Removing old grease from steering column

General Boats and Motors
1

Recently purchased a new baystar hydraulic steering system for my Johnson 140 4 stroke and I could only finish about 2/3rds of the install myself before I needed to get “some assistance” from my mechanic. Took it to the shop and left it to be completed with some other maintenace work. When I went back to pick up my boat, the steering was more difficult to turn than I had expected. Questioned this, but was told that it should loosen up with some use over time. It seems the steering column had “seized” at the top while at the shop and they used a torch to loosen it up and then greased it. Well, after about 7 weeks, it hasn’t loosened up. Last week, I took it back to my mechanic for fear of damaging the new hydraulic system (was told this wouldn’t happen) and was told to “keep adding grease and it should loosen up over time” or I could bring it back in and they could try to put a torch to it again and melt the grease in the steering column and then replace it with new grease. I can’t afford anymore repair/maintenance work at the moment. Does anybody have any experience with using a torch to remove/melt old grease from the steering column of their boat and did this work?

thanks

2

You don’t “melt” old grease from anything, you FLUSH it with new grease. I don’t know if your steering has a bearing or if it has a brass bushing. But I would take it apart, and replace the bearing or bushing.

3

Tried flushing the old grease out by pumping in new grease. I was told by my mechanic that grease should come out of the top of the column and the bottom of the column (foot of motor)when putting in new grease. Grease only came out at the bottom of the motor and it was new grease. He thought that the old grease must have hardened at the top of the coulumn and the new grease couldn’t get up to where the steering was stiff to loosen it. He said you could heat it (top of column) and all of the grease should come out at the bottom of the motor.

4

While putting new grease in, have someone turn the motor back and forth and this should help get the grease where it belongs. Also try tilting the motor up and change the load on the steering shaft. Hope this helps.

GW 232GT Gulfstream
150Yam x 2
“3rd Day”
Gen. Chap.1 Vs.9-13

5

bump