Tilt assist cylinder question

[woodduck110]

Hello all, I have a 96 Evinrude 48 special which has manual tilt, apparently the tilt assist cylinder is supposed to help with lifting it. My engine will tilt up and down, but it takes a lot of effort. Do you think it has something to do with the cable on the cylinder? I have never inspected or adjusted it.

 

[boobie]

The cylinder is probably bad. But you could try to adjust the cable for it to open the valve in the cylinder more.