Grease Nips

[floridamisser52]

Tried to service the grease fittings on my tilt tube. I'd like to get a few things done before Spring. Hooked a grease gun to the starboard and port nipples on my 1998 90 hp crossflow. It steers ok , but to get grease to come out would be good. May be all grease guns are created the same,but other than that it looks like a job!  

[GoneFission]

Sometimes grease fitting corrode and stick.  Try removing the grease fittings and see if you can pump grease through them.  If not - replace with new.  If they are OK, then have someone move the motor back and forth at the helm while you put a steady pressure on the grease gun - sometimes the movement will allow the new grease to get where it needs to be...

[fitz73222]

Tried to service the grease fittings on my tilt tube. I'd like to get a few things done before Spring. Hooked a grease gun to the starboard and port nipples on my 1998 90 hp crossflow. It steers ok , but to get grease to come out would be good. May be all grease guns are created the same,but other than that it looks like a job!  

If you're trying to grease the steering cable through those fittings its not going to happen. Those fittings lubricate the tilt tube bushings only. You can add an accessory lube fitting to grease the cable like the one offered by Bob's Machine in Ruskin to get the cable greased.

[floridamisser52]

Thanks MM. Sorry for being unclear. I'm trying to get grease in the tilt tube. Replaced the grease nipples with new and still no dice. I hook up my grease gun and the grease just splooges everywhere but the inside. Previous post says get her going up and down while applying grease pressure . You smart guys are full of knowledge . Who knows, I might luck out again.

[FJStretch]

One thing is certain, you are smart to be addressing this now. I spent a lot of hours on my corroded tilt tube and support rod when I first acquired my Osprey 200. It had been neglected and I had to throw everything at it.....PB Blaster, propane torch, sledge hammer, pipe wrenches,.... Just trying to get it apart. Finally had to pull the engine (with transom brackets), drop the PTT, and work/twist one of the transom brackets off. Hammered the rest out with some effort.  Quite a job.  Needless to say, the support rod was trashed and I had to replace it. (I tied to find a stainless rod but couldn't find one for my zuke 150 2-stroke.). I keep the beaten up and broken support rod/tube as a reminder of what I had to go through and the virtues of proper maintenance (and biting off more than I want to chew).



I saw a grease-nippled tilt tube nut at West Marine the other day. Sounds a lot like the one Fitz referenced as available at Bob's Machine. If that works, it sounds like a good investment. Beats having to pull the tube and lube once a year or so. I have read that some say you should only lube the rod and tube with ATF..... but if I could squeeze grease through there via the nippled nut and get it to come out the other end, I would probably go with the grease. (I don't see pumping ATF through it as being practical).

[floridamisser52]

The motor tilts up and down just fine. Can't get grease through the nips though. Unless one of you smart guys has a solution..I may be in of an ordeal. Other than hitting the switch and applying grease...any other ideas? Thanks in advance !

[Georgie]

Not gonna lie....completely baffled why you can't get grease into the tilt tube bushings if you've replaced the nipples themselves.  FYI - the nipples lead only to a flanged cylindrical plastic bushing which separates the motor mount brackets from the tilt tube and mid housing and has a couple of diagonal slots to help distribute the grease.  The bushing helps prevent corrosion and maintain lubrication between rotating parts made of dissimilar metals.  There's no obvious or common reason I can think of why a pressurized grease gun shouldn't be able to inject a healthy dose of lubricant unless the bushings have somehow rotated and bonded to the inner diameter of the motor bracket tilt holes, and even then, for both to be acting the same way??.....

Can you post some pics?  Without any other suggestive description, my next step would be the annoying project of removing the tilt tube after which you may need to separate the engine from the mounting brackets.   :evil:

EDIT:  Also, listen to John's recommendation.

have someone move the motor back and forth at the helm while you put a steady pressure on the grease gun - sometimes the movement will allow the new grease to get where it needs to be...

but do the same thing for the tilt tube.  Back off the manual release valve (flathead screw on the lower starboard portion of the tilt n trim unit accessible through a hole in the starboard side of the mount bracket) and have someone alternately raise and lower the engine while you pressurize the grease gun.

[wingtime]

This may sound crazy.... but try replacing the tip on your grease gun.  If you can get the kind you can loosen or tighten up.  I've had some that wouldn't work worth a darn... then I replaced the gun tip and it worked fine.  Of course grease guns and I don't get along...  I always end up wearing more than I get into what I'm trying lube up!

[floridamisser52]

Thanks Wingtime . I think I remember someone talking about jump suits or coveralls when it comes to grease guns . Seems like I always use half a paper towel roll and that not having enough Kingsford to light my next batch of charcoal. This motor has seen more salt than a sunburned sea hag. But has always been put up proper. Fresh water wash down all over including the PH. A Marine Corp buddy of mine says the helicopters on ship decks get a fresh water wash down every day . Says those helicopters are good to go after 20 plus years. Pretty amazing track record in spite of the environment . I guess a grease gun tip will be in order.