1988 Cobra U-Joint Bellows

[ajkolar]

I have gotten the drive off the boat and took a look at the U-joint bellow. I thought someone said this could be done without removing the pivot housing, but it looks like it will be a real bugger.... Does that pivot housing come off just by unscrewing the hex bolt that runs through it? If so wouldn't that make this job much, much easier? I plan to replace the u-joint bellow, gimble bearing, and u-joints and want it to be as easy as possible, but also don't want to have to get into more work than what is needed.

 

[Don S]

Re: 1988 Cobra U-Joint Bellows

All you have to do is remove those 2 pivot pins, and the pivot housing will move out far enough to replace the ujoint bellows without removing the exhaust bellows or water hose.

 

[ajkolar]

Re: 1988 Cobra U-Joint Bellows

Great, that is what I will do. Seems like I remember you saying you can use a hex wrench cut and stuck into a 1/2" socket, is that correct?

 

[Don S]

Re: 1988 Cobra U-Joint Bellows

Stick the head of a 5/16" bolt into the head of the screw, if it fits, then a 1/2" allen wrench will fit. <br />I very seldom see an OMC, so can't say for sure, that's why I say check it.

 

[ajkolar]

Re: 1988 Cobra U-Joint Bellows

Thanks Don.... I have thru hull exhuast so I don't even have an exhaust bellow (not even an opening through the hull for it). I just really though it would be easier to change the u-joint bellow if I freed up the pivot housing... Also thinking about attempting a shift cable adjustment (hasn't seemed too bad, but as long as everything is apart...) <br /><br />So is there a solid bolt/shaft running all the way across through that pivot housing (similar to the shaft that holds the trim rams on the outdrive, or is it two seperat pieces? Also, can I just use a normal hex wrech, or does it require enough torque that I will have to implement a rachet solution?) <br /><br />Can't wait to win the lottery and be able to afford a maintenance person for my yacht, right? NO, that just wouldn't be as much fun