Greasing a rudder post

[billdre]

I have a grease zerk on the fiberglass housing the supports my rudder post. This is a 1979 O'Day 28. I'm lucky enough to have the original O'Day owners manual so I looked up the maintenance list and it suggests greasing the rudder post monthly. Well since I only discovered this zerk after I've owned the boat 9 years it clearly needs to be greased. The rudder turns smoothly and evenly without any binding. There is no play in the rudder when the wheel is locked. My question, does anybody have an idea how much grease would make sense? Do I squeeze the gun until it won't take any more? Is that a way to gauge how much? How do I tell when it's full. I obviously, don't have any experience with engine or hydraulic mechanics. Thanks for the help.

[Cheechako]

I would think you dont need too much, it will just ooze out of the bearing. I would say 3-4 pumps of the grease gun.

[gamayun]

When I greased my rudder post, it oozed out somewhere, which I can't recall now exactly where that was, but you'll just know when it's enough. I also didn't know about the zerks for 5 years and I doubt anyone greased the rudder durung the prior 25 years before I bought her. Luckily there was only some slight pitting in one spot.