
Then use heat be careful not to overheat the top or bottom as there is bearing or bushing at the top and bottom.The one I worked on has a plastic bushing.
I had to drill a hole in the top and bottom of the housing.I then heated the area between the top and bottom.It needs to get hot enough to turn the old grease into a liquid.Time has turned it rock hard.
All the time your putting heat to it, add grease or squirt oil into the holes if you had to drill.It took me about an hour of heat and grease/oil and to finally get it to the point I was happy.
The holes I drilled I filled with silicone so water wouldn't get back in.
Now get a good grease gun and every month grease all fittings.
The steering tube is an area that is hard to lube.I carry a can of WD on the dash and spray it when I think about it.J

 

[dungbeetle46]

Re: Stiff turning 1979 45 Chrysler

Thanks all, I have hit it with heat gun and drilled a couple of holes, lubed, lubed and then lubed some more, its 10 times better now, not perfect but heaps better.
Thanks again

 

[BigMatt1983]

Re: Stiff turning 1979 45 Chrysler

how do I take out the king pin?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Stiff turning 1979 45 Chrysler

This post it almost a year old.You should start one your self.J
Why take it out???