Zerk fitting on rudder box question
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=32917
Printed Date: January-15-2025 at 11:59am
Topic: Zerk fitting on rudder box question
Posted By: JPASS
Subject: Zerk fitting on rudder box question
Date Posted: February-25-2014 at 8:17pm
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I have never greased up anything on our boat since we purchased it last June. I noticed there's a zerk fitting on the rudder box. How often do I need to grease this and what grease do you recommend? Are there any other spots to grease up? ------------- '92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique |
Replies:
Posted By: dwcar
Date Posted: February-26-2014 at 8:41pm
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I suggest you do it every spring. I use a marine grade like you would use on your bearings. ------------- 83Ski |
Posted By: JPASS
Date Posted: February-26-2014 at 10:04pm
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Do I fill it until grease comes out of the top of the rudder box? How do I know what too much is? I'm assuming I can damage it by overfilling. ------------- '92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique |
Posted By: Waterdog
Date Posted: February-26-2014 at 11:07pm
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You would have to go some to damage the rudder box with grease. A couple 3 shots with a grease gun(marine grease) once a year and you should be good to go. It's a water seal as much as anything. Isn't there a rope seal in there also. (just like the drive shaft) ------------- - waterdog - http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=3896&sort=&pagenum=2&yrstart=1978&yrend=1978" rel="nofollow - 78 Ski Tique |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: February-27-2014 at 10:49am
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If it has a Zerk it should be a double 0 ring style seal on that box with no packing unless someone drilled and added it. Packing along with it won't hurt anything. The grease will come out the bottom of the port by the rudder if you over fill it. No big deal. ------------- |
Posted By: JPASS
Date Posted: February-27-2014 at 10:55am
Good to know. I was thinking it had packing it and was going to replace it soon. I've never taken it apart so I have no idea if there's packing in there or not. ------------- '92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique |
phatsat67 wrote:Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: February-27-2014 at 12:20pm
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It may have packing. Regardless while it's all apart drop the rudder and check it all out. A very clean rudder shaft/port with fresh grease is something magical. ------------- |
Posted By: JPASS
Date Posted: February-27-2014 at 12:25pm
It's on my To-Do list. Just not right now. I plan on running the boat with the rear section off to see if it's leaking any. I'll also be inspecting the shaft log for leakage as well. I have no idea if the packing in either has ever been changed. The safety wire looks pretty old. I'd like to get it done soon though. ------------- '92 Correctcraft Ski Nautique |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-27-2014 at 12:30pm
| Zach, are you sure the ports with zerk fittings didnt still feature a normal packing gland with packing inside? I have never owned one or inspected one up close, but I thought the only difference was the addition of the zerk and the oring seal(s). No way that grease is going to provide the same type of water seal as the packing would. Either way, would love to see pics if you have some around. |
Posted By: phatsat67
Date Posted: February-27-2014 at 3:38pm
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You're right Tim. I thought they got rid of the packing but I just checked a 14 that is apart from the show still it has packing at the top and double 0 rings at the bottom. Wasn't thinking as clearly this morning ;). ------------- |
Posted By: bhectus
Date Posted: February-27-2014 at 9:41pm
Ain't that the truth! ------------- '02 Ski Nautique 196 w/ 5.7 Apex bowtie - Sold '87 Barefoot - sold '97 Super Sport Nautique - originally custom built for Walt Meloon '97 Ski Nautique '83 SN 2001 |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: February-28-2014 at 2:53pm
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Could be just a peculiarity of my grease gun, but if I give it more than two pumps or so, it seems like the gun end really sticks onto the fitting and it can be a hassle to get off. Almost like the pressure is keeping it on there somehow. Could be just a quirk with my zerk though 
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Posted By: backfoot100
Date Posted: February-28-2014 at 5:57pm
 ------------- When people run down to the lake to see what's making that noise, you've succeeded. Eddie |
Posted By: bhectus
Date Posted: February-28-2014 at 6:31pm
LMAO. I think dogs have that problem. You just got to wait it out.... ------------- '02 Ski Nautique 196 w/ 5.7 Apex bowtie - Sold '87 Barefoot - sold '97 Super Sport Nautique - originally custom built for Walt Meloon '97 Ski Nautique '83 SN 2001 |
Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: March-05-2014 at 5:22pm
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I pulled the rudder out of my 95, this is the boat recently picked up with 100 hours on it. The rudder was stiff, would not do a full rotation because of old stiff grease. While apart should I add a zerk fitting? On tear down my rudder grease was stiff and hardened, I will clean it and the housing add new packing and grease. The 95 does not have provision for O rings. Anything else I should do while it is out? The 95 fuel tank sure gets in the way, it has the sump in it that drops down right in front of the rudder blocking all views. I suspect this was added in preparation of using an in-tank fuel pump or an anti sloshing device to allow using the full tank of gas? |
Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: March-06-2014 at 1:32pm
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I went ahead and added a zerk fitting about 1 inch down from the bottom of the threads. Very little room in there, I could not rotate the normal tap tool so I used my drill with the tap placed in the jaws like you would mount a drill bit to thread the hole, it actually worked well, a little forward action then reverse, more forward, reverse about 10 times and it threaded all the way through. Put locktite on the zerk and screwed it in thight. After clean up inside and out. The rudder is smooth as silk now with no tight spots or drag. Now I just hope it does not leak. |