Bellows full of water

[ajkolar]

I just replaced my u-joints, u-joint bellow, and gimbal bearing. I took the boat out (5.7 OMC Cobra) for about 45 min a couple days after doing all this. I started the boat in the driveway today and could hear a little more noise than normal coming from the gimbal area. I checked the gear lube (at the bottom plug it was clean, at the middle plug it was clean, through the dipstick hole it was milky white and foamy). So I pulled the drive off again, and of course I have a u-joint bellow that is full of water.<br /><br />I realize I will need to replace the u-joints and gimbal bearing again. Is there a seal or something I need to replace where the yoke goes into the drive?<br /><br />How can I determine if I was getting water into the bellow from one of the bellow connections or because the drive was not sealed to the bell housing?<br /><br />I do have a manual and followed it closley but didn't get something quite right... I also want to make sure that there is NOT suppose to be a hose clamp of the front (furthest from the gimbal bearing) side of the u-joint bellow (that is, the u-joint bellow only uses one hose clamp, closest to the gimbal bearing)?

 

[ajkolar]

Re: Bellows full of water

I got to thinking, and looking at the drive. It is probably a lot less likely that water entered the bellow from the upper housing to transom plate (bellhousing) joint, because it would still have to make it past the seal created by the front of the bellow and the lip on the drive, right? So am thinking this must point to the bellow connection towards the gimbal bearing with the big hose clamp. It is strange if it is leaking here that it retained all that water for over a week?<br /><br />I am correct that only one hose clamp is used to connect the u-joint bellow, on the end towards the gimbal bearing, right?

 

[Don S]

Re: Bellows full of water

Yes there is only one hose clamp. If that bellows was not on properly at the transom side, and the ring in the bellows was not down in the groove all the way around, it WILL leak. If it wasn't on all the way at the top, it won't drain back out.<br />One other possibility is the plastic tube that connects the zirk to the gimbal bearing. If that tube came out, there is nothing there but a hole into the gimbal bearing.

 

[ajkolar]

Re: Bellows full of water

Thanks Don. Also, I believe in the past you mentioned once you get water into the u-joint bellow that something needed to be replaced at the 1st yoke to drive junction. Since I got a little water into the drive from the u-joint bellow, I assume this needs to be replaced. What exactly were you recommending be replaced (again this is '88 5.7 OMC Cobra drive).<br /><br />It seems like if I recall right, the tube from the zirk to the gimbal bearing was metal, and I could see it run all the way over to the gimbal bearing. Does that sound right? If something were to have fallen off I wouldn't be getting grease at the gimbal bearing, correct? Because I made sure to watch grease push out of the bearing..... Thanks again!

 

[Don S]

Re: Bellows full of water

The yoke that goes into the seal often times gets very rusty and grinds the seal down like sandpaper. If it's not rusty because you caught it quick enough, just make sure it clean, smooth, and shiny and it should be fine.<br /><br />

If something were to have fallen off I wouldn't be getting grease at the gimbal bearing, correct?

While that is true, the tube usually pulls out when the grease gun is removed. I have also seen some of the Volvo SX style drives (Same stupid plastic tube) leak no matter what we tried. To stop it from leaking, we just removed the tube, tapped the hole and put a SS grease zirk in place of the tube. End of water in the bellows.

 

[ajkolar]

Re: Bellows full of water

It looks like the Napa store doesn't have any more u-joints or gimbal bearings, so I would have to order online.... These part were BRAND new and fully greased prior to 45 minutes of operation with the bellow leak. The boat then sat in the driveway for 1 week with a u-joint bellow full of water. If I re-grease the gimbal bearing and the u-joint tonight will I be ok, or do these NEED to be replaced? Thanks again!

 

[ajkolar]

Re: Bellows full of water

I took everything apart last night. All the grease inside the u-joint caps is still the oringinal blackish color (mercruiser u-joint & gimbal grease) so I believe the u-joints will be fine to use again after re-greasing. <br /><br />I took the bellow off and found a 1/4" slice in it right behind to the front lip, so now I know where my water was coming from. I have no idea how the cut got there...<br /><br />I put the alignment tool into the gimbal bearing and spun it a few times and it feels somewhat rough, so I WILL be replacing that... Thank you for all your help.<br /><br />Don S, you signature is OH SO TRUE!!!!!<br /><br />Oh, I just thought of one more question. I took the top plate off to veiw the gear lube and gears from above with the drive off and the lube looks fine now.. Does this mean I got just a very very small amount of water in (through the yoke seal) that cause some white foam to be produced while I ran it in the driveway, that then just floated on top? (if you recall the bottom two plugs looked fine, but there was white foam on the tip of the dipstick) Thanks again!

 

[Big-E]

Re: Bellows full of water

ajkolar: I just changed my u-joints/bellows/gimble bearing/ and the yoke seals. I had water in my bellow before that killed everything. I had a tiny bit of water in my drive that i just flushed out with some cheap gear oil. After i test ran it i pulled the top cover off to look at the gears and the fluid was like green foam(why does mercruiser make there fluid green?). All the fluid was clean but when i 1st saw that i thought there was water in it. <br /><br />Good luck on that job again. It was a royal pain when i did it. <br /><br />later, <br /><br />Big-E

 

[Don S]

Re: Bellows full of water

I sure hope you guys are putting new orings/seals on those top covers when you pull them off like that. Those seals are NOT reusable, and can cause you to get water in the drive and loose gear lube.<br />If you even suspect water in the drive, change it. That gear lube is still a lot cheaper than gears and bearings.

 

[Big-E]

Re: Bellows full of water

Don S. Yip the yoke repair kit came with a couple seals for my drive. Your right they looked like they can leak very easy btw. <br /><br />later, <br /><br />Big-E