1979 Mercruiser 898 exhaust bellows

[sheardc]

While starting the boat, it backfired out the exhaust and may have either blown a hole in the exhaust bellows or just blew it off the flanges.

How hard is it to either:
- reattach if it just fell off the flanges OR
- put a new one on if I blew a hole in it??

Working to get a tuneup on the boat so I do not have to go thru this again.

Thanks in advance,

 

[jtmarten]

Re: 1979 Mercruiser 898 exhaust bellows

I assume you have a #1 drive?

If there is a hole in the exhaust bellows, no big deal. If one side blew off, you'll need the bellows tool to get it back on without having the desire to torch the boat when you're done.
An exhaust tube is a good alternative; it only attaches to the transom side, and can be installed without removing the drive. I had one on my '79 Glastron/Carlson with the #1 drive and it worked well.