Bellows Question

[BigPoppaG]

Just bought the boat last year and then winterized it. Gonna check the bellows in a couple of months when I pull her out of hibernation. Never changed the bellows before. Is it a hard job? Anything special I need to know about putting them on, sealing them, etc etc? Thanks

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bellows Question

Let me put it this way....... I'm a Mechanic by trade.... I Send Mine Out..........<br /><br />There's a few Special Tools that make it a Little Easier that I don't have,........<br />And, I think it's Cheaper to Pay the Bill, than to Invest in the Band-Aids for your Knuckles.....................

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Bellows Question

pull the drive, remove sender units, remove hex head bolts, (1/2 in. allen works), remove water inlet hose, disc. shift cable to obtain slack,remove rear clamp, remove front clamp, remove exaust hose(some are 1 piece some are a slip hose setup), new boot says "top fwd, top aft., glue in place, tighten clamps, reverse order of assembly.goint this far you should replace the shift boot also.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Bellows Question

big poppa<br /> most of what btdoc says<br /> however on your alpha one unit it takes a tool to reseat the expansion ring on the aft end of the bellows. I never remove the water hose. but it will make it easier but if you doone or two you learn to work around it. the 1/2 allen works well. better than the merc tool.however I cut a 2inch section of it off and use a 1/2 inch socket on a 1/2 drive breaker bar for removal and a 12" drive torque wrench for installation.<br /> by discconetct the shift cable it has to be dissconected from the linkage on the engine and carefully pulled through the cable bellows. I reccomend changing the cable when changing the drive bellows and the cable bellows, those two will sink ya if your not careful. also while the drive is off inspect the seal on the upper shift shaft. if its showing signs of rust or failure replace it. if it leaks it will cause a cable failure that can cause a lower unit failure. also buy the correct factory service manual. then we can assist even more.<br />by the way<br /> I was born there at riverside hospital

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Bellows Question

rodbolt, i thought its an alpha drive. thought only bravos used the ring at the exaust tube like the OMCs.

 

[Don S]

Re: Bellows Question

BtD<br />I think (Hey, I'm allowed to once in a while) that rodbolt meant the metal expansion ring in the u-joint bellows, not the snap ring in an exhaust bellows.<br />It's on all the Alpha I Gen II drives only and replaces the large hose clamp on the drive side of the bellows as on the older Alpha I drives. Merc calls the expansion ring a "Sleeve"<br />The Gen II drives started in 1991 and are still used.<br /><br />

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Bellows Question

yea thats what I ment<br /> dang I gotta get alll techologicafied like DonS

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Bellows Question

though it read 89 ,kinda think the OLD way was better, the clamps gave a positive seal and the boot was glued in place

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: Bellows Question

Wow didn't know it was that involved. How often does it need to be changed? What would the typical cost be to send it tot he marine mechanic?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Bellows Question

big poppaG<br /> if you can tell me how many screws will break and if there is any damage present I can give a closer estimete .<br /> I am currently working on a pair of 99 3.o's. all the nuts holding the lower to the upper split due to salt. almost all the 6mm bolts that hold the pump housing on broke and have been drilled and tapped. now on the stbd drive I have to use the old oxy/acetylyne on the 4 top cover bolts to reaseal the upper.<br /> but the normal bellows + shift cable job that include upper shift shaft seal replacement takes me 5 hours or so. depending on clearence factors.