Older 40hp Merc steering issue

A buddy of mine just got an early 1980s 16 ft Lund counsel boat with a late 70s/early 80s 40 hp Merc that won’t move/steer. The boat and motor seem to be in really good condition for how old it is but the steering seems to be locked up. It wont budge if you move the steering wheel and it also has no play if you try to assist with moving it by hand. I only had 5 min to look at it last night but I did notice there were 2 grease zerks on the steering unit and another one near the back side of the transom. My first thought was to grease up the zerks real good and see if that loosens it up. However, if the grease doesn’t do anything, I am kind of stumped what the problem would be. My experience is only with tillers so these older steering units are foreign to me. Before having to take it into a shop, does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this or troubleshoot? I’m guessing the steering cable might be shot but I don’t know how to diagnose this without tearing it all apart. Any help would be much appreciated. Attached are a couple pics.

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My money says that a new steering cable is the fix. Shouldn’t be too bad for a DIYer.

Take a hammer and whack the right side of the steering mechanism. Possibly seized up, a good whack might bust it loose then grease it up, although a new cable as said would fix it.

Not familiar with old mercs but there isn’t any kind of “travel mode” handle that locks it in place is there? My kicker has a screw that can be tightened to lock er up

Thanks for that advice nhamm. I was looking all over the place for a travel mode type of lock because I felt like that was the culprit but I couldn’t find anything. I’m not familiar with Mercs either so maybe someone who is can chime in.

Are steering cables specific to the make/model? Or are they somewhat universal for the motor generation class?

Should be numbers right on the cable indicating type and length, length being the more important.

The type of system is easily identified underneath the steering column as rotory or mechanical?

Pretty easy doings as far as I know. Tricky part is if they bound the cable with others in hard to reach places. Lots of vids out DIY, most important when pulling out old cable hook up rope or high # fishing line to string it with back up, hook up new one to string and pull back through.

unbolt the steering arm where it bolts to the motors bracket,if you can then move the motor freely,the cable is shot.
a new cable assembly will come with a new cable and steering rack.
if you dont see a length amount stamped/painted on the cable,measure from where the housing ends where it fastens to the motor up to where it goes into the rack.

the racks brand name and model number should be stamped onto the aluminum or sheet metal housing.
if not,measure the length and width of the rack housing and also measure the diameter of the shaft housing where it comes up through the console.

take all of you measurements to an orielleys or napa parts store,they handle sierra marine products.
have them look up a new rack and cable assembly by your measurements if no numbers are on the old unit to go by.

or you can order it online through boats.net or marine engine.com as well as other places if you do a google search.