Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

[LegacyT]

I saw the sticky on pulling the upper and turning it sideways. Do you have to drain the drive oil for this? Also whats the easiest way to change the exhaust bellow? Are there any other things that might need to be replaced (water pickup hose etc?)

Thanks,

 

[billbayliner]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

Yep, drain the oil first, or you'll have a mess.
Turning the transmission onto it's side makes it a bit easier. Watch for the shims. They must go back in.
Exhaust bellows rarely fail on these. Look at it closely for signs of cracking and such.
If you do replace it, make sure that the weep hole is forward and aiming down.
Use the OEM Euro style clamps... not the fully cut worm slot type.
Replace the water neck fitting and special beaded gasket while you are in there.
Wiggle the PDS to check for play.

 

[LegacyT]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

Are you talking about the water neck fitting and gasket on the suspension fork? Also what is the PDS?

Thanks

 

[billbayliner]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

Yes, the water neck fitting that attaches to the suspension fork. These are a wear item.
PDS is primary drive shaft. You don't mention what engine, so I wouldn't know if you have a double bearing or a single bearing PDS. If single, these will usually come out the rear with a little persuasion.
If double, the engine needs to come out.
A failure here can end up being very expensive.

 

[LegacyT]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

The engine is an AQ231A which was mated to a 270 drive... Not original drive, someone must have replaced it at some point. Should have an SP-A

 

[LegacyT]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

Are aftermarket bellows like Sierra any good? Or should you stick with VP?

 

[Don S]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

The engine is an AQ231A which was mated to a 270 drive... Not original drive, someone must have replaced it at some point. Should have an SP-A

I would bet the engine was changed in your boat. To change from the SP-A to a 270 would require a different transom shield as well. Plus rebuilding the transom, the 270 cutout in the transom is smaller than the SP-A.

Personally, I would stick with the OEM bellows. Even the OEM are fairly thin material compared to other bellows.

 

[billbayliner]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

I prefer the OEM bellows. Just a tad bit heavier and better quality.
Stay with the Euro style clamps if you buy the Sierra.

The SP A transmission lower bearing is the same diameter as the 270/275/280/285/290 and 290A. So in essence, if the transmission and lower unit only were carried over, the SP A could be made to fit the 270 Intermediate housing or even visa-versa.
One issue would be the PDS and female yoke splines.
I believe that the entire SP A could attach to the 270 shield if the suspension fork was changed.
Long as it works, I'd not worry. Bellows are the same.

 

[Don S]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

The engine is an AQ231A which was mated to a 270 drive... Not original drive, someone must have replaced it at some point. Should have an SP-A

Could you post a picture of your drive and transom shield, I have looked back at your earlier posts, and it's beginning to sound like you may have an SX-A drive, with a 270 lower unit installed. Not the complete 270 setup.

 

[LegacyT]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

Hi Don,

From the factory my boat should have came with an SP drive (White, angled upper gear box) on the AQ231A. Instead the boat came with this:



And a 2.15 ratio lower on a V8 to boot!

After I hit a a rock I replaced the 270 lower unit with a 1.61 SP-A1 lower

 

[Don S]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

It has the SP-A transom shield, someone has just changed the upper and lower to the 270, or they changed the whole drive and replace the fork on the 270 drive with the SP-A fork. The 270 drives didn't have trim.

 

[LegacyT]

Re: Change Bellows VP 270 Drive

Ok we figure the drive unit was changed but they kept the transom and fork from the original SP setup. Just want to confirm that exhaust bellow part # 875848 and Drive bellow part # 875826 will work between the 270 drive and SP transom. Also does the entire drive have to come off to replace the exhaust bellow?