Cleaning shift bellows opening without hurting anything else?

[erikgreen]

I'm in the middle of replacing my lower shift cable... I went to all the trouble of buying the tap for it, to find out that the one on my boat doesn't need it..oh, well.

I'm replacing the shift cable bellows while I'm at it. I still have the U joint bellows I put on a year and a half ago in place and water tight (I skipped the shift bellows then. Dumb.) I removed the exhaust tube to get more space to work already.

I need to clean off the flange the shift cable bellows mounts on with lacquer thinner and get it ready to mount the new bellows. I've got the thinner, will using it with the other bellows in place hurt anything? I'll try to keep it off the other surfaces, obviously.

I'm thinking I'll try to use a small wire brush on a rotary tool to clean the flange... any suggestions here would be welcome, I don't have much space to work in, and I obviously don't want to scratch or cut the U joint bellows.

Once I get this bellows back on and reconnect the shift cable, I need to replace the bushings on the bell housing shift shaft and then finish my water pump replacement and assemble my old upper and new lower before painting it... I'm learning all sorts of things this weekend.

Erik

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: Cleaning shift bellows opening without hurting anything else?

small toothbrush size wire brush from your local hardware store, my thinner of choice is acetone. dont be too concerned about getting it on other items you should be fine.

 

[jtybt]

Re: Cleaning shift bellows opening without hurting anything else?

Something I used on a different application but might work, though the tooth brush size wire brush works.


I got a PVC (White?) pipe about the right size and cut two cross slices down the middle so you have 4 sections/tabs at the end of the PVC. I used 320 grit wet/dry sandpaper and used gasketcinch to glue one end to a tab and wraped on the inner side of the PVC. Put the PVC over the part to be cleaned and shoved a rubber band down to the end to keep pressure on it. You can only turn in one direction smoothly. Don't over do it and check that it's cleaning evenly.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Cleaning shift bellows opening without hurting anything else?

small toothbrush size wire brush from your local hardware store, my thinner of choice is acetone. dont be too concerned about getting it on other items you should be fine.

I got it clean with lacquer thinner and a toothbrush sized brass brush. Bellows adhesive on and it's clamped on now.

Onward and upward...

Thanks,
Erik