Tilt Tube Replacement

H

homerjack

New member
I have a replacement tilt tube for my 70hp Johnson since I am replacing the steering cable and it is totally frozen in the tube. I've cut the cable on port side to ease removal. I plan to take weight off motor with hoist (is there a hoist ring under the cover (sorry I don't have boat out of water yet)? Then will loosen the port and starboard nuts. Will I still need to pound the tube out? Anything else I need to do to remove the tilt tube? I've read suggestions to pound the old tube out with the new one but that seems a sure way to damage the threads on the new tube.

Many thanks.
 
You may have to remove the motor from the transom, separate the transom brackets and remove the tilt tube from one side.

You should have a shop manual for guidance on this.
 
Well got er done with a little help. Not as bad as anticipated.

I replaced the tilt tube on a 87 Johnson 70hp because the old steering cable was hopelessly frozen in it. Some tips:

1. Pull the boat into a heated airplane hangar if you can. :)
2. Attach a hoist to the lift ring under the motor cover and barely take weight off engine.
3. Cut the old cable off on the port side and remove old cable. Will make it a lot easier.
4. if the old steering cable lead is stuck in the tube, use it to pound the tube out.
5. insert new tube as you have worked old tube about 3/4 of way out. USE A WOOD BLOCK if you are going to pound on the new tube or YOU WILL DEFINITELY mangle the threads. Also be careful that the new tube isn't misaligned as you pound it in or the threads on the other end will get mangled. Mangled threads are a big BUMMER!
6. If you have a kicker mounted on starboard side of main motor, you will have to move it to have clearance to align the new steering cable as you insert it in tilt tube.

$70 for a twelve inch pipe with threads on each end is as close to sodomy as you can get with your pants still on. $800 for hydraulic steering is probably a close second.
 
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