Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

[lefird]

Hello all, I'm new to the forum and boating. I just bought a 1990 Larsen Lazer. I am trying to do some preventive maintenance and keep things running well. I took off the outdrive the other day to check things and grease things up. There was about a cup of water in the u-joint bellows. I know this is not a good thing and a bad sign. I have decided to go ahead and change the u-joint bellows, gimbal bearing, the other bellows and hoses in there just to be safe. I am also changing the water impeller in the lower drive. I have a Seloc manual and have watched a lot on you tube. I think I have a pretty good handle on it, but,do I NEED an engine alignment tool? I'm not changing the engine mounts at all or messing with the gimbal mounting ring on the transom. So the alignment should not change, right?
Any other advise on changing these things or things I need to look for would be great. Thanks.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

Welcome to iBoats . . .

It is a good idea to check the alignment, even though everything 'should' go back the way it was. No telling if the alignment was off to begin with, etc. It is best to check . . . no use in having trouble down the road due to improper alignment.

 

[Levinz11]

Re: Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

Where ya live lefird? I'd loan you mine.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

Depending on the looks and amount of water(salt/fresh)? You might want to consider changing the u-joints too.
Yes get an alignment tool. E-bay
Was working on my friend alum boat. The drive come right out and right back in.
Then we went fishing and lost a coupler. Turns out the front of the motor(wooden mount) broke and the engine dropped about 2 inches.
Long wait for help in the Saginaw Bay.

 

[lefird]

Re: Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

I live in Montrose Colorado, but thanks for the offer! It was fresh water, and granted I am no boat mechanic, but the u-joints look ok to me. Just a hint of rust coloring on them. How would I be able to tell if the u-joints were damaged to the point of needing replaced? Doesn't look like the water was in there for very long.
I have looked at the alignment tools on E-bay and was going to ask if anyone had any experience with them. $110 for OEM and $27 for E-bay is a big difference.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

The difference is OEM's somebodys making more $$$ Get the cheaper one. There is one with some attachments.Consider that one.You can never have too many tools.
Fresh water,shouldn't be problem.Any wobble or slack? There any grease zerts on the u-joints?If not any place to install them?
Grease the heck out of them.Fill them with grease and then add more. Marine grease.

 

[sea wolf]

Re: Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

I live in Montrose Colorado, but thanks for the offer! It was fresh water, and granted I am no boat mechanic, but the u-joints look ok to me. Just a hint of rust coloring on them. How would I be able to tell if the u-joints were damaged to the point of needing replaced? Doesn't look like the water was in there for very long.
I have looked at the alignment tools on E-bay and was going to ask if anyone had any experience with them. $110 for OEM and $27 for E-bay is a big difference.

Run the boat off muffs & listen for a knocking sound from the drive. If they knock, they're probably shot.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Replacing u-joint bellows and other items, questions....

If there was water in the bellows, you need to check three things: u-joints, gimble bearing, and the input shaft seal for leaking (any rust on the input shaft where the seal rides?)
The driveshaft bellows can be replaced without removing the pivot housing, first you need to take off the exhaust bellows ( watch out for that clip, which can pop off and smack you in the head (wear protection use the rigt tool) then remove the trim sender to give more room. The Cobra bellows has one extra rib that is supposed to go on the bottom. You have to use sealer on the neck of the drive shaft bellows mount, the other end pops into the pivot housing.