Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

[synergy141]

Hi, In the middle of trying to tighten the big screw clamp on my U joint bellows on my alpha one gen 2. I have already installed the metal ring clamp on the bell housing side but cannot get the clamp tightened because there is no room to put the screw driver in there to tighten it. I have the head facing down on the starboard side and still cannot get in there to tighten. I know there is a special snap on tool that would work but is there any other ways? What do you guys do?

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

Isn't there an access hole for the screwdriver to go through? Through the gimbal housing?

 

[synergy141]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

No thats only for the exhaust bellows ,

 

[natemoore]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

I remember struggling for two days getting all that crap installed! It was frustrating, especially for a first-timer.

I bought a cheap nutdriver, cut off the tip, that welded in an extension rod so that the overall length of the nutdriver was about 12". The u-joint bellows was the easier of the two. The exhaust bellows was a bee-otch!

 

[myoldboat2]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

I have a different Mercruiser sterndrive but I remember when I replaced my bellows I needed to use one of those sockets with the little u-joint in it to be able to get on the clamp head and tighten it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

Ayuh,... A 1/4" ratchet,+ a 5/16" socket works pretty good..

 

[carverjesse]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

I ended up leaving the outdrive side unattached. I bought mine in a kit and it was way too short ( 1" too short). But i fiddled with it for a couple hours and finally gave up. Besides most people use the new high performance bellows and it only clamps onto the gimball side. I just used a long flathead and flexed it in there.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

You get a flexible spring style 1/4" drive extension on the end of a straight 1/4" drive extension. Once it's spring-flex tight go to a universal joint for that last little bit of snug on the clamp. The flex extensions are available at Sears for $7 instead of chasing the Snap On guy and paying pro tool money for backyard tools.
BTW there is a good video on you tube that goes through how to change a bellows. Wish I had seen it before I did mine. I followed the Mercruiser shop manual method which is great, but seeing it done makes things a lot clearer than reading a document from the eighties.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

I ended up leaving the outdrive side unattached. I bought mine in a kit and it was way too short ( 1" too short). But i fiddled with it for a couple hours and finally gave up.

Ayuh,.... Wrong Bellows,.... The topic is Driveshaft Bellows,...
Not exhaust bellows...

But I agree, the tube over the bellows is a no Brainer,...

 

[TiredoleBoy]

Re: Need help with installing last clamp on Alpha One Bellows

I have a different Mercruiser sterndrive but I remember when I replaced my bellows I needed to use one of those sockets with the little u-joint in it to be able to get on the clamp head and tighten it.

This is what I plan on using.