How do you grease the steering?

[J@mes]

Hi there,

Hope this is the right forum.

I want to know how to grease my steering and how often it should be done?

(I know this is probably a very simply answer and I think I have answered my own questions below, but I am very new to all of this and want to double check before I go out and buy grease guns etc and try myself!)

Below is a picture of the steering on my Tohatsu engine.

I only recently noticed the two nipples on it (in the red circles) and I assume you grease the steering cable via this?

How often should you grease it? and is general purpose lithium grease ok to use?

Also I need to buy a grease gun. I found these two on ebay, will they do?...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GREASE-GU...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item4ab4a7e2ce

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hilka-Gre...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item3cca62af9c


They have general purpose lithium grease with them and I need to also use this grease gun for my trailer too. I understand your meant to use high temp grease in the wheel bearings, but will the ebay general purpose lithium grease suffice for me? So you know my trailer is ONLY ever pushed about by hand, never driven!


Thanks for your help

 

[Bondo]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

Ayuh,.... I've never done anything with a Tohatsu,...
Does the cable show fresh grease when ya grease those fittings,..??

Where does the purged grease exit,..??

There'll be a fitting or 2 on the mid-section somewhere too, to lube that shaft, I would think,....

Either of those guns, which appear to be the same anyways, will do the job,...
Findin' refills for 'em can be a chore though,...

I use guns that take the 14 oz. tubes, which are more common...
I like the pistol grip guns, over the lever guns, myself,...

If ya grease things Regularly, refer to my signature line as to whether I think that grease will work for All of yer applications....

A wagon that never sees a hitch, never sees heat either,...

 

[J@mes]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

I have since found out those two grease points circled in red are for the tilt, not the steering!

My boat was brand new in the summer, I havnt greased anything yet!

Any grease is better than no grease! Roger! lol.

 

[roscoe]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

I would suggest you find two full size grease guns.

One for general purpose grease.
And one for your wheel bearings, with the appropriate grease.

FYI, grease can be made from different base components.
When you use different grease and they mix, they can break down and turn into a soupy mess, and they lose their ability to work properly. Not so much of a problem on the motor, but a real mess with the wheel bearings.


As for the grease nipples in the photo, those are to grease the tilt tube, which allows the motor to tilt up and down.

The steering cable itself is non grease able.

The steel rod on the end of the cable, which passes thru the tilt tube, should be greased when installed in the tube.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

Those fittings are for the engine tilt only.

You should have some other pivot points on the shaft that will also need grease.

The cable with the steering rod at the end just passes through a tube. The best maintenance for that is to wipe it down and keep it clean....... it is a stainless steel rod and you can wipe it with a light oil but it is more important to keep it clean.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

Roscoe types faster then me!!

 

[J@mes]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

Thanks for your help guys, learnt a lot tonight!

I will prob go for something like this instead... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hilka-Man...t=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item5d3561ed3c

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

That grease gun will work and because it comes with a flexible hose it will make things easier. The transom splashwell makes it tough to get to the tilt fittings. Use a marine grade grease ........... I do not know whats available in the UK

 

[J@mes]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

Yea I am sure a flexible hose is helpful! I may get the link above and this... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lucas-Oil...le_Oils_Lubricants_Fluids&hash=item3a7aea8bcd using the lucas red marine grease for the outboard and the general purpose automotive one for the trailer bearings!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: How do you grease the steering?

Yes that will work too. I bet you can do even better at an auto parts store.

This is actually a Tohatsu topic so I will move it