Can't find UPPER grease fitting to lube 88spl

[ROLLIE6603]

Hello, I am a newbie here and would like to ask this question. My 1989 88spl is getting VERY hard to turn back and forth from my helm. The steering cable was disconected from the engine and it works great, very smooth, but the outboard itself is very hard to turn back and fourth by hand and I can only find ONE grease fitting that will lube the bottom part of the pivot axel it swings right to left on. The upper bushing has no grease fitting and I can't get grease to come out of the top of the pivot axel, where am I going wrong.?????

 

[DargelJohn]

Re: Can't find UPPER grease fitting to lube 88spl

There is only one zirc fitting on the steering arm housing (pivot axle). What you need to do is lift the motor, either with a floor jack under the skeg (careful not to damage skeg) or with a chain hoist on the powerhead lift bracket to relieve the pressure on the upper bushing and put pressure on the lower bushing. This will allow the grease to flow to the upper bushing.

 

[ROLLIE6603]

Re: Can't find UPPER grease fitting to lube 88spl

There is only one zirc fitting on the steering arm housing (pivot axle). What you need to do is lift the motor, either with a floor jack under the skeg (careful not to damage skeg) or with a chain hoist on the powerhead lift bracket to relieve the pressure on the upper bushing and put pressure on the lower bushing. This will allow the grease to flow to the upper bushing.

Thank you, I shall try this.

 

[ROLLIE6603]

Re: Can't find UPPER grease fitting to lube 88spl

update: Had a mobile mechanic that I know come by and he tilted the motor up, drilled two relief holes on each side of the pivot pin and then proceded to use an O/A torch and heated up the housing. The plastic bushing that is around the pivot pin was melted and flowed out of relief holes that were drilled and when the plastic cooled/hardend it also acted as a plug for each hole. Motor turns/steers like its new.