frozen steering on gravity wagon

Picked up a wagon for today, in decent useable shape tire wise, not rusted out, but the steering does not move. The spindles take grease but do not move and the whole tongue is frozen as the tie rods cant move. What should I do? Take it all apart and drop the whole assembly off the running gear and clean it up?
 
Congratulations on the purchase. You can probably heat all the moving parts to get them moving but taking it apart is the best way. Then you can get grease all around the shiny clean parts. You'll have to heat some the joints to get it apart anyway. It might steer a little loose after it's cleaned up because all the crud and rust that filled up the worn gaps will be gone. Jim
 
I have seen times when we had to cut a small slit down the tube to get the axle loose enough to pivot right or left. After cleaning everything up you can weld it up, grease it good and it will work like new.
 
Heat and a hammer. Jack it up and put it on blocks..be safe. Some move after a little heat, but others have to come apart..a slow dirty process at best.

Once it is apart, clean out all the rust,
re-grease and reassemble and it will go another 20 years ..if you grease it occasionally.
 
If you are in no hurry to use it, try squirting it with the famous Hagen's Brew. 1/2 ATF & 1/2 acetone. Do it every day or even twice a day until the steering frees up.
 

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