Hey Josh

How did you go with this? I went through the same exercise last week on my Yam 70, 96 model.

I think the tilt tube was as old as the motor!

I loosened my motor (but left it bolted), taking the weight with an engine hoist which is a must from what I read. Bashing it with a hammer and tube loosened it but the excessive rust in the centre section of the tube (which is exposed to the elements) wouldn't allow me to bash it through. I ended up cutting out the centre by making a small cut with a grinder, then pivoting the tube using the bracket allowing me to cut all the way around. Two cuts, one on either end of the exposed/rusty section of the tube to drop it out.

Next was to bash the starboard side through into the centre section until it dropped out, using a hammer and steel tube (and my hand as padding from time to time). Next was to use the same tube, again from the starboard side to knock through the remaining port side section of the old tilt tube, which is the part (on mine) with the welded nut on it.

I'd tried heat, Loctite Freeze penetrant but there was no chance with it intact due to the excess rust on that centre section.

If you have already sorted it out, maybe someone else will get benefit from myhead-scratching and hand bashing!

Cheers

Craig

yer i got it sorted i hoisted the motor but unbolted it tried to bash it through but no luck ended up unbolting the mounting bracket and twisting it while pulling it away from the motor and the tube come out with it then just put the tube in a vise and twisted the other half off was the same but tried a lot of bolt loosen-er and tried knocking it through for ages but when we changed tactics was a lot easier