Boat taking on water

[hunterny]

I have a merc alpha 1 drive I replaced the bellows and bearing 5 years ago and now the boat is taking on water again.Coming in the driveshaft bellows
I can see it come in the boat,so I pulled the drive and don't see any holes in the boot could the upper shift shaft leak enough to allow water in at the rate of 4 gallons
an hour it does have some play to it.

thanks Lee [h=1][/h]

 

[Bt Doctur]

Not that much. when you remove the drive did you find water in the bellows? Did you glue the large rubber ring in ?

 

[hunterny]

Not that much. when you remove the drive did you find water in the bellows? Did you glue the large rubber ring in ?

Yes to both the bellows was full of water

 

[Bt Doctur]

then the bellows has a hole in it or a clamp has broken or loosened

 

[hunterny]

then the bellows has a hole in it or a clamp has broken or loosened

the clamp on the transom side did seem not as tight would the adhesive seal it enough for a few years and then start leaking and if so could I reseal the boot?

 

[Bt Doctur]

you would have to remove the bellows for a full inspection, stretching it between the ridges, looking for cracks, dry areas, etc..
The rubber should have a "firm feel" not soft or spongy
Stretch the snot out of it so to speak

 

[hunterny]

So I replaced the bellows and found out it had a small hole where the coil spring inside ends with the eye seems like this is where it went bad before
anyone else have this kind of problem I just changed it in 2010

 

[Bt Doctur]

6 years is about right, the rubber softens and the boot expands from the spring pressure. Now the bellows start rubbing on something and wear a hole in the bellows

 

[stonyloam]

Replace it with an OEM bellows.