URGENT Tilt tube removal

[joethefish]

Hi all... I have a 20hp two cyl. Mariner.. think its late 80's maybe early 90's anyway im overhauling it and am now stuck.. the tilt tube was rusted solid and ungreased. I have the parts to replace it but i cant get the old one out? Any suggestions? Is it screwed in place at all or just held by the big nylon nuts (now removed) Its had a liberal dosing with penetrating oil etc. But wont budge. I tilt the engine using large amounts of force (a big hammer) which leads me to believe i should be able to drift the tube clear but so far no luck with the before mentioned big hammer. Am i missing something?
Thanks in advance.
Joe

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: URGENT Tilt tube removal

Copius amounts (lots) or torch heat. Queched with penetranting oils.

Then with twisting and hammering they sometimes will start to loosen.

Then as the end bells out and wouldn't go through if it had to, cut off flush and use a threaded rod type puller with the proper end.

Sometimes it's easier to run a saw through the tube where accessable and take it out in pieces.

 

[joethefish]

Re: URGENT Tilt tube removal

Cheers for that.. hadn't even thought of the saw idea.. thinking thats probably less work all round as its really rusted in there.
Anyone confirm whether or not the Mariner tilt tube is screwed in at one end, as the current tube has thread that stops before the bracket one end and thread that continues beyond the bracket the other, also the new tube is the same. About half as much thread again one end. Dont want to saw through any internal thread on the bracket.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: URGENT Tilt tube removal

When I said run a saw through it I meant cross wise.

Sometinmes there is a gap underneath where a middle section can be removed.

But with the middle section removed it may make the puller technique more (or less) of a probleme getting it set up.

I guess if you had cut out a center section then went in and sliced the remaining sections you could fold in what's left, but I haven't tried that.

Generally the tubes are not screwed in.

Heat is your friend. More than a saw.

The aluminum will expand much more than the steel tube.

Before you go cutting off anything you can grab ahold of, use lots of heat followed by quenching with oils and working with pliers till loosened.