johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

[sw florida]

I have an older 6hp johnson that is running very well but is difficult
to raise and lower motor. I have greased all of the fittings but noticed
there is no place to grease the bolt that the motor pivots on when
raising and lowering motor by hand. I looked closely at the bolt and it is
actually rotating within another piece when raising motor. Just wondering
if this bolt is suppose to rotate ? I also wondered if maybe the bolt is not suppose to rotate and something else may not be working correctly ?
I sprayed lube directly onto the very old rusted bolt and it does not seem to free up very much. Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions.

 

[F_R]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

Need a model year in order to give you an intelligent answer.

 

[sw florida]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

This is a 1977 Johnson 6hp model number 6RL77M. I'm sure it needs
to be disassembled as the bolt is very rusty and deteriorated. I thought
it was a bit strange that the bolt was rotating as I moved the motor up and down. Maybe that's how it works with possible bushings in the piece that the bolt rides in ? It looks like a little bit of work either way.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

The bolt that you are referring to is called a "tilting bolt." It should not be rotating, because it has a square flange under the head, like a carriage bolt. Corrosion often does cause the motor to be difficult to tilt, but this can also caused by the nut on the other end of the bolt being too tight. There is a heavy spring (tilting bolt spring, part #302051) that goes underneath it. The nut should be tightened down just enough to make the motor stay in place, when tilted up.

If you loosen the nut adequately, but the motor still does not want to tilt, you will need to disassemble the motor in that location, remove the corrosion from the bolt, swivel bracket and transom bracket. Also examine the bolt to make sure it is the right one. Be aware that metal "exfoliates" when corrosion occurs. Basically, the strata expands and the piece "swells." This is true of the steel components (bolt) and the aluminum components. In the case of the aluminum components here, you will have to use some rolled up emory cloth or a fine file, to resore the original diameter of the holes through which the bolt passes. If you use a rat tail file, proceed cautiously, so you don't go beyond the original diameter and don't cut an oblong shape into bores.

Before you reassemble all of the parts, examine the zerk type grease point, if there is one. I can't remember off of the top of my head, but if there is a place to use a grease gun, its probably under the swivel bracket head and it is probably just a molded in nipple. Often what happens (the shift levers on these motors are case in point), is that the motors are not greased per the recommended schedule and the old grease dries and hardens in the grease points. Further attempts to gease the motor at that point, just result in grease blowing out of the grease gun, at the nipple. If this is the case and you don't clean the passageway out with a piece of wire, you'll just have the problem again in the future.



???

 

[F_R]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

A very common Johnson design used for many years. You can see the parts breakdown at http://shop.evinrude.com/ Click on Electronic parts book, then click the down arrow where it defaults to Evinrude and select Johnson from the list. Navigate to your motor.

You are correct, the bolt should not rotate, it is probably rusted away at the square shoulder. However, that is not the reason for stiff tilting. The nut on the bolt adjusts the tilt friction. It compresses a spring behind the nut. That is probably all rusted too. A double-conical plastic bushing is the friction device. Take it all apart, clean everything, inspect and replace bad parts, lubricate generously, and reassemble. It will work like new.

 

[sw florida]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

Thanks for the information. I suspect that squared off portion rounded
out as the other parts began to bind up. I may loosen the nut a bit and see if it loosens up some, although replacing these parts is probably the way to go. I found the parts illustration and got some prices and part numbers. I
guess boat parts have not come down over the years. They show the tilt
bolt at 40.00 dollars and I think the spring is also about 40.00 dollars unless
this is a kit. Either way I dont want to take the chance that the bolt breaks
so will probably put it on my to-do list.

 

[F_R]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

Holy mackeral!! I admit I didn't look at the prices. The bolt is a special hardened bolt, not an ordinary carriage bolt. But still....

There must be a ton of those things floating around in people's parts stashes. I probably have one myself. Let me know if you want me to look.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

I think if you pull the assembly down completely, clean it all up and re-lube it, you will be fine. One key to proper performance: Your parts need to be clean and properly lubed. If you have that, then your day will be good

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

Holy mackeral!! I admit I didn't look at the prices. The bolt is a special hardened bolt, not an ordinary carriage bolt. But still....

There must be a ton of those things floating around in people's parts stashes. I probably have one myself. Let me know if you want me to look.

I am shocked at the price too! The bolt is $45.80 and the spring is $48.96. I have a company/warehouse near me that sells fasteners of all types. You can get things there that you could never get at the average big box store. I'm wondering if they carry a stainless carriage bolt that would fit.

Here's a link for them. It might be worth giving them a call, once the motor is apart and the exact dimensions can be provided.

http://www.fastenersinconline.com/



???

 

[costy]

Re: johnson 6hp tilt bolt and bushings ?

Hi can someone give the dimensions for this bolt I need to replace it on my 4.5 hp 1983 seahorse and I am willing to replace it with an ordinary carriage bolt, grease it well and replace it every year if I have to instead of paying $45 that is crazy. I took enough metallurgy in college to know that a bolt that size will work in most grades for one or two years (well greased) before going bad (wearing in diameter or bending) most carriage bolts are galvanized but SS would be the way to go.
thanks, Costy