How does a steering ram get bent?

Projectus

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 20, 2012
Messages
38
I've finally isolated my stiff steering to one of two cables (Teleflex rack and pinion).?
The ram going through the tilt tube is slightly bent, so it catches inside the tube and makes it dangerously hard to steer.?
I'll either replace the otherwise like-new cables and racks, or try straightening the bent ram, but it would be great to know if the tilt is somehow bending that ram, or something else I'd like to avoid.?I've only had the boat one week.
It's a '93 150hp Evinrude, on a '93 Champion 176 DCR bass boat.?

I'll try adding a link here to a video.
You can how the ram begins at the bottom left, inside the tilt tube, and after pulling it out some, it is positioned at the top right of the tube. There's definitely a bend in it.

https://youtu.be/TXKxutYjqNM

Thanks for any ideas.
 
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