Throttle Rod Seized on Tohatsu 18hp

[Scotty Kiwi]

I've read the manual and can't work out how to un-seize my throttle.

The twist grip and the connecting rod in the tiller arm work freely. Then there's a nylon gear, and that moves a 250cm (10in) stainless connecting rod. This is the rod that is seized. That connecting rod moves some little rods each about 50mm (2in) long. These all work well.

Any tips on how to un-seize the connecting rod?

[Scotty Kiwi]

I found it! The nylon gear between the hinged tiller arm and the connecting rod solidly seized inside its aluminum housing, due to ten years of no lubrication and 2 years of no use. It took a while to prise it out with a screwdriver. Lesson learned.