shift cable bellow replace.. tips, tricks, tools?

[ericp501]

All my bellows were just replaced but the shift cable bellow seems to have a 1/4" slit just behind the clip on the narrow end which is letting a little trickle of water in. (at least I think thats where the little trickle is coming from, the flow fluctuates as you turn the wheel right and left).. I'm going to tape a string to the cable when I pull it to make my life easier when I put it back in, but are there any tips, tricks, or tools on how to tighten the bellow's clamp on the end that is against the transom? It looks like a really tight fit with no good angle for a screwdriver.

(no I can't have the person that did the bellow job fix it because I've since replaced my shift cable so he's pretty much saying its not his problem anymore, thats what I get for spending $250 on a bellow job)

 

[DarrinT]

Re: shift cable bellow replace.. tips, tricks, tools?

Did the same job myself as a complete noobie a couple of years ago and to tighten that clamp I had to go out and buy a flexable shaft but cheapo rachet/screwdriver set - the ones that look like a braided cable but much stiffer with a slot on the end that will accept either a socket head or a screwdriver head - worked like a charm for less than $20

 

[ericp501]

Re: shift cable bellow replace.. tips, tricks, tools?

I'll give that a shot. I was also thinking about using a small opened ended wrench with a flathead screw bit glued on to hold it.

 

[achris]

Re: shift cable bellow replace.. tips, tricks, tools?

1/4" drive universal joint (with insulting tape wrapped around it to stiffen it) and a 5/16" socket, couple of long extensions.... easy...

 

[ericp501]

Re: shift cable bellow replace.. tips, tricks, tools?

Just pulled the bellow off and sure enough I had a few drips of water come with it. Def water inside that little bellow. Amazing how a little rip in the rubber 1/4" long could let in a little trickle like that. 10 mins in the water and it filled the back part of my bilge about 1". Not enough to even come close to kicking on my bilge pumps.. but lets say 2 weeks went by and I never went out to the boat I'm sure the bilge pump would have drained the battery by then figuring it would have kicked on prob once every 2 hours. and she would have ended up sitting really low in the water. I'm sure my marina would have noticed in time to get it on a trailer tho.