Shift cable bellows

[billy8362]

Hay all! I was wondering if there is a way to change the shift cable bellows on a 89 3.0 liter alpha 1 gen 1 without pulling the drive and bell housing. The u-joint bellows and exhaust bellows are only about a year old, but some how the shift cable bellows is torn. Any help would be great thanks!

 

[84EdH]

Re: Shift cable bellows

you must remove the drive. its easy. six nuts. you do not remove the bell housing. check for your manual in the adults only section. also, see the videos showing how to remove drive.

good time to check the condition of the shift cable too. if any signs of wear or if the inner core does not move smoothly in the cable, replaced it now. use OEM. also, when you pull the cable out, tie a cord to the inside the boat end of the shift cable, pull the cable out, then use the string to pull the cable back through the transom and it will follow the same route through the engine compartment. credit to achris for videos and string trick to make cable routing easy! you should check engine alignment before you re-install drive also.

 

[billy8362]

Re: Shift cable bellows

you must remove the drive. its easy. six nuts. you do not remove the bell housing. check for your manual in the adults only section. also, see the videos showing how to remove drive.

good time to check the condition of the shift cable too. if any signs of wear or if the inner core does not move smoothly in the cable, replaced it now. use OEM. also, when you pull the cable out, tie a cord to the inside the boat end of the shift cable, pull the cable out, then use the string to pull the cable back through the transom and it will follow the same route through the engine compartment. credit to achris for videos and string trick to make cable routing easy! you should check engine alignment before you re-install drive also.

Now when you say pull cable out through the transom. is that only for replacing the cable, not the bellows right?? I can take the nut of the cable at the bell housing and install the new bellows right??

 

[Bondo]

Re: Shift cable bellows

Now when you say pull cable out through the transom. is that only for replacing the cable, not the bellows right?? I can take the nut of the cable at the bell housing and install the new bellows right??

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Just to save yerself the grief of havin' to do the job, Twice,...

Change the shift cable Too,...
It's gonna fail, from the water intrusion anyways,...

The cable has to come Out, to change the bellows,...

 

[84EdH]

Re: Shift cable bellows

No, the cable is unscrewed from the bell housing, then pulled out of the transom. The new bellows is slid onto the boat side cable end then back through the transom (pulling the cord to lead it). Once the cable is pulled back in, you screw the threaded cable end back to the bell housing

 

[billy8362]

Re: Shift cable bellows

Ok got it thanks. Is there any kind of sealant that needs to be applied to the cable at the bell housing? How far up do I put the small end of the bellows to the bell housing??

 

[84EdH]

Re: Shift cable bellows

Bondo, we just posted over each other. Your right, the cable should be changed, I didn't think about water intrusion. yes, sealant must be used on those threads. Have you read over the manual info. on this subject?

 

[thumpar]

Re: Shift cable bellows

Use bellows adhesive.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Shift cable bellows

Depending on how much access you have to the rear of the motor you might need a guide.Heres what i do .
Remove the drive, remove the cable components from inside the boat.
remove slide with cable core ,and insert a weed whacker cord thru the cable and secure inside the boat leaving 4 ft extra outside
Unscrew cable and remove leaving the weed whacker cord in place cut away old bellows
slide weed whacker core thru new boot , and glue new boot in place.now slide weed whacker core thru cable and knot the end.
have someone pull from inside the boat untill core is ready to thread back in place.tighten cable, remove weed whacker cord, install shift core, reattach inside the boat, install drive and test.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Shift cable bellows

I agree it is a good idea to replace the cable whenever you have problems with the bellows.... but the bellows failing will have nothing to do with water intrusion into the cable itself. The bellows simply keeps water out of the boat, (not saying that's a small thing! ), it doesn't keep water out of the cable.

 

[billy8362]

Re: Shift cable bellows

I agree it is a good idea to replace the cable whenever you have problems with the bellows.... but the bellows failing will have nothing to do with water intrusion into the cable itself. The bellows simply keeps water out of the boat, (not saying that's a small thing! ), it doesn't keep water out of the cable.

Thanks everybody for the info. One thing, does it matter how far up the cable the bellows is clamped?

 

[84EdH]

Re: Shift cable bellows

I just did mine and wondered the same thing. First, Bondo told me to use wire ties (2) instead of the metal clamp. Second, glue the boat side with bellows adhesive, install the cable etc. then, lie on your back and move the bell housing through its up and down range of motion. you can see how far the shift bellows has to stretch once it is wire tied in place. Pick a spot where the bellows doesn't stretch too much when the bell housing raised, and doesn't crimp up when bell housing lowered.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Shift cable bellows

That is how I did mine too. I moved the bellhousing up and down until I found a good spot on the cable. I also used the zip tie method to "clamp" the bellows.