Steering- Swivel Bracket

[SkunkBoat]

So, I had fairly tight steering last year. disconnecting the drag link showed the cable to be OK. Definitely caused by the swivel bracket. Not getting new grease into it, none comes out. Just gets pressurized. Tried grease remover into the zerk hole, got me nowhere.

Decided to man up and take it apart. Snapped off a couple bolts, stripped out a phillips screw....After more than a decade in salt, anything below the waterline that has never been unscrewed & lubed is likely to snap when you try to remove it

Well the lower bracket was seized to the end of the steering bracket. After a lot of head scratching, blow torching, penetrating fluid soaking....

I smacked the hell out of it with a BF hammer. Its still usable but New part on its way from Boats.Net $92. I had already bought replacement bushings,shims and a C clip.

You can see from pix that the top was getting no grease, totally dried out.
There was nothing else I could have done so I feel better ...I guess..

Like all outboards, the steering bracket is steel(not stainless) and the housing and lower bracket are aluminum. The new bushings are different, with holes and indentations for better grease flow.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Parts came quick. I have no complaints with Boats.net for Suzuki parts

Got no time to work though.

Also bought a heavy duty Screw/Bolt Extractor set. I have 2 bolts and a phillips screw to remove from the housing...

 

[SkunkBoat]

so, at least the 3/8 screw extractor did not snap off...
However, the bolt is not budging and the screw extractor is just "drilling" it out when I use a big breaker bar on the wrench.

I suppose drilling & tapping is the next step but...

can't drill a straight hole without laying it flat and using a drill press
Can't lay the piece flat without removing 8 more bolts that have never been loosened in 12 yrs, which would probably end in another snapped bolt.
guess I'll have to try them...


Ok, so the housing came of easy. I think I need to take this to someone with the tools and knowhow to remove and rethread...

 

[step up here]

Heat and if you need a little more heat use two torches. Best way to go is a real machine shop.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Heat and if you need a little more heat use two torches. Best way to go is a real machine shop.

Yep. its at a shop now...

 

[SkunkBoat]

Everything back together. I can turn the wheel with a pinky finger. Nice blue grease pumps out.

Changed oil& filter, gear oil, low pressure fuel filter, water impeller, spark plugs, and zinc.

primed the fuel and it fired up in a half a turn....