Clever way to dry dock test new bellows for leaks

C

CayugaCobalt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 6, 2008
Messages
127
1000s of us have replaced our bellows ( ujoint and shift) and then prayed it wont leak.

What is the technique/rigging used to test out either/both new bellows in the driveway for us shadetree guys? I did search this forum without luck for answer.

I imagine there might be a custom type pop-up "bathtub". Anybody got an Amazon or company website link they can share?

I imagine after bellows are submerged , you would look in bilge and if water was immediately there, you know its shift cable and if it takes much longer then its gimbal?ujoint bellows.

The problem in a "bathtub" might be you would want to also test with outdrive tilted up.

How long does it take to get water thru the gimbal when U joint bellows full of water?

Or is there an even better way to know if bellows are holding water tight before launching boat in water?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
Joined
Jul 23, 2011
Messages
50,624
The bathtub needs to be big enough to float the boat.

My pool may be big enough for my old Wooster Hellion or the 14' fishing barge, but too small for anything with an IO

Just back the boat in the water and check
 
Scott06

Scott06

Admiral
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
6,934
CayugaCobalt said:
1000s of us have replaced our bellows ( ujoint and shift) and then prayed it wont leak.

What is the technique/rigging used to test out either/both new bellows in the driveway for us shadetree guys? I did search this forum without luck for answer.

I imagine there might be a custom type pop-up "bathtub". Anybody got an Amazon or company website link they can share?

I imagine after bellows are submerged , you would look in bilge and if water was immediately there, you know its shift cable and if it takes much longer then its gimbal?ujoint bellows.

The problem in a "bathtub" might be you would want to also test with outdrive tilted up.

How long does it take to get water thru the gimbal when U joint bellows full of water?

Or is there an even better way to know if bellows are holding water tight before launching boat in water?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.
Click to expand...
Doesnt take any longer for water to come in via u joint bellow than shift bellow. there is a drain hole from bellows thru transom housing into bilge at bottom of bellows.

Trick will be that depending on where bellows are leaking steering and or tilt position can influence the leak.

as others stated keep an eye on it. Was the boat not leaking when first in the water ?
 
Lou C

Lou C

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 10, 2002
Messages
13,211
I know when Volvo came out with the replacement for the ocean series drive one of the features that was to be included was a moisture sensor inside the bellows. I don’t know if this made it to production or not but it’s an interesting idea for sure. I guess I’ve been lucky but I haven’t had problems with bellows leaking that I installed. I do really take my time when I do that job though!
 
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