Loose Steering on Bravo 1

[bigsbetter]

My 1988 Convincor w/ Bravo 1 has a lot of slop in the outdrive. You can move the outdrive about 6-7 inches before the steering wheel moves.It has a ney steering cable. Some of the slop is in a few bushings and pins, but most of it is coming from the tiller handle the connects to the outdrive. I can see it from the outside of the boat. It's the part that the steering cable connects to on the inside and then goes through the gimble housing and connects to the outdrive, this is where it is loose the most and the outside part. Where it is loose there is 2 nuts and I tried tightening them but it did not help. The nuts look like they would have squeezed the splines tighter. If someone knows what I'm talking about, can I repair or make this better in 1 day? Is there a trick I can do to get me by for now? It effects the boat when you're full throttle and then back out of it, then the boats darts to the left. I need some answers fast as I've got plans with the boat and family members Sunday. Thank you,

[vinny p.]

Unfortunetly, the tiller arm and the pin will need to be replaced. To do the job right, the engine has to come out and the gimbal removed. You are asking for a disaster to happen running around like that. Make the repairs asap.

[bigsbetter]

I replaced the entire transome on my 21' Scarab. When I removed the gimble housing I just left the engine in it and suported the engine w/ a block of wood under the oil pan. That was a small block w/alpha out drive. Will the Bravo be the same way? I appreciate your knoledgable expierence vinnyp.

[vinny p.]

Yes, they are basically the same. While I have never attempted it, I suppose it is possible to do this job with the engine in providing you can get to the bolts. I dont see why you would want to try it that way. Unless you have no means of lifting the engine out. It would be a whole lot easier to just pull it.