2004 3.0 cable stirred stiff steering

[Dgolly]

I have a 04 3.0 mercruiser alpha one outdrive with stiff steering. I unhooked the cable behind the motor and the steering wheel turns fine, but outside the boat the outdrive is VERY hard to turn and makes a screeching noise when it's all the way to one side. I figure it's the swivel shafts. Any tip on a fix for this? This boat is new to me and I'm pretty sure it has sit alot the past few years....

 

[E22]

Had the same issue. The swivel will corrode over time, especially if used in saltwater. Reach up inside the motor compartment and spray a bunch of PB Blaster on the hinge from the inside, work the steering back and forth, spray again, repeat until it frees up. I periodically spray some Fluid Film in there couple times a season to keep it from seizing up again and it works for me. My mechanic said he could drill and tap a grease fitting from the outside if the issue continued but so far haven't needed to go to that step. Hope this helps.