Outboard mystery

[kpgraci]

This my be more appropriate for a motorboater forum, but I have an older (circa 1972?) Mercury 2-stoke 7.5 HP. Runs great, but I went out to the boat one day and the swivel (or whatever its called) was locked up, it would not turn (as in steering) except when great force was applied.

This was a few months ago, the weather was mild. Prior to that it turned very easy and all seemed normal. If it had seized up while I was using it I could understand, but it was fine on the prior sail, then a week later it was seized, and it just sat there in between.

It was so strange I at first suspected that someone may have tried to steal it and was prying on it or something, but the turn screws were still tight, and prying is not how you steal an outboard anyway. I have a bike cable lock on it, but bolt cutters would make easy work of that, all was intact.

Now the irony is I wanted to lock the motor straight anyway, except I was going to install a latch so I could undo it and steer with the tiller and the motor in close quarters. However now it's ridgely locked in place, nice for open water, not nice for docking.

I believe some outboards have a locking mechanism but I was sure mine did not, being a smaller motor. I've tried to inspect the underside of the motor but that is difficult while the boat is in the water.

So I guess my question is what do you think could be going on?

 

[woodster]

i cant say for sure but it sounds like it has coroded on the pivot shaft ...at any rate take the 7.5 off the boat and soke it with PB blaster and in time work it back and forth till you get movement but plz dont force it...that motor is almost 40 years old and prolly hasnt been lubricated as it should have been over the years.....pf all the little ob out there that has always been one of my favs.....it is a good motor.......when you get it apart clean every thing relating to the pivot shaft ...lub it up and put it back together and use it ........great outboard .....

regards

woody

 

[kloudie1]

I agree with Woodster, Ken.. I had an old (60 something, tiller shift in throttle! twist one way for forward, the other for reverse) Merc 9.9 that did the same thing, while sitting in a stand. Apparently, enough water had gotten in the pivot to corrode it and it did that only after sitting still for a while. Best to pull it, but you may be able to get it loose by fully loosening the steering friction bolt and shooting a lot of grease into the pivot until it comes out of both ends (should be a grease fitting on there); let it sit a couple of days like that for the oil in the grease to get into the spaces then carefully massage it a little both ways..

 

[Ron20324]

Ditto to Kloudie. There is probably a bolt that tightens down on the pivot shaft that you could loosen. If you want to lock the motor, you would tighten it. There is probably a grease fitting on that pivot housing. Many people do not own a grease gun, so maybe ask a slip-neighbor if they have one. Better yet, buy one so you use it a couple times a year.

 

[MrUnix]

Sounds like your swivel pressure plate has become corroded or is otherwise sticking.. See the attached picture. I believe #22 is the adjusting bolt. You should be able to loosen it up and get the engine to turn. Then just give it a good cleaning and lube.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[kpgraci]

OK, good info. I actually own at least 2 grease guns. I'm pretty good with motors but for some reason outboards have always befuddled me. I guess the engineering of squeezing everything into a compact design makes them more of a puzzle box than an engine to me.