1996 Mercury 115 2 stroke steering cable broke off in tilt tube

[crackedglass]

A neighbor of mine bought a used Starcraft 19ft boat, the seller told him it just needs a new steering cable, and handed him the new cable. He brings it home and starts by removing it from the motor, he unscrews the nut on the end of the tube and disconnects the rod to the motor itself. He then yanks on the steering to pull the cable out, but its broke off inside.
He's got the end of the cable pulled back about flush with the end of the tube on the port side and its broke off well inside the tube from the other end. He's been hammering at it for hours but its not budging.
I tried to drill the end I could see but a drill bit won't even scratch it.
I told him to stop because I was afraid he was going to break the aluminum casting he was hitting it so hard with a metal rod shoved down into the tube.
The way it sits now there's zero movement in either direction even with a small sledge hammer.
I'm thinking its gonna need a new tube if it'll come out at all, if not, maybe a bit of heat once the tube is out of the aluminum may help coax the cable end out?

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... Just replace the tilt tube, 'n be done with it,.....

 

[Chris1956]

The tilt tube is likely steel. You will need to hang the motor by the flywheel (use flywheel lifting tool), and unbolt the 2 nuts on the tilt tube. Drive the tilt tube out of the two transom brackets and triple clamp and replace it. Crowleymarine shows the tilt tube is NLA new. You might get lucky and can match it up with a pipe nipple or try used parts on fleabay.

 

[crackedglass]

Does a 1995 90hp use the same tube?

There's a parts motor on CL for $40 that's missing its carbs.

 

[racerone]

Those tubes are fairly common.------It should be replaced.