Trouble Removing Steering Cable. (Pics attached)

[ERock82]

I am trying to remove my outboard from my transom to replace with a new motor. I am just going to trash the old one. I think the steering cable is seized and I cannot get it to move out. I have sprayed PB Blaster on it with no luck. I haven't tried heat but I don't have access to a blow torch and don't want to buy one unless there's a high chance it might work.

I am attaching pics for you to see. On Pic 3 you can see the rusted threads where the end of the cable (port side) is. That is what won't budge and I assume that should slide right through to the other side and come out.

The steps I went through are as follows:
1.) I undid the large nut that was on the starboard side.
2.) I turned the steering wheel all the way to the right and the steering cable rod came out several inches from the side.
3.) With the motor already unbolted from transom, I tried sliding to the port side to pull the cable out.
4.) I then picked motor off of boat and tried yanking out
5.) I tried using vice grips on the seized side (port) to see if it would budge.
6.) I sprayed with PB Blaster


What can I do?
How hard is it to install a new cable? I saw they are around $125 to $150 dollars. Could I just hacksaw the cable off and replace with a new?

I would ideally like to save this cable but I don't know how. Please Help!
Since I am trashing this motor and bracket, any odd unconventional method to save this cable is useful to try.

Maybe I am just doing something wrong. Thanks!

 

[cr2k]

Yes you can hack saw it off on one end or the other as close to the tilt tube as you can then get a drift punch and see if you can drive it out.. Care must be taken NOT to damage or spread/mushroom the end or it will never go through the tube. The punch you want is slightly smaller dia then the rod and flat on the end so it doesn't spread the rod.
Keep up the PB Blaster too.

 

[Bob_VT]

Use a brass punch so you do not mushroom the head of the old one. Yes we have seen them stuck like that and it is a pain. I can tell you the old cable at this point is trash.

Keep hitting it, use a bigger hammer and lost of penetrant. Oce the cable is out use a shotgun 12 Gauge cleaning brush to clean out that steering rod.

 

[bonz_d]

Not saving engine. Angle grinder with a cut off wheel and start cutting. Just don't cut thru the tilt tube.

 

[lmuss53]

I would try driving it out with a block of wood and a hammer to get it back to and then through that rusty nut. That is probably where it's binding and if you can get it past there you can probably save it.

 

[bonz_d]

What can I do?
How hard is it to install a new cable? I saw they are around $125 to $150 dollars. Could I just hacksaw the cable off and replace with a new?

I would ideally like to save this cable but I don't know how. Please Help!
Since I am trashing this motor and bracket, any odd unconventional method to save this cable is useful to try. Thanks!

What can you do?
Easiest yet most expensive is to cut it off and start over with new.

Trashing the motor and bracket.
Cut the bracket and tilt tube and nuts along the steering rod while not cutting into the cable or end as I suggested above. It's trashed anyways. Why beat yourself to death?