Mine didn't have glue holding it to the transom but it wasn't easy to come off. Maybe because my transom wood wasn't all rotted out it was a tighter fit. Bashed/gashed my head on the tailpipe pulling and prying. It SUCKED. Adhesive here and there is what I did going back together. Next time I'd wait for the adhesive to cure before trying to reinstall the transom assy.

Toss the tiller arms and buy new pivots(with a fresh seal surface), spacer(instead of tiller), seal and bushing from IMCO, or the IMCO HP ring assy, or just make a spacer.
With the tiller gone, spacer instead, I can remove the gimble ring without taking the engine out......if I needed to. 2 people and a large short wrench.

I broke a ring and went to IMCO's. They are much beefier around the hinge. They have beefier transom assy's too but I cheaped out..

I'm replacing the transom assembly gaskets on my boat. Has anyone found something that will remove the glue that Merc used originally to glue the gasket to the housing with out removing the paint? I want to get this as clean as possible to be sure I get a good seal but can't seem to get the old glue off.

Specs Thinner

I used a wire wheel on a dremmel

Having the same problem. cant get glue off old gasket. Any luck with anything?

Picklenjim suggested "Specs Thinner" but I was not able to find that. I tried lacquer thinner, gas, wd40, paint thinner, goo remover and other stuff. None dissolved and removed the glue. Had to just scrape and wire brush and then I touched up any areas that the paint was gone. A small wire brush on a Dremel type tool may be the quickest.