Steering cable nut
 

I have a older Johnson 140 hp, the nut on the starboard side of the tilt tube that the steering cable goes thru is on so tight ,will it be ok to use a tourch to heat it to try to loosen it so I can free up the steering cable, will I damage anything?

You wil lmelt the nylon bushings out of the castings if you get it very hot.

That's what I thought so to get it to off I just have to use pb blaster and patience it's really stuck on a lot of rust

You could use a chisel and split the nut

Or use a small angle grinder with a cut-off wheel to split the nut without beating on it. I don't know your setup, if it makes a difference if you whack or not.

Be careful not to mushroom the cable end if you beat on it, ask me how I know.

Let me guess

On my cable, that nut is "captive" on a metal sleeve on the cable. If you cut it off, you will need a new cable. I found I have to hold the sleeve with vise grips while turning the nut or it will try to twist the whole cable.

Hope you get what I'm talking about...