Bellows adhesive question

[whiskeyRichard]

When installing the bellows, do you put them on with the adhesive and wait for the adhesive to dry and then tighten the clamp or do you tighten the clamp as soon as you slide the bellows on over the adhesive?

thanks,
wR

 

[alldodge]

I apply adhesive, install and clamp

 

[hoowahfun]

When I did my bellows, I clamped the gimbal and shift cable bellows right away. My thought was that I wanted the adhesive to dry in place and didn't want to flex the adhesive in a way that it wouldn't take shape after it was already dry.

For the exhaust bellows, I tried all manner of methods to get that thing to stick on with the adhesive, but it kept sliding off after a few days, even with the drive in the full down position. I ended up sanding each end really well and left the surface slightly roughened, cleaning with acetone to get all the old adhesive off, then clamped it on each end completely dry. Haven't had a problem since. I think the exhaust tube would be even easier and could go on dry, but my kit came with the old style you put on each end so kept it to keep the noise down.

 

[scoflaw]

I do bellows clean and dry, no adhesive

 

[achris]

Read the manual. Apply the adhesive to both surfaces. Allow it to go tacky. Install the bellows and do the clamp up.

Not using any adhesive is a seriously bad idea!

Chris

 

[harringtondav]

+1 Above. The manual is the Bible. I've gooped excess adhesive, thinking it would ease installation. The exhaust bellows slid off w/in an hour. The adhesive is basically contact cement. A thin layer, cured to tacky will hold.

 

[scoflaw]

Read the manual. Apply the adhesive to both surfaces. Allow it to go tacky. Install the bellows and do the clamp up.

Not using any adhesive is a seriously bad idea!

Chris

there was no adhesive used on my original bellows when I replaced them., must of been a seriously bad idea from the manufacturer. No problems yet after multiple bellows jobs using nothing. That crap is like snot on a door knob

 

[harringtondav]

Belt and suspenders can be overkill, unless it helps keep your boat from sinking. The adhesive is messy, but cheap. Also cheap insurance.

 

[achris]

there was no adhesive used on my original bellows when I replaced them., must of been a seriously bad idea from the manufacturer.

Unless the bellows was replaced by a previous owner who was also too cheap to do the job properly!

Use the adhesive. It's not a suggestion, it's mandatory. If your boat sinks, for any reason, and the insurance company finds out YOU replaced the bellows and didn't follow the manufacturers' procedure, say good-night to any payout, and expect a few law suits from the victims!

Chris......

 

[whiskeyRichard]

I glued them, waited about ten minutes and then clamped down the hose clamps.

Thanks again for all the helpful advice.

wR

 

[aarons 470]

I think the adhesive helps with the bellows esp going onto the gimble side. Once it’s square it helps it slide right into place.

 

[wahlejim]

Just out of curiosity, what is the reason to not use adhesive? $10 savings? Also, what do you use to hold the large gasket/o-ring in place when you pull your outdrive every year?

 

[scoflaw]

I have had bad luck with the adhesive, too slippery. I use grease to hold the bravo O rings in place. Makes the cleanup much easier for the next time.

 

[achris]

I have had bad luck with the adhesive, too slippery. I use grease to hold the bravo O rings in place. Makes the cleanup much easier for the next time.

Then you're not waiting until the adhesive goes tacky...

Using grease may make the clean up easier, but it's not the right way to do it. Please, get the genuine Merc shop manual and follow it. The people who wrote it are also the people who built the system, they know better than mechanical hacks like you and me how it should be maintained.

Chris....

 

[scoflaw]

Been mechanical hacking for 50 years and all has been well, thanks. With all due respect, there's more than 1 way to skin a cat. Like I said on a previous post, Sea Ray used no adhesive on the bellows.

 

[achris]

Been mechanical hacking for 50 years and all has been well, thanks. With all due respect, there's more than 1 way to skin a cat. Like I said on a previous post, Sea Ray used no adhesive on the bellows.

Yeah, and no disrespect, but doing it wrong for 50 years doesn't make it right.

Chris..........

 

[alldodge]

The adhesive is sticky straight out of the tube. I don't care how someone does it, each to their own, its their boat, but have hard time understanding how adhesive is more slick then grease

 

[scoflaw]

Maybe I got a bad tube. Did and redid a pair of bravo shift bellows 3 times. After the last slip off, went clean and dry.

 

[achris]

Maybe I got a bad tube. Did and redid a pair of bravo shift bellows 3 times. After the last slip off, went clean and dry.

:facepalm: Shift bellows don't get bellows adhesive!

RTFM!

 

[scoflaw]

:facepalm: Shift bellows don't get bellows adhesive!

RTFM!

Yes this exactly and why thinking outside the box is important.. Sooo tell me why 1 gets it and 1 doesn't. Makes no sense to me and the SEA Ray had none on the shaft bellow as well.