The rubber is more than a cushion... it's also a friction material with a higher coefficient of friction than just plain smooth metal on smooth metal.
(Like you would have by just clamping on the tube with bare Channel-locks). Put another way, it will hold better with less clamping force needed, which means less chance of bending the tube or damaging the threads.

Also, if you have a heat gun (NOT A TORCH) you might want to apply a little heat to the NUT first before you try to loosen it. The heat will make the nut expand slightly (a few thousandths of an inch), and at the same time, if there is any dried grease on the threads it will help soften it, making it easier to spin off the nut. (In much the same way that running a stuck jar lid under hot water helps loosen it so you can unscrew it). :head:

Not much difference. Marine grease (Aluminum based) has a higher resistance to water corrosion than Automotive (lithium based) grease. However... there ARE lots of different types of grease even among the two classes just mentioned, and mixing them can lead to problems. Read this article from Popular Mechanics and it explains it much better than I could.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...orrect-grease/

How goes the task Steplift? Curious if you got that nut off.

good info and article in the link Destroyer, Thx , Tom

Sorry I didn't get back to you but I just got back from a short vacation to n c I'm back now and I'm going to try it tomorrow, weather permitting I will let you know how I make out and thanks for all the help I hope it works

Well, I tried to hold the tube but no luck, honestly I'm very nervous about taking things apart since the steering is so good but I did have enough of the tube showing to grab it with channel pliers but that didn't work, the tube turned but I don't think I had a good lock on it I might try it again with the heat gun, I will keep ypu updated Thanks

I'm going to try it one more time but honestly I'm concerned I would bend the tube but I don't think that would happen I'm going to use a thin piece of rubber, I was using a thick piece and I don't think that was holding I'm not done yet I will try one more time and let you know tomorrow

You can also use a pipe wrench to hold it. It will clamp onto the tube, but (depending on the amount of force you use) it might bend the pipe, so tread carefully with that one.

I tried again today and could not get it off so I'm leaving it on and when I take my boat yo the shop I will ask them to do it, I'm having a real hard time with that nut and don't want to screw something up,,, But when I do get it off I will let all of you know Thanks for all the comments