Re: '56 Johnson, siezed "steering column"?
My 28hp parts motor came that way. Over the years the grease dries out and stiffens up. But first back of the 'Co-Pilot' steering friction screw on the top right side of the 'steering column'. It ought to have a spring behind it to hold the adjustment.<br /><br />I would first try spraying lots of penetrating oil between the joint at the top of the column, and at the joint at the bottom just above the two brackets that join it to the mid-section. The presumably frozen bearing surfaces of the swivel are only at these two places. Unfortunately, there is an o-ring sealing the bottom one: I don't know if spraying it is going to do it a lot of good. So concentrate on the top joint. Actually, completely remove the 'co-pilot' screw and spray in there too.<br /><br />If that doesn't help, try heating it up with a propane torch. The bushings are fibrous and will not melt down like a nylon one. As soon as you get it free, start pumping fresh grease in the two zirks on the column.<br /><br />It's amazing how well old grease will fuse two parts together. Removing the steering bracket should be a last resort for two reasons. The rubber isolators have aluminium studs that will twist off when you try to remove the nuts from them, and to remove the fifth isolator you must first remove the engine to access it's nut.<br /><br />Hope this helps!
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