Tie Bar location...?
 

Why are the tie bars on these boats located on the saddle?

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

And on these boats they are inline with the steering rams... Advantage?

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

More inline examples...

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

Directly in line is better. Just try doing a little force-vector diagram and you can see with the tie bar low and the steering ram high the outdrive will want to twist. This will put added wear on the gimbals bearings.

On a side note:
Twin tie bars if not directly above one another will cause the drives to bind.

DS

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

Thanks for the repliy Zanie. :cool:

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

Both is best....... we try to stabilize the lower units because the props are so close!!

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

How do you tighten the saddle bolts enought to keep the saddle from movving back and forth at speed and gouging the top of the outdrive?

Mine are doing this and I'm at a loss as to how to get the ting stay in one place..

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

Mine was a pretty easy fix:

Before....

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

...after!

Re: Tie Bar location...?
 

But seriously, notice in the first pic how the saddle tilts backwards slightly? This lessens the movement from the water crashing against it. Mine always ended up in this position, so that's how I put them back together after wrenching.

Brian