Steering leg greasing isssue johnson 1985 20hp

[Newyota]

Just bought a 1985 20hp johnson and it was not used for years suppposedly and grease on it was actually hard.I tried greasing the steering tube and did get new grease to come out the bottom around nylon bushing, but it should ooze out top bushing of steering if I am not mistaken but it does not.I think it is maybe hardened up in tube stopping it.Any ideas?

 

[F_R]

You can mess around with it, but the real cure is to disassemble it and clean the corrosion out. It builds up around the liner and aluminum bracket. VERY common in salt water areas, but happens in fresh water also. Just takes longer.

 

[F_R]

BTW, it isn't as difficult as it would appear. Remove the lower mounts clamshell, then use a hoist or two guys built like the Impossible Hulk to lift the whole thing out of the steering bracket, steering back and forth as you do. Needless to say, the motor needs to be clamped to something heavy, like a boat. Then remove the upper liner and you will see the problem.

 

[Newyota]

Thanks to all.Well I did something to get grease up there.I wrapped a piece of rubber around the bottom bushing and put a hose clamp on it.then began pumping the grease and it held at the clamp and rubber and finally after a good bit of grease I finally saw some activity up at the top bushing and after about using about 5 oz grease and running out of grease I started to see fresh grease coming out with the black stuff.I think with continued greasing it will be ok.Was not hard to steer.This motor may have never been greased at all looking at the fittings or wrong grease was put in steering tube.Onto some mice chewed wires.Saw the kill switch wire was chewed to the bare wire in acouple places and there is electrical tape wrapped around a section of the wires for CID system which looks like it has been ther along time.Afraid to peel it back.May just leave that for now.Motor runs well.