1990 Johnson 140 hp question

[StingraySVF]

Hey does anyone know if the steering arm holes are threaded on these outboards? I'm swapping one out and each of them currently has an aftermarket steering bracket attached by what appears to be countersunk allen bolts. I've got the nuts off of the top but can't budge the bolt. I'm curious if its threaded through the steering arm or just locked in by corrosion. Any help would be great! Thanks.

[Martino110]

As I recall, they are. I seem to remember the bolt goes throught the steering linkage, screws through the tiller arm, and you put a lock nut on the bottom for good measure.

[robalo78]

They should be threaded, never seen one not threaded. If the nut was on the plate side and the bolt was not run through the plate into the arm you could take the plate off of the top of the cylinder(older seastar) or take out the swivel bolts(newer style seastar) and then remove the pans of the motor and simply pull the bracket off of the bolt and just use a new bolt. Another option is some very well placed torch heat with the pans removed.

[StingraySVF]

Thanks guys, I figured it was threaded. This setup is bolted up through from the bottom with a lock nut ontop of the top plate (removed) to secure it. Downside is that its been in place since 1990 and never removed. Not going to be fun. Worst case scenario, I'll end up drilling it and retapping. I'll give it some good heat this weekend and see what I can do. Thanks for the responses.

[SCAngler]

it's threaded