noobish Sterndrive Question.
 

Alright so i have the 88 force with the twin 350's when im looking at boats with a dual set up they have that connecting bar between the stern drives. What is it/for do i need it mine currently did not come with one.

Thanks

your boat should have an internal tie bar. Its a good idea to get an external one on there, much more stable and stronger. I'm guessing its an Alpha boat?

Outer tie bar
 

It is mandatory if you have hydraulic external steering.....plus it looks cool.

Here is the thing.....if you have an external, make sure you get rid of the internal. If you have both, you can/will break a gimbal ring

yes it is an alpha

what does the internal one look like so i know what im looking for?

Prolly half to 5/8 rod connecting the two tiller arms together
All the way back on the inside against the transom.....with a heim joint on each end

You can run with both an internal and external bar. You have to always trim them both together. Can't raise 1 drive and not the other w/o parts breaking. I actually prefer to use both bars if not equiped with ext. hyd steering. Just running an external bar puts all the force on the starboard steering lever. The internal bar spreads that force equally to both drives.

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...13331162_n.jpg

soo i have internal steering correct? if it was external the hydro cyl would be mounted here where you could see it?

With just the internal bar are you supposed to raise and lower them together as well or does this not matter unless you have the external one too.

With just internal (or just external) you can trim separately with no problems.

The issue with the external bars is that when you trim 1 drive up and not the other, the drives will pull in towards each other. So you have the internal bar (which in unaffected to trim) trying to hold the 2 steering levers at a set dimension, with zero give and the external bar pulling the drives closer. Something has to give. Usually in form of premature steering lever/pin wear giving steering slop, or breaking stuff.

My cruiser has both and the standard power steering setup. I replaced both transom assemblies 3 yrs ago with new, so I make sure both drive are trimmed at exact same level. My drives are solid as a rock w/o having true ext hyd. I believe Merc has /had??? a kit that prevents drives from being trimmed at more than few degrees differences for the dual bar setups. A small difference isn't a problem, especially with the saddles allowing for a little bit of flexibility by pivoting fore and back