Mercury guys I need your help!
 

So I picked up an 18 Seacraft recently with an mercury xr4 engine. I am now replacing the steering to a modern sea star hydraulic cylinder. The problem is I can get the previous steering rod out of the motor. It is a j shaped rod. Both steering shaft bolts are off. I have been spraying oil as well as extra grease to the grease port. It is almost all the way out of one side but will not budge now. I have tried heavy blow hammer, tiling the engine up and down as well as soaking in penetrating oil. I have kind of run out of ideas! Any advice or even directions to something on the Internet would be greatly appreciated!

Try AeroKroil . . . it's the best penetrate I've found. We used to use it at Pratt on bolts that had seen well over 1200F, where ordinary antigallant compounds like Never Seize oxidize and turn into gallant! Check out their website: http://www.kanolabs.com/penLub.html#anchor173855

I'm going to take a stab at this

If what you have is the teleflex steering Sometimes the angle and spacing is not there to be able to take the cable all the way out. You may have to unbolt the engine to get the last little bit and get it out.
It is a pain just for the little bit.

If you are going to get rid of the cable you could cut it and then you should hev no problem getting it out

Aerokroil is the best,never let me down trying to unstick something that is rusted,,

20 years on just about every model aircraft and junker flying,Aerokroil is the top,bar none.I would cut it also,but a pic would be best to understand what exactly your dealing with. Sounds like internal corrosion may have swelled the part...

Sounds like it might be time to put the torch on it. Had the same problem with a 130 yammie, had to pull motor lay on side, heat and hammer, and even at that, it took a LONG time to get it out...but it did come out!

Don't even bother at this point trying to remove the bar from the tilt tube. Just get a new Tilt Tube. The old one is shot. You can find them online for $70ish.

http://www.bobsmachine.com/Products/...parts_Tilt.cfm

These are stainless and you'll never have the problem again. Just make sure you have the engine supported when you change it out. Either lifting eye and engine hoist or put a block of wood under the engine skeg and tilt the engine all the way down. Use your trailer tongue jack to make room so the engine is straight up and down.

Here's a few on of the stainless and non stainless variety on ebay.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercury-V6-O...-/110954190843

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercury-Stai...-/261108440530

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-MERCURY...-/390423363583

good thread;) ciao for now ssg

Thank you so much for the help guys
I have been oiling it for two days hopefully tomarrow will be the day!