Trouble greasing swivel bracket assembly on ox66 250hp

[ifish4tuna]

Hi Boys - I searched on this, but could not find. If it's already been discussed a reference link would be appreciated.

Anyway, 1999 Yam 250 OX66. Trying to grease the vertical steering column (page 7-28 in the manual) aka the swivel bracket assembly. Here's the trouble. I can get grease to come out the bottom of the shaft down near the grease nipple, but can not get it to push water (and grease) from out of the top.

I have 600 hrs on the engine and have never done this grease fitting before. Just realized it existed. You don't notice it with the engine down on land....The steering is still very smooth, but I know I'm begging for trouble at some point if I don't get it resolved. Certainly don't want to keep any salt water in the shaft over the winter.

So my question - Is my only option to get a couple of propane torches (or map gas) and just heat the hell out of the shaft for a half hour? I tried it today for about 10 minutes focussing mostly at the top of the shaft. When I went to push the grease in, it just kept oozing out the bottom though....

Anyone have successes you can reference? Heat from below? Heat from above? Heat near nipple? Heat near top? Heat the whole damn shaft?

Thoughts / suggestsions / sarcasm welcome

Ed

 

[ifish4tuna]

OK I'll answer my self...

Had some success today.... Here's what you need to do (what I did)

Raised the engine heated the shaft (on the under side of engine) from slighly above the grease fitting all the way up to where the top bearing (about a foot long). Heating this up in 55 degree weather took about 30 minutes. I got it to the point where from the other side (rear of the shaft) I was unable to hold my hand comfortably due to the temp. I purposely did not go down to the fitting or below because the grease will flow along the least resistance so I wanted to keep that area cooler.

Once I got it to "break free" I pumped an entire tube of marine grease through the system. It came out from top & bottom. Old shit first, then nice clean green grease.

So there you go, propane is your friend.

Ed

 

[DaleH]

... when I saw the post title I was going to respond and say apply heat, but you beat me to it! I use a heat gun from Harbor Freight and it works wonders, but sometimes, there's no replacement for a "heat hammer" (torch) .