1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

[heyblue]

Inherited boat with 67 mercury engine. Sat for a long time, used in salt water.
Steering wheel will not turn. Removed nut on side cable enters and as it slides out the steering wheel turns.'
Removed motor rod which connects on other side. Motor rotates fine.
The shaft which exits the tube on the non cable side is non movable.
I am tempted to give it a great whack with my precision hammer. Thinking it may break loose, or will it just break?
The tube which seems like it is also part of the pivot for the motor rising up does not seem to have any dings in it.
Any opinions. Thanks in advance.
Everett

 

[colbyt]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

With my limited experience and based on what I have read it is time for a new cable. The cables seem to be the weak link in this type of steering system. So your BFH can't hurt anything unless you miss the target.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

sounds like your tilt tube is rusted up.

 

[heyblue]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

I am thinking you are right about the tilt tube. I still have the urge to give it a good hit with that calibrated inertia producing hand held manual anti freeze tool.

Looks like I would need to remove the motor from the boat to replace that tube. Is that correct?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

use a heat gun as well. I used a 28 oz ball peen before I used a 5# fist maul.

 

[heyblue]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

Thanks;
Started hitting it with increasing blows. It started to move, had to pound it all the way out, but all looks good except for some rust. Once out. the steering wheel operates the shaft smoothly. Plan on running something through the tube to clean it out then greasing shaft and reassembling. If there a preferred grease, seems I read on another post that some types are not good for the steering gear/shafts/cables.
Everett

 

[Maxz695]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

i would first use alot of PB Blaster to insure the tube is clear of all rust after reeming it to death. Any wheel bearing greese should serve it well when reinseting the not so virgin cable shaft into her

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

I would buy a new tilt tube, they also make them in stainless.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

I would see If the motor has Good compression.
You have got to drop the lowerend to see what the drive shaft looks like. They where carbon steel and prone to rust. .02

 

[heyblue]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

All
Thanks for the comments/suggestions.
I do not know what PB Blaster is.
The compression is about 125 +/- 3psi on each cylinder on first spin with starter.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: 1967 Mercury Outboard Steering

It,s a very good penetrating and anti rust lubricant that you can get at any auto store. PB Blaster