My motor is real hard to turn does anyone know how to free up and clean the steering rods at the motor thanks.

buy new ones an clean the tilt tubes on the motor before installing.

Install hydraulic steering and never look back.

You will wish you would have replaced those cables sooner after you get it done.

Ok, here's how you do it: Pull the cables out of the motor, soak the tubes down in penetrating oil, soak the cables also and keep working them until free and loose. Get all the old gunk out of the tubes.

Then NEVER EVER put grease on a steering cable. Light penetrating oil, lithium spray, or silicone NEVER grease, it cakes up gets dry and that's your problem.

My experience has been if the steering cable tube at the motor is not causing the problem, change the cable.