Push-pull steering cables pass through the inside of the tilt tube. If the inside of the tilt tube becomes corroded or the grease becomes hard the outboard will be hard to turn. If a tilt tube can't be successfully cleaned due to badly corroded metal it can always be replaced.

Replacing the tilt tube

The condition of the tilt tube affects the outboard's ability to both tilt up and down and for the steering cable to side freely and turn the motor.