Steering Cable replacement

[rfroese]

Bought my first boat in June this year. I have been using it ever since. The steering was pretty stiff when I bought it. I decided to finally do something about it and I think I jammed the steering cable inside the tilt tube.

I can tell the tilt tube was gummed up with old grease. I have seen on some youtube videos where people just get a hammer and force the sucker out. Started banging on it and it moved for about 10 inches and got stuck. The rod is starting to bend and I have no idea what to do now. I used some mineral spirits to try and clean it out some but now it will not budge. I don't make much money and my wife doesn't work. Which is the reason I haven't taken it to a marine repair shop yet. Is there anything I can do to get it out and fix it myself?

Lastly, is it possible to replace only one of the cables in a dual rack and pinion system? Or do I have to replace the whole thing?

[Materman2007]

Take one off at a time to see witch is frozen

[pmgoffjr]

Your enemy is grease.
NEVER put grease on a steering cable. EVER. It will always dry out, cake up and pack in the tube.
Usually you can restore it with penetrating oil and some sweat, spray/wipe/spray/wipe up in the tube until you've gotten lube up to the helm.
Then only use silicone/lithium/penetrating oil to keep it slick.
And yes you can replace one cable if you like.