New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

[Speakrdude]

Happy Memorial Weekend everyone. Be safe out there. Quick question before you go. I am replacing both exhaust bellows with the new style exhaust, single-ended boot. (88 Mercruiser 5.7's with Alpha 1 Gen 1) Does this still need adhesive? I wouldn't think so but thought I'd ask.

Jim

 

[Don S]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

No glue needed.

 

[swihartart]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

while we're talking about bellows adhesive...I was wondering...why use adhesive when you can torque down a hose clamp on a ribbed surface specifically on a lower shift cable?

(I'm not gonna try this on my u-joint bellows BTW)

I would think that the hose clamp would squeeze the rubber into these "ribs and make a good seal...just wondering if it's overkill...


try not to slam me too hard!

 

[BrandonS]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

I just replaced the bellows in my Alpha 1. The ujoint bellows do not require any adhesive due to the nice design of rib and channel. I did the exhaust bellows without adhesive. I first attempted to install the exhaust boot using adhesive, but the only thing the adhesive did was lubricate the boot so that it would slide off of the smooth and tapered castings as the hose clamp was tightened. (what the hell was the engineer thinking???) So, after about 2 hours of that, I fabricated some 'grabbers' that I put between the boot and the casting to create a physical 'bite' that holds the boot in place nicely when the hose clamps are tightened. I also did not use any adhesive on the shift cable boot, for the same reasons you noted.

Brandon

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

I just replaced the bellows in my Alpha 1. The ujoint bellows do not require any adhesive due to the nice design of rib and channel.
Brandon

I'm pretty sure adhesive IS required on the u-joint bellows........I know I used it!!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

The ujoint bellows do not require any adhesive due to the nice design of rib and channel.

Whether to use it or not is up to each person... but the manual calls for putting bellows adhesive on the bellows itself and letting it dry for 10 minutes, or until no longer tacky - then installing.

 

[swihartart]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

BrandonS, I agree, I've worked on equipment since I was in the Army in 1989-1992, all sorts, generators, Hummers, tanks, chevy blazers and pickups. I also own a 1951 Farmall and have learned to be very well versed in antique tractors over the years (6v sytems included).

I've never once seen a coolant hose or any hose that needed adhesive, just a good tight hose clamp...sometimes I think these "special lubes" and this or that has to be "marine" is just bunk, dealers selling me "kanooter valves" or "muffler bearings".

The marinas are notorious for jacking everything up because "it's a boat". It just so happens the engine in my boat is GM 3.0 and yes, some things need to be "marine" and some things don't. Some of these manuals were written in 1970's and technology in all areas has grown leaps and bounds, and also my brother is a mechanical engineer...builds robots for Carnegie Mellon...I'm always telling him "higher education without common sense breeds morons"....
Just my humble opinion.
Sean Swihart

 

[jtmarten]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

There's alot of tension on the u-joint bellows when trimming all the way up for trailering. Any added friction to hold it in place is good friction, so I know I'll always glue and clamp. If that bellows pops, likely your vessel is going down unless you have multiple high volume bilge pumps.
Over time the rubber can compress, making the clamp slightly loose; potentially vibration and such could cause the clamp to loosen over time as well.

 

[swihartart]

Re: New style Exhaust boot (bellow)

fair enough...maybe I will design a bellows system for my fellow boaters that has travel to accommodate the range of trim and tilt without stressing the connection...I could get rich making others lives more simple...

BTW I kinda like Bondo's saying about grease....so true...so true
and I also think it's paramount to give props to Don S for making the manuals so available to help us stay on the water...the reason we bought it to begin with...also the reason why I put up with dumb statements like BOAT means "break out another thousand"

Funny...I've only heard that joke from others who fix boats...