New steering cable- should it move freely in bravo 3 power actuator?

[Darkhorse1201]

I have a 99 270 DA with a Mercruiser 7.4 and Bravo 3. It has power steering with a late model power steering actuator. I had to replace the steering cable as it was frozen. When i was installing new cable (fun that that was) the new cable end was tough to push thru the steering actuator. I got it thru and have the pin in but now very hard to turn the ateering wheel with engine off. Is that how it should be- like a car with power steering and engine off?
Or should there be some interferance to make the actuator move a bit and this will be fine once i get it running again?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Did you clean the tube with a wire or brass shotgun cleaning head? The cable should go in easily with no binding thru the guide tube Every season you need to manually apply grease to the rod to prevent binding

 

[Darkhorse1201]

I can push the new cable in until the head (where clevis pin goes thru) is about about an inch. After that its very tough to push but using steering wheel it will continue to extend out of tube.
But now thinking i should remove it and clean it better. I did originally and old cable end went thru fine.