If you have a tiller steer outboard and the steering is stiff the problem. If you have forward controls and your outboard is turned by a Teleflex push/ pull cable, the problem may either be the cable or the swivel bracket on the outboard. The video below will help you determine which problem you are having.

The Teleflex steering cable is corroded

If you disconnect the outboard drag link and the wheel is still hard to turn the steering system has a fault.

The pivot tube is seized or corroded

If you disconnect the outboard drag link and the wheel is easy to turn but the outboard is hard to move on the transom then the pivot tube is starting to seize up.

Steering friction bolt is too tight or too loose.

Smaller outboards sometimes have a friction pad against the pivot tube that can be tightened if you steering is too lose. This is a useful feature when using an outboard that is steered using a tiller handle.

Cleaning the tilt tube

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.