Changing exhaust bellows without removing outdrive .

[jimbo_jwc]

Since I've started doing most of my repairs after retiring I soon have learned an easy way to do the exhaust bellows after three failed attempts so I'll describe the way that worked best for me . You take a round 3/8" bungee cord and wrap it tight in the corrugated valleys ,wrap a small amount at beginning and end with electrical tape . This will expand it about an 1 1/2" out long enough for when you attach it secondly to the lower unit side . It almost put it self on as I soaped and started the top and lowered the drive .

 

[harringtondav]

Good tip. But I hope it holds with soap, and not adhesive. This bellows is notorious for pulling off when trimmed up to trailer. It's stretched to its limit.

If it does come off, clean off the soap residue and use adhesive. It actually does provide some slipperiness.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

I tried the bellows adhesive on the engine side and it didn't"t hold . Used two clips on bottom side . Found 1/4" drive that fit through hole n tightened n it held .

 

[Scott Danforth]

if the exhaust bellows is bad, the other two are not far behind.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

They still looked good from the first failed attempt of me changing it . Its been three years since I did all bellows ,shift cable and gimbel bearing . I think it failed prematurely when I took my 4 blade Lake Erie prop and went to my 3 blade vented prop .I noticed a vibration at WOT but still trolled a lot .When I took it back off there was one of my spare lock washer and Prop nut stuck in one of the three exhaust paths in the prop and I think it was exposed to more heat as my engine was about 20 degrees hotter an didn't think something was wrong because of hotter water temps at our lakes.