Bravo 1 steering locked up
 

I have a 1988 baja force 265 with a 454 and a bravo 1. The motor was rebuilt last year and ever since then it has been really hard to turn to the left. I don't know if something happened in that process or if maybe some water got in the tube just needed lubrication .Well yesterday it totally seized up on me and wouldn't turn either direction, unfortunately I tried to muscle through it and some kind of bracket broke off the steering wheel and now the wheel turns freely but doesn't turn the drive. So now I have 2 problems instead of 1. Really looking for any input here on how to fix and if it's something I should be able to do myself or have to get a mechanic to do. Also what cost I may be looking at. I have no experience with mechanical steering and cables so that's why I need any input available and appreciate all advice.

You probably snapped the steering cable or broke the cable helm. Either or both could have been the cause of the original issue also.

Have you changed both before? Is it a bad job or not too bad?

I have also seen the transom assemblies corroded so badly where the upper gimbal ring hinge pin rests that the steering is really bad. I have replaced all three in the past. The transom assembly will need the engine removed to replace. The steering cable and helm are not too bad.

Can you swing the outdrive from side to side from outside boat smoothly, will have some resistance.
If you remove the steering actuator (brazilian valve) from the drive (inside boat @ transom), can you swing the outdrive from outside easily w/o binding?

You cannot move the out drive at all from outside the boat right now. But I haven't removed anything or unhooked anything yet