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Does anyone see a downside to installing mid-shaft bushing grease zirt? '04 x 225 x 25"

B

btravlin2

Regular Contributor
Back again.....I was able to study the situation today. Once I removed the plastic cowling I could see that the bushing housing is immediately behind the front chassis wall (see pic), meaning that no extension of the zirt is necessary. It would be a direct shot straight into the bushing.

The spot in the picture is where I would drill and tap for a 1/8" zirt. I would drill a small hole in the bushing as well so the grease can get to the shaft.

The only reason I see offhand for this not working is that I don't know how long the grease would remain effective. Would I have to grease every 25 hrs, 50 hrs, 100 hrs? I just don't know. It only takes 5-6 mins to remove the plastic cowling and grease it, so the time to do it isn't important, but if I had to do this every 10-15 hrs it would be pointless.

If I went this route, I would have to plug the tiny hole in the vertical water shaft, as there is no point in mixing saltwater with grease.

Like many ideas, this sounds interesting at first glance, but I'd like to hear feedback. Is there something I'm missing? What unintended consequences do you guys see?

Thanks all.....
 

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Hi Pilotart......this bushing failure is a widely known Honda issue on the older motors. Search here or on other web sources and you'll see this frequently talked about. It was designed to be water lubed and flushed, but the flushing didn't go so well. Salt/corrosion built up between the outer wall of the bushing and the inner wall of it's housing. The pictures of this failure, if not caught early, are ugly and expensive.

I'm trying to avoid buying a new extension leg casing for both motors. I think there is a good chance I can save the ones I have, but I'll have to get creative......and that can only mean improving the situation to the point where no more corrosion takes place. The saltwater flushing design on these motors simply didn't work.

If I can keep grease in that bushing, and saltwater off it, that bushing might last 1,000 hrs or more. The question to me is......how long will grease stay in the thin gap between the drive shaft and the bushing wall?

Well, I just thought of another question: the water acted to cool as well. Grease may be slippery, but it won't cool.
 
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