Thanks for this video. Very detailed with each specific grease point and where to look for the excess to squeeze out from. Exactly what I was looking for. Good job!
The grease doesn't come through to the steering cable or link from the fitting you have to take the nuts off and grease the cable shaft manual it will never get grease from the grease fitting
True. Also if you grease the steering cable from the outside the oil seal will just wipe the grease off as you turn the steering the other way. The only way to effectively grease the tube is by removing the cable from the tilt tube.
Are you sure the zerk fitting you show at the 2:00 mark, has anything to do with the steering? I agree it needs to be lubed, however I believe that's just the tilt tube lube point. To lube the steering shaft you have to pull the cap off the end and lube the shaft, unless you have a zerk fitting on the steering cable itself.
I believe the big nut at the end of the tilt tube Mark is talking about. The shaft slides in and out of it. You can take the nut off and grease the shaft.
very clear very understandable video thanks. i have a question the steering linkage rod is connected to the steering cable and to the other end to the pivot as can be seen at 1 minute 53 seconds in the video. my question is " how tight should the nut at the pivot end be and should there be any movement up and down on it?" I ask because when i steer to the limit of the cable range port then the pivot end of the link rod moves up a 1/4 of an inch and down when i steer back to the starboard side the nut underneath seems to be tightened to the full regards Julia
My manual states that the steering should be retracted not the way you show. With the steering fully extended the way you show can lead to vapor lock. This can lead to the steering to lock. It happened to me.
I just don’t think that would be something to grease. I’m not sure it helps. I’ve cleaned mine and greased it with no change in performance. I put a new steering cable in a couple years ago and it worked great up until last time I went out. The steering feels locked up again. I took everything apart and cleaned and lubricated that shaft really good but it’s still a little tight. The motor freely turns I’m not sure what the deal is. Wondering if it needs to be lubed at the steering wheel some how.
It all needs to be greased. I did everything you mentioned as well except for the new cable. It helped some. I got sick of the cable junk and put in hydraulic steering. One of the best things I’ve done to that boat. I can steer it with one finger now. I highly recommend it
On my boat there were not. It would seem to me that some would have a grease fitting up there. Since this video I’ve upgraded to hydraulic steering. It’s a dream
I went with baystar. It was a better price and it’s worked great. I may eventually replace the hoses it came with because they seem a little on the cheap side but they’re working for now.
@@freaknfishn Good to know - the Baystar is rated for 150hp but not recommended for Optimax so it looks like from what you are saying I'll need to get to the next size Seastar.
That’s going to depend on the grease gun you have but typically the end of the grease hose will unscrew a couple turns and then it’ll fit on the grease point. Then you can screw the end back down and it will secure to the grease point. Give it a few squeezes and then unscrew the hose end and pull it off.
Will that loose nut on the steering arm cause a rattle while you’re idling? I have a 90 HP Optimax and there’s a rattle only during the idle and I noticed that it was loose.
It definitely could. If you’re talking about the nylon locking nut, I’d buy a new one if it was loose. It could be worn out. You do NOT want that coming off.
You could get a stainless one from a hardware store but personally I’d rather get a mercury one. You can find them on several boat parts sites and even eBay.
Thanks for this video. Very detailed with each specific grease point and where to look for the excess to squeeze out from. Exactly what I was looking for. Good job!
Thank you! Glad it helped!
The grease doesn't come through to the steering cable or link from the fitting you have to take the nuts off and grease the cable shaft manual it will never get grease from the grease fitting
True. Also if you grease the steering cable from the outside the oil seal will just wipe the grease off as you turn the steering the other way. The only way to effectively grease the tube is by removing the cable from the tilt tube.
Are you sure the zerk fitting you show at the 2:00 mark, has anything to do with the steering? I agree it needs to be lubed, however I believe that's just the tilt tube lube point. To lube the steering shaft you have to pull the cap off the end and lube the shaft, unless you have a zerk fitting on the steering cable itself.
Agreed. What cap?
I believe the big nut at the end of the tilt tube Mark is talking about. The shaft slides in and out of it. You can take the nut off and grease the shaft.
@@dannyhanke4338 I agree with you 💯 👏 he will never get grease on the cable that way
Yup. I am currently suffering from this very mistake. I thought that fitting greased the arm. It does not. That is for the tilt tube.
