Bellows and WOT questions..

[floridacruisers]

I have an '89 Glastron Sierra with a 3.0L Mercruiser I purchased in December. Pretty much everything is operating good. I'm a firm believer in two things...If it ain't broke, don't fix it and effective preventive maintenance. . I do not know if or when the bellows was last changed. It's not leaking (yet) and seems to be ok. Can't get a hold of the previous owner to find out when it was last changed. The boat has spent most of its life in Florida or southern Georgia in fresh water 90% of the time.

Question 1.... Anyway to check the condition of the bellows without risking harm and does something like Formula 303 help to preseve it? I always store the boat with the sterndrive in the down position.

Question 2... I rarely use WOT. I generally operate between 28-3200 rpm. Does this present carbon or other engine problems down the road? I don't use WOT unless I'm being chased by a storm. 3200 is plenty fast for me. Things go by too fast at WOT to enjoy the trip and fuel consumptiom is much higher.
Thanks,
Phil

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Bellows and WOT questions..

If you don't know for sure, or if you can't find out, it might not be a bad idea to pull the lower unit and give everything a good inspection.
You can get a good look at all the bellows, and your gimble bearing. And then since you have the outdrive off, pop in and just replace the impeller.

If it's been more than a couple years since this has been done, it's about time to do so anyway, and it fits right in with your philosophy of preventive maintenance.

Not sure about the carbon deposits question. I'd try a couple full throttle runs occasionally, just to see how everything is running. I too tend not to run WOT very often either, boat doesn't seem to be suffering from that.
Starts right up, runs very well thru the full range of throttle.

 

[mciaio]

Re: Bellows and WOT questions..

You can inspect the belows with the outdrive on. Lift up the drive to the trailer position and inspect the bellows. You are looking for small cracks or just general deterioration. If they look good on the bottom you should be fine. It can't hurt to take the drive off and look at the gimbal though.

Not running at WOT is fine. As long as you are running the engine for a little while to get the temp up you are fine. Cold temps cause carbon buildup, not low RPM.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Bellows and WOT questions..

.......effective preventive maintenance. . I do not know if or when the bellows was last changed. It's not leaking (yet) and seems to be ok. Can't get a hold of the previous owner to find out when it was last changed..........

That should answer your own question. This is a case of if it breaks you will sink or ruin your gimbal bearing and u-joints, and that stuff gets expensive fast. If you wait till its broke, you waited too long! A good off season project, then you will know. I would use OEM drive and shift bellows, and if the exhaust bellows ain't broke don't replace it. Just my opinion.