Bellows Replacement

[FreeBeeTony]

Going to replace the u-joint and shift cable bellows this "off season"......

Is there a big difference in quality between OEM and aftermarket (ie Sierra)?

I have not tackeled this job yet and, frankly I'm not looking forward to it........

 

[ErieRon]

Re: Bellows Replacement

Yes, from what I understand there is a big difference in quality. Go OEM. Especially the U-joint bellows. Lots of people opt for the "tube" for the exhaust though. A matter of preference I suppose.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Bellows Replacement

OEM bellows are a little more pliable than Sierras making them a bit easier to install but its not much. And not worth the price difference. 99% of the time I use Sierra-but I also have one of the largest Sierra distributors in NW 4mi from my shop. 'nutcase

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Bellows Replacement

Already have the exhaust tube.............

If the OEM is easier to put on I would pay the extra money!!

I have heard this is a "knuckle-buster".

 

[ziggy]

Re: Bellows Replacement

I have not tackeled this job yet and, frankly I'm not looking forward to it........

that's the way i felt prior to doing the deed. i've generally found there is a difference in quality between oem and aftermarket parts. so if ya only wanna do it once, use the real thing... + i've read here from others there's a difference. short of the qualtity of the rubber i think i read someone say that there sierra bellows didn't have the grounding tabs that the merc comes with. i could be wrong, but think that i read that...
might as well get hosed while your there too. water hose that is.. it's a lot of fun to replace too.. but you will be right there...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Bellows Replacement

I have not tackeled this job yet and, frankly I'm not looking forward to it........

Ayuh,.... Mine are Overdue,.... Way overdue...

When I threw this barge together, 8, 9, maybe 10 years ago, I bartered with a Merc. Tech to rebuild the used alpha transom assembly I was up-grading too,...
I supplied the Sierra parts from my Napa,+ He did the install,...
Last spring I bought another Sierra transom kit,+ a Merc. shift cable to do them again,...
Figuring the 7, 8 years was Long enough,... Never got to it,.. Kits are still in the cutty...
Pulled the drive the other night for mothballing,+ was Surpised, No problems...

I found another Tech who says he'll do it for $100..... I'm gonna Let him.....

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Bellows Replacement

might as well get hosed while your there too. water hose that is.. it's a lot of fun to replace too.. but you will be right there...

Don't need the water hose.........I have the engine mounted raw water pump....

Guess I will go with OEM.......this is 1 project I want to last!

 

[dubs283]

Re: Bellows Replacement

Don't need the water hose.........I have the engine mounted raw water pump....

unless there is a through hull water pickup on your boat, you do have a water passage hose as part of the transom assembly

all merc sterndrives have them because the water is picked up through the drive

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Bellows Replacement

hey Bondo...........how goes it?

If I could find someone to do it for $100 I would let 'em.......doubt it in these parts!

I will try it......a friend of mine has an impact wrench to help w/ the hinge pins.

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Bellows Replacement

Yes, from what I understand there is a big difference in quality. Go OEM. Especially the U-joint bellows.

I'm in the same boat (ha!) getting set to change all my bellows/tube. So where can we get these OEM parts? I just looked at the stuff iboats has to offer and all I see is Sierra.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Bellows Replacement

I'm going to a local dealer.........not sure if you can get them online.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Bellows Replacement

i got mine from my local dealer.... other than that... here's at least one place.... might be more i'd think... dougrussell came to mind. but there www wouldn't open...? anyways..

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/

 

[Don S]

Re: Bellows Replacement

While I was a marine tech in Alaska, I replace probably a hundred or more Merc Alpha bellows, all using OEM bellows what a PITA. When I moved here and started at the place I am now working, they used Sierra and Mallory. They were much worse (harder) to install than the OEM, plus there were bellows failures. To make matters worse. They all thought it was normal. We now use ONLY OEM for bellows and shift cables. Especially shift cables. You wouldn't believe the difference. Like driving a 47 Jeep, or a 09 Caddy for 10 to 20 bucks difference.
No more comebacks for junky parts for us. But for a DIYer, if you love to mess around with boats all the time instead of using them, then stick with the after market stuff. You will always have something to do.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Bellows Replacement

But for a DIYer, if you love to mess around with boats all the time instead of using them, then stick with the after market stuff.

i enjoy messing around with my boat, but i'd rather use it...
i just work on my boat, and what little aftermarket stuff i've got has proved your point to me.... i'd rather just do it once. your sig has proved to be most true and using oem parts i'm convinced is part of doing that... for the diy (me), i have a hard enough time accomplishing a job on my i/o w/o adding to my inexperience by using substandard aftermarket parts...

Guess I will go with OEM.

sounds like a good idea to me fbt...

Don't need the water hose.........I have the engine mounted raw water pump....

if ya don't have that water hose going between the bellhousing and the gimble housing your lucky. i thought that was harder to replace than the bellows....

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Bellows Replacement

I'm going to a local dealer.........not sure if you can get them online.

http://www.fasteddiesmarineparts.com/

They give good discounts and are pleasure to do business with.

 

[muc]

Re: Bellows Replacement

?I will try it......a friend of mine has an impact wrench to help w/ the hinge pins.?
Make sure you use heat to break down the red loc-tite otherwise that impact gun might take out the threads in the bell housing!
Good Luck Muc

 

[gshldon]

Re: Bellows Replacement

when i did mine all i used was a breaker bar on the hinge pins and worked fine..alittle tight but it came out...I also used Sierra parts for mine and so far so good...but they only have one season on them..only time will tell...and i agree the water hose was the hardest to get on..and i also used the tube and have no complaints..

Good Luck and happy boating..

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Bellows Replacement

Glad to hear the water hose was the worst part.......maybe it won't be that bad!

 

[liquidlew]

Re: Bellows Replacement

In case anyone is interested and hasn't seen any of these... This guy makes it look easy. Only problem is that he don't show the reinstall!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeFw2_jjAIA&feature=PlayList&p=661E488EE42807F3&index=0

 

[bw13aq18]

Re: Bellows Replacement

Started my bellows replacement today. My transom kit is a sierra product along with some of the required special tools (ie. hinge pin tool 18-9861). When I tried to remove the first hinge pin bolt, it felt like the head of the bolt was beginning to strip. It was actually the hinge pin tool twisting into a curly cue. I was using a normal length 1/2" ratchet wrench and was not applying much force. So far I'm not to impressed with the sierra stuff. I'm going to replace the tool with the Quicksilver tool. At this point, I think I would stick with the OEM stuff.