yamaha 350 Broken steer tube/ swivel assembly

[fishnick’s]

Bought a 08 grady 275 with 350 several months ago and have had it out for a few runs. After putting it in the trailer after last outing I noticed the lower end wiggling around quite a bit when putting on the motor sticks for trailering. Poked around and removed the side cover to find the steer tube at the lower mount completely severed at the top of the splines and has loose pieces falling out the bottom. Talked with a local shop they said it’s a 20+ hr job if everything comes apart well. they are booked out months and said they would wait till fall. too bad it wasn’t found when the power head was just off in december for new exhaust and 1000 hr service. anyways anyone have some ideas to keep me on the water for the summer?

 

[Halfhitch]

Time to plan a repower. Let a rebuilder do what he does and you can go your merry way. A rebuilder will give you a decent amount for your engine and put another on in one day.

 

[SkunkBoat]

Thats a substantial piece of steel to be broken.

I replaced the swivel rod (stearing bracket) on a Suzuki DF140 in my driveway. Bought a Harbor freight motor jack for $100.
Left motor bracket mounted to transom. removed LU and shift rod.
Take up weight of the motor while removing two nuts at top, two nuts at bottom (shock mounts) of swivel/steering tube
Swing motor to side. Replace swivel rod and bushings and circlip..


My complication was a snapped bolt taking the cover off the lower shock mounts. had to get that machined out and threaded at a shop.
I also replaced the lower mount because I beat the crap out of it with a hammer to get it off the bottom splines.


Dunno if it can be done on your motor. You might not have access to the heads of the upper bolts.

I seem to remember the bolt heads on the zuke were locked in place and you could remove the nuts without the bolt turning..

 

[Sardinia306Canyon]

You can try to find another shop who will do it earlier, but i fear that would be difficult in the beginning of the boating season.
Doing a repair is possible, but the F350 is a different beast and at least heavier and bulkier than a DF140.
I would first assess the conditions of the bolts, mounts and other parts to remove to avoid a horrible fight to get them loose and off and the work ends in a frustrating disaster. Those mounts on older engines are known to be totally rusted up to al level to be "welded" together what makes a removal very difficult.
I agree with what Halfhitch wrote, a repower is certainly the fastest (but most expensive way) to get her back on the water and your F350 seems to be the first A version what is well known as a very troublesome outboard so i would repower with a new or good used one.
Chris