boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

[TilliamWe]

Re: boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

You need to understand one thing guys. The tube was designed for one reason and one reason only. To relieve back pressure on the larger engines (The big blocks) at higher rpm's....
The props are also designed to have exhaust running through them, for best efficiency....

...Deal with it, he wants the bellows and now has information on how to make it work.

Point 1, Mercruiser installed, from the factory, a tube on my 1997 5.7LX EFI Gen +. So I am not convinced that your statement is 100% accurate.

Point 2, My drive was a Bravo 3, and Mercruiser installed the tube on it, so I am not sure that the props need exhaust going through them all the time, or Mercruiser wouldn't put the tube on Bravo 3s.

Point 3, True.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

I have also read-[no personal experience]- that you may end up with a bit more exhaust residue on the transom, with a boot, as the exhaust is no longer forced thru the prop as thoroughly as with a bellows. My 1/2 cent worth.

 

[Don S]

Re: boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

Point 1, Mercruiser installed, from the factory, a tube on my 1997 5.7LX EFI Gen +. So I am not convinced that your statement is 100% accurate.

Point 2, My drive was a Bravo 3, and Mercruiser installed the tube on it, so I am not sure that the props need exhaust going through them all the time, or Mercruiser wouldn't put the tube on Bravo 3s.

Point 3, True.

There are always exceptions to every rule.
This is from the 2006 Applications Manual.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

Thanks for the manual post Don. So, a few years after Mercruiser started installing tubes on drives, they determined that the higher cube engines NEEDED them.

 

[timfives]

Re: boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

I called a local shop to have all my bellows replaced requesting use of only oem bellows. The shop proceeded to tell me no problem with replacing the ujoint and shift cable bellows but if the exhaust bellows was good to leave it on as "the recent oem exhaust bellows they have gotton keep falling off ". Now im no expert but have not heard of this??? anyone care to share or should i just look for a new shop. They are charging 600.00 parts and labor..at that rate i definately want the exhaust bellows replaced (i declined the exhaust boot idea.) im running a 7.4l with b3 outdrive.

My exhaust bellow did fall off, i suppose the thought is if it aint broke don't fix it. I just have the 3.0 and it is a little louder, but nothing extreme.

 

[cr2k]

Re: boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

Carb spray works too.

 

[stonyloam]

Re: boat shop gave me some interesting advise on my bellows?

IMHO the boat shop is right. If the exhaust bellows is in reasonably good shape there should be no real reason to change it. My shop gave me the same advice and I am glad I took it.