88 OMC Cobra- Frozen Upper Swivel
 

Have tried numerous procedures to free to no avail.
I still think the best bet is to keep trying to apply pressure
near the very bottom of the drive (near the prop) with the
drive in an "up" position to achive maximum fulcrum with
respect to the bearing. So far have tried prying and light
tapping with a sledge hammer.
One difficulty is getting lubrication to the site of the
problem. The top of the bearing is covered by the steering
arm. There is a large center bolt which holds the steering
arm against the top of the bearing (and the swivel bracket)
but I do not think applying lubrication down the bolt hole
will get to the bearing sleeve, which is apparently where
the feezing has occurred.
Why not simply disassemble the stern drive to get at the
bearing? There is a lower bracket and pin which can easily be
removed. If the upper bearing were free I imagine the whole
stern drive would drop down (assuming the steering arm were
removed.) I have loosened this bracket, but of course nothing
happens. That is why I am reluctant to give the boat to the shop,
because I think they would try to disassemble everything and
still have no luck. I can see everything else removed, but with
the swivel bracket still attached to the upper bearing, with
still no way to lubricate and now much harder to get a good
fulcrum on the bearing. I can also see getting a call that they
had to destroy the swivel bracket!
Does anyone have ideas? How much good would it do to
heat the steering arm assuming some of the heat will reach the
bearing? Or how about drilling holes through the steering arm to
get lubrication to the sleeve? I am stumped.
Your advice is very much appreciated! I usually have an
answer to everything, but not this time!
Thank you.
Frank
P.S. I can supply a photo if anyone thinks it will help.