85 25sk stuck steering

[trilight]

Greetings all, I am new to your forum. I was recently given a 85 yam 25sk. Got her running and pissing, idleing, all was well till I mounted her and found the steering to be stuck. The bolt which holds the friction plate is missing, and the grease which I fished out of the hole was gritty initially, but after rubbing between my fingers liquified. The tube seems stuck, and I am trying to free it without tearing the motor apart. There are some corrosion issues. At the momment I am soaking the tube with a solvent, will let that sit for a while, am also considering heat. It seems the grease is old and has solidified, any ideas, thanx trilight

[boats.net]

May have to use a heat gun and heat up enough to loosen grease and get it moving.