Another Bellows Question

[rad1026]

I am replacing the bellows on my '89 Chaparral 5.7L, Alpha 1, Gen 1. I pulled the outdrive to grease the splines and found water in the u-joint bellows. Last night I removed the bell housing and all the bellows. A close inspection of the u-joint bellows revealed no indication of where the leak may have been coming from. The bellows are stretched somewhat but still seem pliable. The boat is new to me and I have no idea when they may have been replaced last. I did notice that once I removed the clamps the bellows were removed fairly easily from the transom and bell housing. It sure didn't seem like the adhesive was still doing its job, but I've never done this before so I don't know what to expect. Could it be that the bellows were leaking because of lack of adhesive? I want to get this right so I want to make sure I take care of any possible cause of leaking the first time. Is there anything else I should look at before I put it all back together? Thanks for the help!

 

[Don S]

Re: Another Bellows Question

The adhesive is not there to make a seal, it just helps hold the bellows during installation.
The clamp on the rubber is what seals it.
There is also a rubber ring (item a in picture) that if cut or damaged will let water into the bellows. It (along with the gaskets) should be replaced EVERY time the drive is removed.

 

[rad1026]

Re: Another Bellows Question

Yes, I will make sure to replace the rubber ring gasket, it came in the package of gaskets and O rings I bought. OK, I'll get it all back together and see how it goes, thanks for the help.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Another Bellows Question

Have you ever had a lot of water in your bilge that could have been as high as the shaft from the drive?

 

[rad1026]

Re: Another Bellows Question

bruce, no I have never had that much water in my bilge. In fact I have never had enough water in my bilge to turn the pump on. The most I have seen after a weekend at the lake where I leave the boat in the water over night has been a few gallons when I pull the plug.

 

[87baylinercapri]

Re: Another Bellows Question

i juyst replaced the u joint bellows on my volvo sx cobra drive, what i dont get is if the u-joint bellows is to keep water out, hoow come no sealer or gasket is used on the drive to pivot housing mated surface? it seems as if water would flow right in with no issue...the only gasket is that small rubber one, (figure b) where the water enters the engine....am i missing something or ?

 

[Gohot]

Re: Another Bellows Question

I just replaced 'all' the rubber (bellows & hose) and did NOT use the adhesive, I did use the clips for electrolisis prevention, and tighten the clamps effectivly tight, and found actually that if the bellows clamps were done in a certain order, it wasn't really difficult to get the bellows on their flanges and tighten. After getting a manual, an older printing of a 'Sea-loc' it continuously made mention of the adhesive and also it's volatility, but gave the impression it was imperative to use it. You say it is only an 'aid' to holding the bellows while securing them with the clamps..... correct..?! and that not using adhesive is allowable ...?? My point is, I got the bellows on, secured them without much fanfare or cussing and the bellows and hose all seem fine.....Do I have cause for concern?

 

[Eric 3.7LX Alpha 1]

Re: Another Bellows Question

Hi Gohot and welcome aboard. You should start a new thread of your own instead of adding to this 4-year old archive. In your new thread you could post a link to this one for reference if you wish. It's the correct way to ask a question.

If the sealoc continuously made mention of the adhesive, what made you go and install it not according to the manual?

 

[Don S]

Re: Another Bellows Question

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=468283