Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

[broncojeff78]

Hi folks, hope everyone is enjoying the water this summer! I picked up an 84 Wellcraft 210 with a Mercruiser 260 V8. I installed a new water pump kit and then removed the upper housing to service the u joints. I found water in the bellows and the lack of any kind of gasket on the bellhousing too. I also found the shift cable bellows torn and in bad shape. I had heard you needed some special tools to do this job so I checked with a couple local dealers to see what it would cost to just have them do the repair for me. I was shocked when they said at least $1500! I guess BOAT does stand for Break Out Another Thousand! After some more research, mostly on this awesome site, I decided I will do it myself. I found a company that sells a tool kit that comes with every tool you will need to do the job for $99.00 and its all made in the USA! The only tool it didn't come with is a bellows stretcher so I bought one of those too just in case I need it. So for a little more than $300.00 including parts I can do it myself and replace all the bellows as well as the gimble bearing. Unless I am missing something, this seems like a pretty good deal to me. My question is did I miss something? The job seems fairly simple to do for the average mechanically inclined person. Is there anything else I should replace while I have this thing all apart? My goal is to have a reliable and safe boat I can take my family on without me having to worry about anything.

 

[flipbro]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

Did you buy oem ? I just did this job and found out that aftermarket kits are cheap junk! And don't forget the bellows adhesive! And I would consider changing the shift cable will your in there

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

Welcome!!

Bellows,
shift cable,
alignment tool,
ujoints,
hinge pin tool or 1/2" allen wrench/socket

how about the shift shaft bushing/seal in the bellhousing? the upper bushing has a seal that can wear out and allow water to enter the shift cable area. They have a redesigned one that has a better seal.

Scroll down to post 4 and 5 of this old thread to see them installed:
http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...ft-linkage-mercruiser-se-outdrive-426738.html

 

[broncojeff78]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

Ok shift cable and bushing kit ordered. I decided to go with the aftermarket stuff on most everything basically due to price and availability. The reviews I have read seemed to be mostly positive and I have used some before on my other boat and they are pretty decent. I really need to do this as cheap as possible so I don't run out of cash before the boat is done. I already had ordered the bellows adhesive and the ujoints appear to be new so they will remain. Thanks for the help and if there is anything more, let me know.

 

[ktbarrentine]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

Unfortunately: Boat maintenance + "as cheap as possible" usually = trouble. Best of luck.

 

[broncojeff78]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

Unfortunately: Boat maintenance + "as cheap as possible" usually = trouble. Best of luck.

Now when I say cheap as possible I don't mean I will use junk parts. I've been around long enough to know when something is too poorly made to be more trouble than its worth. I have had good luck with aftermarket stuff on other boats so I figure I will take a chance with this one.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

I use OE bellows stuff too. It's not that much money compared to doing it over. BTW if your tool kit did not include a real long socket for changing out the shift cable end don't buy it. Just stack 2 spark plug sockets and it will give you enough reach to tighten the end.

 

[broncojeff78]

Re: Alpha 1 Gen 1 bellows and gimble replacement

Ok, so far everything is going pretty well. I got the new gimble bearing installed and in the process of replacing the trim sensors which I found were in pretty bad shape. Here's is a pic of my home made gimble bearing puller. All I used was a 1 ft piece of threaded rod, 2 nuts and washers, an old Johnson outboard flywheel off my other boat and a little help from my wife and it came right out..