Alignment and Bellows check at 72 hrs?

[andrewterri]

I am debating on pulling the drive to check the bellows and alignment. My only hesitation is everything is working perfect and it is still has that "factory seal". As some of you know, i pulled my old drive several times a year dealing with alignment issues so i know how. New drive is gen 2 but from my understanding only difference is the gear monitor hose. Getting new bellhousing gaskets are not as easy where we live now so i dont want to pull drive if its not needed. What do you guys think? The boat has 72 hrs on it and is a 2014. It has always been stored indoors with drive down. Manual says bellows needs to be checked at 100 hours and I believe impeller is the same. I know this is kind of a dumb question but i would like your opinions. Full disclosure, this boat being newer and highly computerized kind of has me intimidated. It is alot different taking apart something you still owe a lot of money on. Our old boat was cheap and paid off so i took stuff apart just to check it and learn how to do it. If that makes sense to you guys...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Rubber bits are on a calendar and do not care if you use the boat or not.

Your manual says 100 hours or 2 years, ehich ever occurs first.

Your manual also says you pull the drive every year to inspect, check the u-joints and the alignment

 

[GA_Boater]

USPS, UPS and FedEx don't deliver to Oklahoma? You can order the parts and have them delivered to your door. :smile:

5 year old rubber parts - I would do 100 hour service now and again in 2 years unless you put more hours on her, then sooner.

You know everything works perfect until the very second before they don't. My best running motors were like that, right up until that final second when the expensive noises began.

 

[andrewterri]

Hahaha. Yes they deliver to Oklahoma. I am breaking into it tomorrow. I didnt break the last one I wont break this one. Scott, sure enough your right. 300 hours or every 3 years. It says to inspect, what is the general thought on how long mercruiser bellows last. Better question probably would be when do you replace them? Clearly you dont wait until you have a leak. I am getting the IAC filter (now that i know what its for) to replace during 100 hour service while doing all this. I pulled the cover and the pcm is blocking the dizzy cap. I can just unscrew that to move it out of my way correct? BTW, found a tag on one of the wires that plugs into pcm that says remove before delivery.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Inspect every year, replace every 5 years or sooner. Impeller every 3 years.

Rubber parts are cheep....unless they fail and cost you your motor

 

[harringtondav]

O/D pulls every other year and related inspections will keep you out of trouble. Bellows life is variable, but important. I can't estimate average life. I river boat so I have some issue every five years or so requiring an extra O/D pull.

Bellows/transom repair kits are fairly cheap in boating terms. So when I'm into a repair I upgrade it all, good parts or not. I've replaced at least two gimbal bearings just because I had the opportunity to look them in the face, and didn't want to come back later.

 

[andrewterri]

Ya, I have never been the guy that likes to wait until it breaks. I don't believe in the if its not broke than don't fix it. Because to fix it means IT MUST BREAK. I am getting a parts list to call the dealer to see if they have everything in stock tomorrow, they are closed on Mondays. The manual says to inspect flapper values if equipped. How do i know if i have them? The parts diagram from mercruiser shows them because some boats come with them just like the sea water pump. So that does not tell me if i have them.

 

[Scott Danforth]

iBoats sells parts

you have an alpha Gen 2, the raw water pump is in the drive unless you have a heat exchanger. then it depends if its a full system or a half system (full systems get an engine driven pump)

 

[andrewterri]

I dont have an engine pump. Do flapper valves depend on what kind of system you have? Do you know if they are on engines that only have an impeller in the drive?