mercruiser frozen steering

[dakota69]

1994 alpha one stern drive.
Steering frozen, decided to replace steering wheel, helm, steering cable with
kit. Unable to get end of steering cable out. removed large nut and cotter pin and retaining pin on end. Have been using wd 40, and tugging on cable by nut, also tried pounding end to drive it out, as well as prying through retaining pin hole. I had read on other thread that i might try heating
sleeve . Has anyone else had this experience and recommend any particular solution?
thx

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: mercruiser frozen steering

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Techbk/97/97hs5.pdf this may help. AVOID pounding on the end of the cable.you will peen it over and it will never come out of the tube. Heat ans oil will work to free it from the tube, pipewrench`s too

 

[dakota69]

Re: mercruiser frozen steering

have been pouring on the penetrating oil and elbow grease.
Heating and tugging and heating and tugging.
Moved about 1" today.
Any other ideas out there?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: mercruiser frozen steering

More heat and a pipe wrench or two to spin the tube

 

[dakota69]

Re: mercruiser frozen steering

More heat and a pipe wrench or two to spin the tube

do you mean to take a pipe wrench to the exposed mid section
of the steering cable between the aluminum tube and the clevis pin?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: mercruiser frozen steering

inch or so behind where the clevis pin would go and the tube where the nuts are.
This power steering? and if so early or late type cylinder.

 

[dakota69]

Re: mercruiser frozen steering

inch or so behind where the clevis pin would go and the tube where the nuts are.
This power steering? and if so early or late type cylinder.

1994 350 magnum i/o, yes, power steering or assist.
type cylinder?
tried again tonight with two other guys, heating, tugging on cable, more
penetrating oil.
Considering taking large nut attached to tube off and or removing clevis pin from other tube and trying to remove entire apperature. I am willing to replace the hole thing at this point, or maybe take an ax to it, whichever comes first.

 

[dakota69]

Re: mercruiser frozen steering

update.
final solution, we were able to remove the nut holding the entire
tube and cable. Placed in vice and pounded end of steering cable to drive out of tube. Tube had minimal buildup inside yet was seized up.
Reamed out with wire brush and used mercruiser 101 grease and new cable slid right in. Works great now