Install a grease fiiting on rudder port?

[JC McCavit]

What type & size of grease fitting do you use when installing a grease fitting on the rudder port of a 1997 Nautique?

[gator1]

Go down to NAPA and buy a standard grease zerk. Don't forget to get the right size drill and tap, its not a standard bolt thread on the zerk. It's well worth the effort. You'll be amazed at how much better she'll steer.

[BraceMaker]

Usually a tapered thread as I recall.

 

When you drill/tap, put grease on your tap, back it out frequently and wipe off the shards of metal, keeps it much cleaner.

[Phil2360]

Had one for years, but only greased it on rare occasions as the rudder bush is buried down behind the fuel tank.

 

Removed it & put in an 18" remote grease hose so it's now easily accessible.

Remote hose stockist should be easy to find.

 

 

[east tx skier]

Got a link to that remote grease hose? I got one when I had my rudder swapped out for the tunable sort (99+) and would like to make hitting it with the grease less of a chore.

[Phil2360]

It's basically a grease gun hose. Easiest thing to to is take the grease nipple to a supplier & they'll find everything you need to fit.

Bearing Centres are a good place to go, type that stocks heaps of bearings, filters, belts & pulleys etc.

 

Here's one like I used, just needed a female bush on the end & a grease nipple:-

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-inch-flexible-grease-hose-92657.html

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_13651.jpg

[east tx skier]

Good deal. Thanks!

[DW]

Threads are normally 1/4" NPT for grease zerks but straight threaded ones are also available. If you don't want to order or go to your local Harbor Freight and end up buying another $100 in cheap tools, you could probably get the fitting and hose from a local auto parts store:) PS: they do have cheap 8" digital calipers!

[bogboy]

@JC McCavit. May I suggest an alternative. My factory rudder port on my 2002 s/n was one of the years that did not have a zerk fitting, I was told due to some environmental problem/ requirement with a lack if rubber seal containment issues. But the 196 series from around 2004 through 2009 did have a factory zerk in the rudder port, along with rubber O rings that the non zerk ports did not have. I made a call to the natique, and was told that my 2002 port is an exact match to the 2004-2009 series, and they highly recommended for me to buy and install the updated port with the factory zerk and O rings, which would be much better than drilling, tapping, and installing a zerk to a port without O rings. I did just this, had my local dealer do the instal, and I couldn't be happier with the outcome. There may be an updated port with a zerk/O ring available for your year of s/n. I hope this helps, good luck.

[Roger]

I had a 2002 SN with no port and twice a year or so, I would simply drop the rudder and clean and grease the port. I never installed a zerk because I noticed that the grease after a few months tends to turn into a sort of scale and I'm not sure just pumping new grease in there would be as effective as dropping, cleaning and re-greasing. The whole process took me like 30 minutes twice a year...