Bellows replacement - special tools required?

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

Thanks. What color loctite do you use on the hinge pins?

How difficult is it to change the lower shift cable? Does it go bad over time?

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

loc-tite red..i'm thinking thats what te book calls for. thats what i used on mine and i had to pick up a tube when i went together with mine.
yes the cables go bad and cause problems shifting. they get stiff and hard to move. at 14 years old yours is?????????
your going to be half way to changing your cable any way as you have to take the lower end off in order to slide the new bellows on. as far as how hard it is to change, will depend on how much room you have between the transom and back of your engine. on mine i have room so its not to bad

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

Thanks. There isn't much room to work between the transom and the engine. I skimmed the shift cable replacement procedures in the manual. I always ask how difficult a job is because a lot of times I read the manual and it looks easy, then when I go to complete the job it's a bear.

Back to special tools discussion.

- Bellows Expander Tool (this is only used for the exhaust bellows and not necessarily needed correct?)

- Sleeve Removal Tool (will I need this?)

- Shift Cable Removal and Installation Tool (will I need this?)

Also, can the u-joint sleeve be removed and reused or will I need to buy a new one?

 

[achris]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

- Sleeve Removal Tool (will I need this?)

No...

Also, can the u-joint sleeve be removed and reused or will I need to buy a new one?

A new sleeve comes with the bellows.......

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

Thanks again!

So how about the Shift Cable Removal and Installation Tool that's used to remove the shift cable retaining nut? Will this be necessary?

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

thats for the old style cable that is screwed in from the front of the bell housing. your cable is installed from the back and you have more room. when i change mine i had a 1/2" drive deep well that worked for mine.

 

[achris]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

Thanks again!

So how about the Shift Cable Removal and Installation Tool that's used to remove the shift cable retaining nut? Will this be necessary?

I use a 9/16" deep socket, ground down to fit inside the bellhousing....

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

On page 4B-18 it says "Remove water tube cover and rubber grommet. Push water tube through gimbal housing." Is this step necessary? If so, it's done from inside the boat correct?

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

In fact, in the exploded parts diagram of the bell housing it shows a couple hoses what happens with those?

 

[achris]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

In fact, in the exploded parts diagram of the bell housing it shows a couple hoses what happens with those?

I generally leave them connected.... It's not worth the hassle to remove them...

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

one is the raw water supply from the pump in the drive and the other is the remote oil reservoir for your drive. you can change the raw water hose if you want.
i must have gotten lucky on my socket. i didnt have to grind it but it's snap-on. i should have been more clear and said it's 9/16th 1/2" drive. i can see where you might have thought i ment a 1/2" socket

 

[achris]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

...i must have gotten lucky on my socket. i didnt have to grind it but it's snap-on....

Snap-on gear is GOOD... the sockets are really thin walled.... I got a cheapie because I knew it wouldn't be used all that often.... hence the need to grind...

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

One thing the manual isn't too clear on; which end of the u-joint bellows do you connect first, the transom side or the bell housing side?

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

Does anyone know the if there is a part number for all 3 bellows in a kit? I can only find them separate.

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

Well I'm going for it guys, what other choice do I have? Gotta make this thing float!

Here's the parts list so far:

816431A1 U-JOINT BELLOWS ASSY (Mercury/Mercruiser) $74.13
18654A1 EXHAUST BELLOWS ASSY (Mercury/Mercruiser) $27.65
27-94996Q-2 BELL HOUSING GASKET SET (Mercury/Mercruiser) $5.74
74639A2 SHIFT CABLE BELLOWS KIT (Mercury/Mercruiser) $17.64
865436A02 ASSY-SHIFT CABLE (Mercury/Mercruiser) $57.33
91-78310 HINGE PIN TOOL (Mercury/Mercruiser) $16.44
91-818162 TOOL-SLEEVE (Mercury/Mercruiser) $32.41
92-86166Q1 ADHESIVE-BELLOWS (Mercury/Mercruiser) $8.02
92-80285Q1 2-4-C LUBRICANT (Mercury/Mercruiser) $9.70
SPLINE GREASE
U-JOINT GREASE

Please let me know if I'm missing anything. I want to get it all on one order if possible. If you can recommend a specific spline and u-joint grease that would be great. Figure I can pick up grease locally.

A big THANKS to all those who have contributed to this post so far! Especially achris and jaxnjil! Without everyone's assistance I would be "dead in the water".

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

One note about the shift cable tool. I found a deep 9/16" was not deep enough on mine (I use Craftsman). I ended up welding a couple of deep well 9/16" sockets together. THAT was deep enough and worked great.

You also asked about a kit. There are many who sell a "transom rebuild kit" which contains many of the parts you mention in a kit instead of separately.

One more note - I too bought the hinge pin tool, but from what I understand it breaks easily, and many of the pros do not use it at all - they use the 1/2" allen wrench. In fact, even more specific I have seen them say they use the handle of a cold chisel - it happens to fit exactly. (I think rodbolt has mentioned that's what he uses).

 

[achris]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

...One more note - I too bought the hinge pin tool, but from what I understand it breaks easily, ....

??? I've had just the one for about 16 years, and I've had cheetar bars on it a metre long, and then put my full weight on it... Breaks out the hinge pins every time

Chris......

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

I haven't broken mine either - I am just sharing what I have read. Maybe, like most other tools, there are differing brands and manufacturers and qualities. Here's a post with more info:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=232758&highlight=hinge+pin+tool

 

[watchinthebobber]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

I haven't broken mine either - I am just sharing what I have read. Maybe, like most other tools, there are differing brands and manufacturers and qualities. Here's a post with more info:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=232758&highlight=hinge+pin+tool

Some good info there, thanks!

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Bellows replacement - special tools required?

i just checked and the 1/16 deep scocket i used is a special thin wall extra deep scocket. i just got lucky having it. you will need to get or modify a scocket as the others stated. it looks like 1/2 inch drive might just be long enough but the ratchet drive square wouldnt be able to go all the way into the scocket and need ground to be as thin as the one i have
sorry for any confusion this may have caused you