Grease points

berry7199

Cadet
Joined
May 11, 2022
Messages
17
I just bought a boat with an Alpha one Gen 1 I/O. I only see 3 grease nipples around the outboard section. Is that right or am I missing some? I searched diagrams that might show all their locations but didn’t have much luck. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Over the years Merc (and most other manufacturers) have been deleting grease points. Some think that's a bad idea, but it's not just a deleted grease point. They improve the technology and grease qualities so they CAN delete grease points. I'm all for reducing maintenance requirements, especially when most owners wouldn't know a grease nipple if it bit them on the ass.

Way back there 7 grease points on a 1/Alpha style drive. Upper and lower swivel pins, port and stbd hinge pins, gimbal bearing and one each on the uni joints.

The first to go was the lower swivel pin, then the upper, then the uni joints, then the hinge pins, and finally the gimbal bearing. Replacement unis and gimbal bearings are also now supplied without grease fittings. The gimbal bearing packet even comes with a plug to replace the old nipple so someone doesn't unknowingly try to grease the new bearing (there's no grease hole in the bearing, so no grease would even go in.)

I'm not sure where yours would be in that progression, but now you know where to look....

I hope that helps.
 

berry7199

Cadet
Joined
May 11, 2022
Messages
17
Over the years Merc (and most other manufacturers) have been deleting grease points. Some think that's a bad idea, but it's not just a deleted grease point. They improve the technology and grease qualities so they CAN delete grease points. I'm all for reducing maintenance requirements, especially when most owners wouldn't know a grease nipple if it bit them on the ass.

Way back there 7 grease points on a 1/Alpha style drive. Upper and lower swivel pins, port and stbd hinge pins, gimbal bearing and one each on the uni joints.

The first to go was the lower swivel pin, then the upper, then the uni joints, then the hinge pins, and finally the gimbal bearing. Replacement unis and gimbal bearings are also now supplied without grease fittings. The gimbal bearing packet even comes with a plug to replace the old nipple so someone doesn't unknowingly try to grease the new bearing (there's no grease hole in the bearing, so no grease would even go in.)

I'm not sure where yours would be in that progression, but now you know where to look....

I hope that helps.
It does. Thanks!
 

Bt Doctur

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 29, 2004
Messages
19,291
Funny, I add the deleted grease nipple for the steering pin seal1652612689052.jpeg1652612580360.jpeg
1652612537298.jpeg
 
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