Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

[chrisg00]

I'm doing the bellows boots on my mercuiser alpha drive (1989). It pretty much disassembled except I don't understand how the shifter cable boot is replaced. I took out the inner cable (disconnected it from the shifter bracket on the engine and pulled it out from the drive, with the fork type piece still attached). But how does the boot come off? Do you have to pull out the black cable all the way out of the boat, thru the transom? I'm assuming so, just looks like a pain in the @zz to get it back thru.
Also, my wonderful kit I purchased from Quicksilver has all the boots, bearing, hose, and clamps. However seems like they left out the adhesive Merc tells you to use on the boots before you clamp them. How important is that adhesive rather then just using a clamp? I'm assuming a merc dealer would have it.
Thanks so much and happy boating.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

The black outer casing is pulled back thru the shift boot.
Adhesive IS A MUST

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

Yes the cable housing must come completely out of the boat, and it is a PITA.
The bellows adhesive doesn't come with any kit. You buy it seperately.
There are people on this site that will tell you that you don't need to use the adhesive. They are wrong. When you use the adhesive, the bellows never slip off. Without it, they sometimes do.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

Check thie out........http://www.mercstuff.com/bellowsreplacement1.htm

I just did mine a few weeks ago.........went easier than I was imagining......defintely use the adhesive......

 

[chrisg00]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

thank you for the quick replies. I've located the adhesive and the salesman there said "oh, I should have mentioned you need that along with the kit."
Glad I asked.
Is it a PITA to remove the old adhesive? Light 180 grit sandpaper, maybe 220? Or do you glue right over the old?

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

I used a small wire brush on the end of a drill........then light sand paper......surfaces should be nice and clean.

 

[chrisg00]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

thank you!
Job seemed harder then it really is. Getting the cable in and out of the transom will def be the hardest part.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

I actually taped a pc of wire to the end of the cable in the boat before I pulled it out of the transom.......then used it to help pull the cable through after replacing the bellows...

 

[bigskiohio]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

a brass bush

 

[ziggy]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

Getting the cable in and out of the transom will def be the hardest part.

it's not that hard to do. pull it out and push the new one back in. the drag to me was ya gotta keep sliding the bellows rearward till ya get the cable all the way in.
i used fbt's idea too when i did my cable. not so much as to help it back in but to remember the routing of the cable.

you must not be R&Ring your water hose while your there doing the bellows, or you'd be thinking the shift cable was a piece of cake...

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Re: Alpha drive, bellows boot replacement question

you must not be R&Ring your water hose while your there doing the bellows, or you'd be thinking the shift cable was a piece of cake...

I was lucky.......my water hose isn't used...........