[THEFERMANATOR]

First thing to do is to take the cable loose from the engine. If it's still tight then the next step is to pull the cable out of the tilt tube, if it's still tight take the cable loose from the helm and see if the helm is tight. I've seen tilt tubes go bad in just a few months if a regular steel one was used and not kept greased. I know HONDA only sells a steel one, thats why I had to swap one in out of an EVINRUDE. Same length, same OD, but HONDA used a metric nut on the one side. So swapped over to the EVINRUDE SAUe nut, and the stainless tilt tube went right in. There is no reason for a NFB helm to be stiff. The only thing it shouldn't do is allow the engine to easily turn the helm, but when you turn it at the helm it should easily turn.