Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

[triscadek209]

So we swapped outdrives last week due to a seized bearing and took it for a spin. Probably about 45 min run time and 1.5hrs sitting out on the lake conversing. Popped the outdrive off today to swap the lower unit due to a crack discovered in the case. When I seperate the outdrive from the transom about a half gallon of water fell on to my driveway. Upon inspection of where the gasket was I noticed a place where a small piece of the old gasket was still stuck on. I guess I over looked this last week. I used a new gasket last week but no sealer/silicone etc. As of right now there is still a small amount of water standing in the bellows, if it were bad wouldn't it be dripping? Or over the last 4 days it was in my garage when it was completely full? Last week when we pulled the old outdrive that's been on for a number of years I did notice a small trace of water in the bellows but nothing like today. And it was ran a few days before we pulled the outdrive for the first time also.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Also let me add that there was no water intake to my bilge on this last test run.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

The gasket does pretty much nothing to keep the water out of the bellows. The Volvo SX drive which essentially uses the exact same castings, doesn't use the gasket. You need to replace the bellows. The seal is the nose cone that bumps against the bellows.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Sigh..... How do I know if my gimbal and u joints are bad?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

How long was the water in there? If not long, you may have dodged the bullet. Turn the gimbal bearing by hand to see if it is smooth. Do the same for the u-joints.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Basically just see if there is any slop or resistance? The u joints felt good. I regressed them also. Gimbal I will check in a few hours after work. I just got the boat a few months back so hard telling. Could have just started or been like this for years. Would there be a specific vibration while under way?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Would there be a specific vibration while under way?

Definitley. Bad u-joints will especially make noise when you turn the drive.

Sometimes bad u-joints will feel good even by touch. I would definitely be putting grease in then ASAP in case there is any water in the u-joint bearings.

You do check the engine alignment when you install your drive too right?

Last week when we pulled the old outdrive that's been on for a number of years I did notice a small trace of water in the bellows but nothing like today. And it was ran a few days before we pulled the outdrive for the first time also.

If you found water in there, there obviously was a leak. Not worth the risk of not putting a new bellows on there. So how long was "a number of years"? Sounds like a bellows that was long overdue to be replaced.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

I definitely pushed water out of the u joints until I saw new grease secrete. I will make sure to check the alignment this time. I did notice he had some trouble getting the shaft to go in. How would I go about aligning if it were to be off?
A number of years would be described as I have not a clue lol. Previous owner never mentioned having the outdrive off. He had it for 3yrs.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Oh and no noise when turning however I did notice a pretty substantial when trimming up some to try to plane out at WOT. Wasn't able to find that "sweet spot" like on other boats. When the trim was down it was all smooth. Just felt like I shoulda been able to bring it up a bit further. However my trim gauge IS the only one not working therefore I coulda been up further than I thought.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Found a sticky on alignment

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Put new bellows on it. Use OEM bellows only.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Not Sierra? Where does one go for OEM?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Everywhere! Part number is 3854127. Same part number that is used on Volvo SX.

http://www.boatsdotnet/parts/detail/omc/O-3854127.html
replace the "dot" in the above link with a .

If you search for that part number, you will find a lot of places that are selling Sierra and GLM that don't tell you what you are getting.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Ok, well you said OEM, wasn't sure if there was a certain parts brand not to use for notorious reasons...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Ok, well you said OEM, wasn't sure if there was a certain parts brand not to use for notorious reasons...

I would never use GLM.

 

[triscadek209]

Re: Bad bellows or leaky gasket?

Ok, thanks bud. Shop down the street has one for $38. Hopefully it's not a GLM. Other shop across town has one for $60. Holy cow, price difference!