Clever way to dry dock test new bellows for leaks

C

CayugaCobalt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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May 6, 2008
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131
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
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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

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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

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13,215
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!
 
C

CayugaCobalt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
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Messages
131
Bondo said:
Ayuh,..... If the boat ain't floating, yer not testing it,.....
The best bet, it do it right,..
Click to expand...

Scott06 said:
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 ?
Click to expand...
I thought Gimbal would hold water from getting into boat compared to shift cable opening.

There is a drain hole near the gimbal that connects bilge to u joint bellows? I am unaware of that.
 
C

CayugaCobalt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
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Messages
131
Scott Danforth said:
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
Click to expand...
Thanks. This was a hypothetical question for us who live far from the water and are working in our driveways and cant get to the water immediately due to whatever reason. (truck, trailer, tires, time etc issues). But we want to test the bellows before driving X hrs to said body of water just to find out we need to turnaround and redo it.

Why does the boat need to be floating to see if two small annular seals on transom have achieved water tightness? If those seals are incomplete and then submerged they will leak in any depth or volume of water, no?
 
C

CayugaCobalt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 6, 2008
Messages
131
Lou C said:
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!
Click to expand...
Interesting. Battery operated moisture sensors are widely available, and in a marina one might have wifi signal needed to receive signal on phone.
The trick would be permanently mounting inside U joint bellow space; location, adhesive???
 
Scott Danforth

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
Staff member
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If you can get water to the top of the transom shield without floating a boat, then you can do that. Since it is so much simpler to float the boat.

I have been fortunate in the past to have a buddy that lives 3 houses down from the boat ramp. However he is 1-1/2" from the closest marine parts store. I'm currently 3 miles from my local ramp, but I have to watch the tides
 
C

CayugaCobalt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
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Messages
131
Scott Danforth said:
If you can get water to the top of the transom shield without floating a boat, then you can do that. Since it is so much simpler to float the boat.

I have been fortunate in the past to have a buddy that lives 3 houses down from the boat ramp. However he is 1-1/2" from the closest marine parts store. I'm currently 3 miles from my local ramp, but I have to watch the tides
Click to expand...
THANKS. I see, simple geometry. I had in mind some video of an outdrive running in a portable tub but that water level doesnt reach top of bellows . I have bought a lot parts online nowadays instead of driving 1.5hr roundtrip to go to marina for parts. Sad reality of online convenience.
 
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