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I just installed the SteersmanNut on the steering cable of my new 150 Montauk/60 HP Merc. Manual says you can use grease or gear lube, although it's tougher to get the gear lube injected in there. Which are you using (if you have the steersmannut)!
On a Mercury engine, before installing a Steersman grease zerk nut, you have to first remove the factory o-ring seal inside the port side of the tilt tube. Since the Steersman has it's own o-ring seal, with the Mercury o-ring in place, you have a 1" long space where the grease can go, trapped between the two seals. You will not be able to get grease into the tube and past the Mercury seal. With a Steersman, this inner seal is no longer needed, since it works against the Steersman principle.
The Steersmannut also replaces the factory port side tilt tube nut. The principle is simple - with the factory inner tilt tube o-ring removed, and with the Steersmannut slid out on the steering arm, you can work grease easily into the tilt tube lubricating the steering rod and prevent freeze up. Then with the nut tightened back up, you can inject a grease "plug", behind the Steersman seal, keeping the steering rod well lubricated and working freely, and keeping dirt and grit out. But yet even with a worn out seal in place, you still can't get new grease in behind it, nor keep the tilt tube clean.
The Steersman can also be completely taken off the steering rod, and a new seal installed in the nut, as needed.
The problem with the Mercury tilt tube seal is that it can't be serviced and replaced without pulling the steering cable partially out of the engine, often a problem. So the seal never gets replaced, and the dirt and salt gets in, seizing the steering.
The main purpose of a Steersmannut is that it makes the steering rod easy to lubricate as needed, and to work grease in BEHIND the seal.
So, I should also remove the large tilt tube nut on the port side, and I presume there is a seal behind it, then reinstall the steersman?
Funny, there is no mention of this in the Steersman instructions.
You should remove the original Mercury nut. A couple of large wrenches will be required. The Steersmannut replaces the Mercury nut to hold the tilt tube in place. But to get the original Mercury o-ring seal out, you will have to unscrew the steering on the starboard side, disconnect the link arm, turn steering rod all the way in, and back the cable out so you can access the o-ring. It can then be pried out.
Then re-screw the steering on the starboard side, and you can work grease into the tilt tube by turning the wheel back and forth. Then slide the steersmannut on, and tighten down.
the link arm can then be reconnected.
Now you will have a system that allows you to service and re-grease the steering anytime it's needed, and will never freeze up. Replace the Steersman o-ring if you see the steering rod accumulating exposed grease. To keep the steering rod well greased, now all you have to do is unscrew the steersman and slide it out to the link arm connection, work grease in behind it, and re-attach.
