Zerk Fitting Removal

[CApTaInGoOfy]

I've noticed that the steering is stiffer this season after I took the boat out for the first time. I greased the steering cable with 2-4-C and when I unhooked the motor from the cable the steering wheel turned like butter. When I try to turn the motor by hand disconnected from the steering cable it is stiff. I found that there is a zerk fitting that I tried to pump grease into via my grease gun but it seems clogged up as it just pumps it out. After cleaning up the area I than turned the motor by hand and noticed from the zerk fitting it seemed to squeeze out a little grease and then stop. Was going to replace the zerk fitting but it is totally smoothly round. Not sure how to remove this or even how to unclog the darn thing. Took a heat gun to it thinking maybe if I heat the grease up it'll give a little, nothing. Any help would be awesome.
The motor is a 1983 Chrysler 45HP
Untitled by Jae Cha, on Flickr

 

[GA_Boater]

Give it more heat. The grease in the fitting behind the ball bearing/spring has solidified. You could use a small pin to push on the ball to see if it moves and sometimes that will push the clot out of the Zerk fitting.

 

[gm280]

GA_Boater beat me to it. I would do basically the same thing he suggested as well. Not sure if that fitting was pressed fitted or threaded. However, I would apply heat and even move the engine from side to side to help spread the grease in there around more. You could even use a toothpick to depress the little ball in and see if the heat allows any of the solidified grease to escape. Just an idea.

 

[CApTaInGoOfy]

Will add more heat, you think a torch would be overkill? I've been using a heatgun on it so far. Thanks guys for the tips!

 

[GA_Boater]

The heat gun should work. Just don't hold it in one place too long. If the paint starts to discolor, it's too long.

Heat it, then move the motor back and forth while pumping the grease. With your third hand.....wait a sec, that's for another problem. :smile:

 

[GA_Boater]

Meant to add - I use a metal pin, often a straight pin. I've had the tooth picks break off and that has caused more problems, especially on a ball joint with a sealed grease shield.

 

[jerryjerry05]

The zerk is a press in.
​I use a propane torch on the mid section.

The original grease is now over 30 years old.
Long time to be in there.

Over time it gets dry and solid.

The heat wakes it up and allows you to add more.
There should be bushings in there and too much heat can ruin them but not enough heat won't help.

Heat the complete mid section and once it gets hot start adding grease.

​The spring/ball in the zerk can stick open and maybe you can move it with a needle?
But just add grease and turn the motor back and forth and heat. Repeat.

​The zerk can be replaced, your spot has enough depth to be tapped.

​On one of my motors I ended up putting fittings on both the top and bottom of the mid section.