U joint bellows attachment????

[magic11305]

Still working on my project, gettin close :joyous:. I have an alpha 1 outdrive, took the bell housing off to change the gimble bearing, bellows, and general clean up. When I took the u joint bellows off I found that the ring on the transom, where the bellows is glued and clamped, was broken. Just 3 or 4 inches of the clamp lip is broken off. Guess whoever did the last bellows replacement decided to just glue and clamp anyways cause there were no parts laying around in there. Can anyone tell me what that ring is called and where can I get one? I appears that some special spanner wrench is required to remove it, if it can be removed. I didn't get a picture but it is the ring around the bearing where the bellows is clamped onto. Thank you in adavance.

 

[84EdH]

Re: U joint bellows attachment????

It sounds to me like you are describing a part of the gimble housing no part to re place how deep is the break into that ring surface. Is the groove intact?

 

[thumpar]

Re: U joint bellows attachment????

The gimble housing is one complete part. Take a pic of how bad it is.

 

[Fun Times]

Re: U joint bellows attachment????

It appears that some special spanner wrench is required to remove it, if it can be removed.

Sorry to say that there is nothing that will unscrew where the u-joint bellows goes.

You may want to have a look at this thread linked below,
http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser-i-o-inboard-engines-outdrives/ghr-gimble-repair-kit-416243.html

Here is one option vs replacing the whole transom assembly as another option,
GHRKits The Alternative to Replacing your Gimbal Housing

But the only draw back to the ghr kit that I can foresee is, it looks to be a one time install as the rubber bellows does not seem to be changeable.:noidea:

 

[magic11305]

Re: U joint bellows attachment????

Thank you all for the replies. I was afraid that it was not a part that could be replaced . I think that the ring is broken off just to the groove, about 3 inches around the top. I will get a couple pictures to post tomorrow. Fun Times; Thank you for the link to that thread, using bellows without that ridge will work. The boat has been sitting in the water the last couple months and the bellows was bone dry, so however the last person installed worked. I don't recall ever using a u joint bellows with that ridge anyways. I guess using marine silicone is a no no?

 

[84EdH]

Re: U joint bellows attachment????

Bellows adhesive still the best.