Seized Steering Tube Bolt

**Whaaaaat** · 02-25-2021, 07:51 AM

Your not trying to save the rod, new steering will come with one. Heat then cool, heat then cool, then put a pipe wrench on it and start twisting it back and forth.

**H2OPERF** · 02-25-2021, 11:24 AM

Find a piece of pipe to slip over the rod that will mate up to the tilt/ steering tube, then have someone hold the unit with the pipe end on the floor or at least put the entire bracket sideways up against a piece of wood. All your hammer energy is being dispersed thru all the parts.

**Glastron1987** · 02-25-2021, 12:03 PM

Yeah the twist should help a lot with the heating and cooling. Get a lot of leverage on it. Several feet, not just a wrench.

**DangerNewb** · 02-25-2021, 12:20 PM

Thanks to everyone. Several more ideas to try. Still soaking PB for the time being. I haven't heated, twisted or hammered again since my initial attempt. Will work on it this eve.

**WaterZebra** · 02-25-2021, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by DangerNewb

Thanks to everyone. Several more ideas to try. Still soaking PB for the time being. I haven't heated, twisted or hammered again since my initial attempt. Will work on it this eve.

If you have access to a press, turn the whole mess on its side and press the bolt out using a socket and drift (another long bolt). Better than heating of hammering the thing.

**KIRCHNER** · 02-25-2021, 05:35 PM

that tube doesnt move for hyd steering...... hope you didnt mess the threads. that tube just tilts...

**KIRCHNER** · 02-25-2021, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by DangerNewb

Any master mechanic tips and tricks to get the bolt out of the steering/tilt tube? Bought a used ROS mid and the bolt is stuck. Any advice other than penetrating oil and/or heat? I was told to just leave it there and mount to it. I'm not seeing how hydraulic steering can be mounted without the bolt being able to slide back and forth?

I'm referring to the long stainless bolt that goes through the entire clamp.

that tube doesnt slide for hyd steering, leave it, its just for TILT. THE ram moves, not the ROD.

**KIRCHNER** · 02-25-2021, 05:42 PM

STOP! THAT tube stays, ram slides, not rod.

**25two.stroke** · 02-25-2021, 05:47 PM

Yeah everyone has made it pretty clear that he could put a seastar ram on there as it is and go, but he wants the rod out...cause who like parts that they know are stuck. I couldn't sleep at night knowing I had a part that was seized up even if I knew it didn't need to move.

Any steering kit he gets in the future will come with that rod, so theres no sense in trying to save it. That rod is the loss of the previous owner.

**KIRCHNER** · 02-25-2021, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by 25two.stroke

Yeah everyone has made it pretty clear that he could put a seastar ram on there as it is and go, but he wants the rod out...cause who like parts that they know are stuck. I couldn't sleep at night knowing I had a part that was seized up even if I knew it didn't need to move.

Any steering kit he gets in the future will come with that rod, so theres no sense in trying to save it. That rod is the loss of the previous owner.

SO, lets beat it to death, mushroom the ends out, more heat, bigger hammer. so we can put it back the way it was when we started. lets think about that..

**25two.stroke** · 02-25-2021, 06:12 PM

Put in nicer words to keep this site "work friendly" :

Remove steering rod and replace with new one. He was asking for advise on how to do this.
@KIRCHNER I don't see that you have provided any advise on this original question.

**FUJIMO** · 02-25-2021, 06:41 PM

**KIRCHNER** · 02-25-2021, 06:42 PM

what i read was, he thought it had to move, to install hyd steering. he clearly said that. as long as the tube tilts not seized, i would leave it, but if it must be removed, i would tilt the unit to full up [trailer position; this will relax the load somewhat on the rod. years of full load, power trimming can wear a ridge on rod, both ends making things worse. some clamps have a zerk, in center. if the rod is out, 2 additional zerks canbe drilled in front, what factory should have done. friends?

**FUJIMO** · 02-25-2021, 06:46 PM

...my extensive ex-saltwater merc v-6 clamp working experience went with the above. out in 60 seconds. just make sure you have an 80 gallon upright compressor or equivalent to power it...

**KIRCHNER** · 02-25-2021, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

...my extensive ex-saltwater merc v-6 clamp working experience went with the above. out in 60 seconds. just make sure you have an 80 gallon upright compressor or equivalent to power it...

you lucked out. i was not so lucky, never got it out.