How hard should it be to turn an outboard by hand?

[Frisbeeman]

I've got a 2004 Suzuki 225 on a 22 ft walk around. Over the past few years the steering requires more and more Force to turn the motor. Now it's very difficult. I disconnected the hydraulic steering from the engine to try to isolate where the problem is. With the motor disconnected I can turn the steering wheel with just my pinky with ease.

I've got a whale tail that extends about 8 in back from the back end of the cavitation plate that gives some good leverage. But I can't turn the motor myself pushing her pulling the whale tail. But two of us can turn it, but it requires a lot of force.


Any ideas what the problem could be? There's a single grease fitting on the cylinder the motor rotates around. I put grease in till it was squeezing out of the seal at the bottom. I think it improved it a little but only a little.


Any ideas what I could do?


Thanks

[slow530]

You're on the right track. Tilt the motor all the way up. Inject a few shots of grease. Rotate a few times. Tilt motor all the way down. Do the same thing. there is dry grease in there that will eventually come out. You could heat the area with hot water to help soften the old grease as well.