Another bellows question

[Gilded_Splinters]

Hi folks...sorry to exhume such a dead subject, but lots of searching still has me missing something here. I should add that this is my 1st OMC equipped boat.

I'm going to do bellows replacement on both of my '89 Cobras in the spring and upon taking them apart last week I noticed that the U joint bellows have no clamps or retainers on the pivot housing (rearward) end, but just appear to pop into a groove in the housing.

I've done lots of Mercruisers, so this seems strange to me. Are there really no retention devices holding this critical thing in place, and if so, is adhesive used there and elsewhere?

Thanks in advance.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Another bellows question

Hi folks...sorry to exhume such a dead subject, but lots of searching still has me missing something here. I should add that this is my 1st OMC equipped boat.

I'm going to do bellows replacement on both of my '89 Cobras in the spring and upon taking them apart last week I noticed that the U joint bellows have no clamps or retainers on the pivot housing (rearward) end, but just appear to pop into a groove in the housing.

I've done lots of Mercruisers, so this seems strange to me. Are there really no retention devices holding this critical thing in place, and if so, is adhesive used there and elsewhere?

Thanks in advance.

That's the way it is...
Here's a post of my volvo-penta sx cobra bellows replacement. Very Similar.

http://forums.iboats.com/volvo-pent...lacing-bellows-sx-drive-pic-heavy-632584.html

~

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Another bellows question

Only clamp is on the transom housing.

Buy OEM bellows. Way better quality than the aftermarket junk.

 

[Gilded_Splinters]

Re: Another bellows question

I read that write up earlier coincidentally.

What about the adhesive issue? No way you just popped it in and left it at that.

That would keep me up nights.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Another bellows question

Well, OMC calls for adhesive at the transom housing. No adhesive at the pivot housing at all.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Another bellows question

Bruce is right about the OEM bellows.
The south end is held in place by pressure from the drive as it's pressed forward.
Yes glue on the north end.
Get the right stuff, again OEM.
While it's off.Remove the bellcrank and clean and grease.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Another bellows question

Be careful removing the bellcrank. Make sure you don't change the adjustment setting.

 

[Gilded_Splinters]

Re: Another bellows question

Be careful removing the bellcrank. Make sure you don't change the adjustment setting.

I had lower shift cables put in it last year, so that's probably OK, but I'll look into it.

Man, do I wish I had Mercruisers again, but when I change my raw water pumps, I'm glad to have to OMCs.

Either way, I'm beginning to understand most boater's disdain for OMC drives.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Another bellows question

OMC always seemed to: I wanna do it MY way.
Unfortunatly most times it was the wrong way.
My opinion.They never really got the sterndrive setup so it was dependable(gonna hear a lot of squeelin on that).
They should have bought the rights to the modern drive setup like Mercruiser did.
The only good thing OMC did was get bought by Volvo.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Another bellows question

All they need is a mechanic who knows their way. I had mine set up years ago and it was fine still on the same shift cable that is more than 10 years old. I had to do one adjustment to it in all those years, just recently. When they are set up right (this took me 2 hrs the first time I did it with the 3 tools (shift rod height tool, bellcrank holder and shift cable measuring tool). I followed the instructions and it shifts like new. Mechanics who have done many Merc Alpha bellows vs Cobra bellows will tell you the Cobra is easier. While you probably should remove it, it is possible to to do the Cobra bellows without even removing the pivot housing, just as you can on a Volvo SX (same design bellows because Volvo COPIED OMC's transom mount). This is from 11 seasons of ownership, on a boat that is 25 years old run in salt at least the last 15 years. As long as I can get parts I see no reason to change. My mechanic still can rebuild them in his shop. No need to convert to an SEI drive which in concept is good, but the poor quality of some of the parts make it unlikely to last half as long as this one has.....

Re the bellcrank, no need to remove it, clean out the area round it with carb cleaner or brake cleaner, let it dry out, hit it with some compressed air and then pack that whole area with OMC triple guard grease, I have never had to remove mine and this boat is moored in salt water 6 months out of the year. For it to work as well as it did all this time, with normal maintenance, how bad could it be? I hear all the BS about how I/Os don't last in salt water and mine just keeps on going...all I got is an OMC factory shop manual, some OMC service bulletins and the right tools....not rocket science...

 

[Gilded_Splinters]

Re: Another bellows question

Agreed. I found a great mechanic who has lots of OMC experience. He had the set up tools and understood the need to use them.

My starboard drive shifts like a Swiss watch, but it took lots of fooling around last season to get the port side to behave. Of course once it did, I found water in the oil and a cracked bellows on that side.

I had Mercs for ages with no trouble at all, but that water pump is not only a POS, but needlessly hard to change.

Thanks for all of the help guys. I'm not giving up. Can't afford to convert anyway, and I'm committed to this boat.

I'm not finding OEM bellows easily. Where do you guys get OEM parts?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Another bellows question

You should be able to get the OEM bellows through any Johnson dealer.
0983973 OEM part# it will probably be superceeded but the dealer can help with that.
The bellcrank: it sets in a brass bushing.The corrosion can build it up on the end of the shaft and cause binding.
I've seen it so bad the bell crank has actually bent.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Another bellows question

You should double check but this is likely it.
Boat U Joint Bellows OMC 983973 987467 3854127 Volvo Penta 3854127 18 2765 | eBay

Its going to be the same as Volvo bellows and likely shares the same part number.

The 0983973 is the original OMC number that got changed when Volvo bought OMC.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Another bellows question

My local dealer is an ex-OMC shop that sells anything you can get from BRP. If you want an on line source....
Evinrude Parts - OMC - Mercruiser Parts - Boats - Crowley Marine

Go into their on line catalog with your model # the sell only o e factory parts, very good customer service.