Possible broken steering rod cannot be removed from steering tube at the cable end

The problem started with the steering frozen and the engine locked in position. I removed the idler arm connecting the 90 HP Mercury engine to the steering rod eyelet. The engine moved freely. I proceeded to connect a puller to the steering rod eyelet to see if I could free the steering rod and cable without success. The steering rod was frozen in position. After removing the steering cable nut from the tube the eyelet end of the steering rod remained in place and the steering rod itself extended about 10 inches before hitting a solid metal dead end and will not extract from the steering tube. I have held the rod with vise grips and jerked against the rod without success thinking it was corroded. The cable was supposedly replaced by the original owner about 3 years ago without incident. This is my first boat and motor so please advise.

Re: Possible broken steering rod cannot be removed from steering tube at the cable en

Be careful not to hammer on the end of the steering rod, as this will mushroom it and you will have more trouble. Put a pipe wrench on the steering rod and try to move it front to back. If it moves at all, spray with penetrating oil and continue to rock it. If you continue spraying it, wiping it and rocking it, it will eventually work loose.

if that fails, gently heat the motor tilt tube and see if it will loosen up. Penetrating oil is good here as well, but watch out for fire.

Re: Possible broken steering rod cannot be removed from steering tube at the cable en

The worst case really isn't all that bad. You can support the engine by a proper lifting setup, (probably an eye screwed into the flywheel) and remove the cable and tilt tube as a unit. Then replace the tilt tube with new and install new steering.

If you're going this route, Leave the clamp bolted to the transom, saw off the cable, do the above, then when the tilt tube is installed, remove the bolts from the clamp so the engine can swing and you can install the new cable.

Any sky hook will do, tree and comealong, overhead rail, gib crane, engine lift, etc.