bellows question

fmalott

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i did a trail run on replacing all bellows i did exactly like the manual said. the manual said to put the exhaust and the shift cable bellows on the gimbal housing first and glue them (yes i used bellows adhesive) next the ujoint bellow on the bell housing first and glue it i also put the water hose on both ends. the manual also said once you done this put the bell housing back on screw the hinge pins on and finally put the ujoint bellow on the gimbal housing then exhaust on bell housing and your all set, so i did this but i didn't glue the final stag because i did not want to commit and realized i did it wrong i just wanted to see if i could do it. i made a home made expander tool all went well i did it it was together but half glued, so i inspected to see if it was together right and i noticed everthing was very crammed there was no space the ujoint and the exhaust bellows where touching each other and the bottom of the exhaust bellow was touching the gimbal housing and the water hose was rubbing also. when you look at the manual it shows lots of space at least that's what it looked like to me. so did i buy the wrong bellows or is it suppose to be like that

P.S. the bell housing, gimbal housing, transom is from a 1983 I-R outdrive. the outdrive is a new alpha one that replaces the I-R so i'm deaing with just the bell, gimbal, and transom from 1983
 

tpenfield

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Re: bellows question

Who knows what bellows kit you bought, but everything is in pretty close proximity in there. So, don't assume that you did it wrong. . .

Got pictures?
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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Re: bellows question

Bellows is something I always buy genuine. And yes, the exhaust bellows and uni joint bellows do touch, and the water hose also touches them...

Which manual are you using?

Chris........
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

Bellows is something I always buy genuine. And yes, the exhaust bellows and uni joint bellows do touch, and the water hose also touches them...

Which manual are you using?

Chris........
number 6 manual because i'm still using the I-R parts just the outdrive itself i replaced with a alpha 1 so i'm still using I-R bell, gimbal and transom housings what worries me is the bottom of the exhaust bellow is touching the gimbal housing
 

achris

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Re: bellows question

... what worries me is the bottom of the exhaust bellow is touching the gimbal housing

Touching is normal... Pressed hard up against and being distorted... maybe a problem :D
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

Touching is normal... Pressed hard up against and being distorted... maybe a problem :D
no it's not distorted just touching. well if this is all normal i guess i will commit myself and glue the remaining. being my first bellows change i just thought there would be more room i guess that's a lesson learnt
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

i'm heading out today to finalized the bellows. i was reading in the manual what type of loctite to use i got it no problem but the manual says for the hinge pin installation Apply Locquic Primer "T" to the internal threads of bell housing and external hinge pin threads and allow to dry.
my question is: what is locquic primer "T" i have never hear of this and is it acctually needed?
 

achris

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Re: bellows question

Just make sure the threads are clean and dry. I would clean with meths or white spirit..
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

now that i have the bellows on how do you know if there sealed? do you wait until you put the boat in the water or is there a trick to test the bellows? i can't see a marina replacing bellows on a $30,000 boat and saying to the owner let me know if your boat takes on water in the middle of the lake or ocean, that's like russian roulette. i tried to look for info on this with no success I even looked in the stickies. so how do you test the bellows? THANKS!
 

achris

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Re: bellows question

.... so how do you test the bellows? THANKS!

Throw it in the lake and see if the boat ships water... Sorry, that's it. If you used bellows adhesive and the bellows slipped into place properly, it shouldn't leak.
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

Touching is normal... Pressed hard up against and being distorted... maybe a problem :D
it happened the exhaust bellows ripped i think it happened when i trailered the outdrive so i ordered a new one and start over again %&^*
 

Don S

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Re: bellows question

Who manufactured your bellows?
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

i think it was sierra i bought them from iboats i'm going to try mallory see what happens
 

achris

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Re: bellows question

i think it was sierra i bought them from iboats i'm going to try mallory see what happens

No... Use OEM... Bellows are one of those items I only ever buy OEM.... The part number is -18654A1, and it's only about $10 more... For the extra expense and not having to do the job AGAIN.... To me, that's money well spent....
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

No... Use OEM... Bellows are one of those items I only ever buy OEM.... The part number is -18654A1, and it's only about $10 more... For the extra expense and not having to do the job AGAIN.... To me, that's money well spent....
OEM is very hard to find there is no marina's near my shop and when i go to cottage all the marina's don't have OEM so i use the internet and still can't find OEM
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

OEM is very hard to find there is no marina's near my shop and when i go to cottage all the marina's don't have OEM so i use the internet and still can't find OEM

i stand corrected i just found some on Ebay i purchesed them
 

caddylover

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Re: bellows question

it happened the exhaust bellows ripped i think it happened when i trailered the outdrive so i ordered a new one and start over again %&^*

if your exhaust bellows ripped you should think of just buying an exhaust tube. I just did the bellows gig with Sierra products and so far so good. Used the tube instead and yes, it is louder for sure when trimmed up, but if ya can live with the ease of installation, then go for it :)
 

fmalott

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Re: bellows question

will an exhaust tube work on a alpha 1 gen 1
 
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