ripped shift bellow

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: ripped shift bellow

I need to replace a torn shift bellow , recently I'm taking on significant water. And yes I know its the bellow. Engine is 5.7 alpha gen 1. Thing is my boating summer is being cut short due to a newborn in July. So I will be using the boat a least one maybe two more times before I fix this. Bc ill have plenty time very soon to pull the drive. My bilge pumps have been handling water bailing , so my question is, besides sinking of course which won't happen bc I keep a close eye on it and no more overnights , what is the worse thing that can happen if I use it in this condition? I will replace shift cable along with bellows so not worried about that either. Pump drains bilge about three times per hour and I have plenty of emergency battery backup in case I drain battery from pump. I just need to knowwhat to look out for when in use and when I pull the drive, thanks!

Hey by the way not to change the subject but..... Congrats on the little one!!! Hope everything goes great for you with him/her!!

 

[findinghomer]

Re: ripped shift bellow

no hole? really? is water getting in your boat? yes it is, therefore there is a hole! let it completely tear and see if its only a trickle....had it happen! honestly , im still giggling at the stupidity of asking if its ok to use a boat that is taking on water....what will it damage? all that nice dry foam will no longer be nice and dry! hows that? do you have those wood stingers below your feet like 99% of boats?... hmmmm does wood soak up water? how about that plywood deck? i may seem to be an ******* and i honestly do not care! if you do not want anyones opinion, do not ask on an open forum! its your choice to chance your own and or family/friends lives..to even ask a question as this tells me you, and others with the same questions alike should not own a boat.
never underestimate the chance of anything going wrong in a boat.

have fun

oh ok great thanks, i honestly did not know my engine compartment bilge was made of foam. you have a nice day and thanks for all your help.

 

[findinghomer]

Re: ripped shift bellow

thanks alot eric! its a girl. and she is already starting trouble lol.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: ripped shift bellow

If the hole in your boat is no big deal and not going to cause it to have the potential to sink why fix it at all. These guys are trying to help you but apparently you don't want to hear the answer. The worse thing that can happen is the boat sinks. The best thing that can happen is nothing. There are many variables than can fall between. The correct course of action is to fix it now before using it again. Any other course is wrong. You are the only one that can decide what you will do. If you aren't happy with the suggestions you receive so be it but don't criticize those who take the time to try to help you just because they are telling you something you refuse to hear.

 

[woody66912]

Re: ripped shift bellow

One thing you can do as quickie, is to get a pretty stout zip tie and smear some grease inside the bellows and place the tie just forward of the tear don't pull the tie so tight that it can't slide on the cable. hence the grease, that should really slow the leak.

By the way It's your boat do what YOU want.

 

[findinghomer]

Re: ripped shift bellow

There are many variables than can fall between.

and THIS is my question that noone can answer. what are these variables? lets assume my pump works ( and it will , if it fails i have two more) . i understand if my pump fails it will slowly fill with water so lets get past that. bc if it does fail , ill simply cruise back to the dock and pull the boat out and call it a day. it seems to me based on everyones input that a failed pump is the only "worse case scenario" except bondo saying cable will rust and bind, another guy says water wont reach the cable. idk.

 

[findinghomer]

Re: ripped shift bellow

One thing you can do as quickie, is to get a pretty stout zip tie and smear some grease inside the bellows and place the tie just forward of the tear don't pull the tie so tight that it can't slide on the cable. hence the grease, that should really slow the leak.

By the way It's your boat do what YOU want.

great idea woody. i may try this if i dont have the time to try chris' idea.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: ripped shift bellow

oh ok great thanks, i honestly did not know my engine compartment bilge was made of foam. you have a nice day and thanks for all your help.

unless your bildge is totally sealed off,,,, your hull is or atleast should be filled with foam. most bildge areas i have seen and my own as well (i have 3 to be exact, one unseen below my front motor mount and one on each side)there are openings to allow the hull to drain out in case of any water getting in the hull. if water gets in the hull, the foam will become waterlogged, not pretty! if it gets wet enough, the wood stringers and deck will soak this water up as well resulting in rot... as far as mechanical variables, probably none, but as been stated already, its your boat do what you want.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: ripped shift bellow

great idea woody. i may try this if i dont have the time to try chris' idea.

this would be a suitable quick fix and better than not tending to it at all.

 

[findinghomer]

Re: ripped shift bellow

ok so i got the new bellows on and everything back together, now it stalls when i go into neutral. worked seamlessly before . whats up anyone?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: ripped shift bellow

May have bent the shift cable trying to install the bellows without removing the shift cable completely. Or the cable simply needs to be adjusted. The reason it is stalling (more than likely) is because the shift interrupt switch is engaging for too long when shifting out of gear. The reason for that is either the cable is binding (meaning you bent it) - or is out of adjustment.