Yeah that’s right. I was having to take mine apart and grease the shaft way too much. I upgraded to hydraulic steering. Well worth the cost.
very clear very understandable video thanks.
i have a question
the steering linkage rod is connected to the steering cable and to the other end to the pivot as can be seen at 1 minute 53 seconds in the video.
my question is " how tight should the nut at the pivot end be and should there be any movement up and down on it?"
I ask because when i steer to the limit of the cable range port then the pivot end of the link rod moves up a 1/4 of an inch and down when i steer back to the starboard side
the nut underneath seems to be tightened to the full
regards
Julia
My manual states that the steering should be retracted not the way you show. With the steering fully extended the way you show can lead to vapor lock.
This can lead to the steering to lock. It happened to me.
Warning the manual tells that the steering shaft must retracted all the way before greasing. If not the steering can lock up. I HAD IT HAPPEN!
That’s dangerous! Good to know
Retracted.. what makes it retracted? The shaft sticking out the longest like in the video or short. In my mind, retracted mean short shaft
I just don’t think that would be something to grease. I’m not sure it helps. I’ve cleaned mine and greased it with no change in performance. I put a new steering cable in a couple years ago and it worked great up until last time I went out. The steering feels locked up again. I took everything apart and cleaned and lubricated that shaft really good but it’s still a little tight. The motor freely turns I’m not sure what the deal is. Wondering if it needs to be lubed at the steering wheel some how.
It all needs to be greased. I did everything you mentioned as well except for the new cable. It helped some. I got sick of the cable junk and put in hydraulic steering. One of the best things I’ve done to that boat. I can steer it with one finger now. I highly recommend it
How do you lock it straight for trailering? I don't like that it moves to the sides
I use a transom saver when trailering. It sits in there and doesn’t move. I’ve never had a problem with it moving around.
You mention Marine grease for the zerk fittings....any specific viscosity or brand name, etc.
As long as it’s marine grease it should be good. I usually use Lucas brand from Academy.
is there any special kind of grease that you use? can I use same grease as for wheel bearings?
Yes you can as long as it’s a marine grease. I usually get mine at academy but Walmart or Autozone will have it too
Thanks for good video I would have missed one grease point
Glad it helped out. Thanks for watching!
Are there any grease fittings at the helm? Or any points there by the steering wheel that need lubrication?
On my boat there were not. It would seem to me that some would have a grease fitting up there. Since this video I’ve upgraded to hydraulic steering. It’s a dream
@@freaknfishn Awesome - that is why I was checking out your video. What system did you end up going with? Baystar, seastar or offbrand?
I went with baystar. It was a better price and it’s worked great. I may eventually replace the hoses it came with because they seem a little on the cheap side but they’re working for now.
@@freaknfishn Good to know - the Baystar is rated for 150hp but not recommended for Optimax so it looks like from what you are saying I'll need to get to the next size Seastar.
I didn’t see anything saying it wasn’t recommended for Optimax. My engine is a 90HP Optimax. It has worked great on it
Is there a specific grease I should use?
Just make sure it’s a marine grade grease. Lucas makes a one. You can get it at Academy
thank you for identifying grease points, can you show how to connect to it with grease gun
That’s going to depend on the grease gun you have but typically the end of the grease hose will unscrew a couple turns and then it’ll fit on the grease point. Then you can screw the end back down and it will secure to the grease point. Give it a few squeezes and then unscrew the hose end and pull it off.
thank you, i need to grease these points on my Mercury, never done this before
It will make a big difference in the steering!
So i heard that with nylon lock nuts you should use them only one time and nylon gets worn out. You should really get a new nut for that steering part
That is always a good idea.
Can I use the same marine grease I use for the trailer wheel bearings for these outboard steering fittings also?
Yes sir
@@freaknfishn thank you so much for your reply. Just winterized my boat today and didn't do the fittings yet because I wasn't sure.
Will that loose nut on the steering arm cause a rattle while you’re idling? I have a 90 HP Optimax and there’s a rattle only during the idle and I noticed that it was loose.
It definitely could. If you’re talking about the nylon locking nut, I’d buy a new one if it was loose. It could be worn out. You do NOT want that coming off.
@@freaknfishn and I could use any nut from like Lowes or home depot or should I get one from Mercury?
You could get a stainless one from a hardware store but personally I’d rather get a mercury one. You can find them on several boat parts sites and even eBay.
@@freaknfishn Great. Thanks so much for the quick reply!
You’re welcome!
You didn’t mention what type of grease you were using 🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️
Always use marine grease for marine applications. Quicksilver or Lucas is what I normally use
You didn't lubricate the steering at all. The grease zerk only lubricates the tilt bushings.