VP SX-ALT42; Exhaust bellow cracked. To fix, or not to fix?

[TXboater2016]

I have a 5.7GI-G engine mated to a SX-ALT42 duoprop. I noticed yesterday that the exhaust bellow (the bellow closest to the props, vertically) is cracked. When I ran it on the hose, it was spitting water out.

The boat is on a lift when not being used, and when in use I can't see the water creeping in there and up & over the exhaust elbows. However, I fear that if that bellow is cracked, the bellow or bellows above it are likely not far behind.
Question one: Should I bother to replace the cracked bellow? If I replace it, I will replace them all.

Thanks to this site, I found a link to a manual for my drive so I have directions on how to remove and reinstall the drive. However, I don't have any of the specialty tools, like the alignment bar. I also don't have much access to the drive when on the trailer, as the transom / swim deck sticks out over it (Rinker Captiva 246). Thus, getting the drive on and off by myself is likely going to be challenging.
Question two: can this job be done by one person, without a specialty alignment bar and/or drive stand/cart?

Thanks for your help.

 

[skydiveD30571]

The exhaust bellows are designed with slits in them to drain water when the boat is out of the water. It is completely normal to see these leaking. However, it is important to maintain the u-joint bellows as that one is designed to be bone dry and can become an expensive repair it is begins leaking undetected.

I have a swim platform over my drive as well. I've always removed and serviced my drive on my own, but it definitely is heavy. Yours is even heavier with the duoprop. So in short, in can be done without a cart but it's not easy. If you plan to routinely remove the drive and service it (which you should) you'll want to grab an alignment bar. They are pretty cheap online. If you search ebay for "Mercruiser alignment tool" you'll see several for ~$25. The Merc and Volvo alignment tools are the same thing.

 

[TXboater2016]

Wow, that is excellent information! I never would have thought that they would be slit by design; I just assumed the water would drain out of the pickups in the lower unit. I suppose if the drive was trimmed full up, it wouldn't and hence the slits.

You just saved me a ton of work... and I can acquire the needed tools during boating season to be ready to yank the drive off come fall.

Thanks a million!

 

[bruceb58]

I have a Volvo DuoProp drive. I can take it off and install myself but I welded up my own stand to help me. You always want to take the props off when you remove your drive to make it lighter and so you don't damage the props if something bad happens.

You definitely want to get an alignment bar. You should check the alignment every time you take off the drive.

 

[TXboater2016]

Bruce, that is a nice stand! I am gonna steal your design!

Out of curiosity, should the exhaust bellow leak from the front and rear of the bellow, or just one end? I just watched a video that I took yesterday of the water flow, and it seems to be leaking from both ends?

 

[Bondo]

Out of curiosity, should the exhaust bellow leak from the front and rear of the bellow, or just one end? I just watched a video that I took yesterday of the water flow, and it seems to be leaking from both ends?

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,.... The exhaust cavity is wet, both inside, 'n out,...

The slits are pretty much from end to end,....

Ya don't even need the exhaust bellows in the grand scheme of things,....
There would be no damage from a leakin' exhaust bellows,....