Removing Steering Rod From Tilt Tube

[SBoulden]

Hello everyone, I have a old 650 Merc and wish to replace it with a 50 HP johnson. I have everything removed expect the steering rod from the tilt tube. So I hammered the whole tilt tube rod and all free from the mercury and removed the engine. Only now I still cant seem to get the Rod free. The rod will move inside the tilt tube when I steer the wheel but it wont slide out. Now of course I removed the large locking nut on the end of the tube that locks the cable in place and I have pulled on it with all my might and it just wont come. If I turn the wheel with the lock nut free the cable actually starts to come out from the inside of the tilt tube but the steering rod will stay put. If you have any ideas of what I may be doing wrong or what else I can try that doesnt require a new cable I would be great full thank you.

 

[bgbass.1]

Re: Removing Steering Rod From Tilt Tube

I ran into that problem when you take motor off slide motor to left side and it will come out i know it sounds wierd but i couldnt think of any thing else at the moment

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Removing Steering Rod From Tilt Tube

The outer case of the steering cable appears to be corroded to the tilt tube. You probably need to put some penetrating oil on the steering rod - to - tilt tube joint. Heat it up with a propane torch, remove th torch and spray the oil onto the joint. Watch for fire. The heat diffeential should suck some of the oil in, and loosen some of the corrosion. Repeat until you can use two pipe wrenches and rotate the steering rod inside the tilt tube. It will eventually come off.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Removing Steering Rod From Tilt Tube

Try PB Blaster penetrating oil. It's the best I've ever found.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Removing Steering Rod From Tilt Tube

I got a boat and motor cheap one time because the mechanic couldn't get the steering off to store the motor off the boat for the winter. Turned out that there was a slightly swaged part threaded on the end of the cable that wouldn't go through the tube. Turned it off and the rest slid right out.

The one I had was a 20 h single cable about the vintage you're talking about.

hope it helps
John

 

[SBoulden]

Re: Removing Steering Rod From Tilt Tube

thanks guys ill give all those ideas a try and let you know!

 

[jimmyd35]

Re: Removing Steering Rod From Tilt Tube

remove nut from tilt tube turn steering right it will move steering cable shaft out of the tilt tube squirt a lot of rust blaster wd40 into tube work back and forth keep spaying until you get all the crap out of there and fluid is fairly clean then put more in install nut an tighten using a bull pin or steel shaft in the steering shaft hole have some one tap it while you work the steering wheel back and forth keep doing this until it comes clean and moves freely this worked for me make sure the tilt tube is tilted a little to keep the fluid in i have come to the conclusion the only way to lube the steering shaft is by removing the cable nut and lubing inside the tilt tube the grease fiting on the casting only seams to lube the tilt tube