Do I need to buy nre U-Joints?

[Demolitron]

Hello,

1985 Mercruiser 205
Mercruiser MR outdrive serial #

I just bought this boat and it has leaky bellows. The PO said that boat hadn't been out for a year and that it didn't leak before. I have dropped the drive out and attached pictures of the U-Joints. They still move smooth, no roughness at all. It didn't make any clunking noise when turned sharply left or right. I am going to order a transom rubber kit Monday, but would like some opinions on these U-Joints and Yokes.

Thanks!

 

[Don S]

Re: Do I need to buy nre U-Joints?

New items needed.
Bellows
Gimbal bearing
Ujoints
Input shaft seal in drive
Input shaft into drive if sealing surface is rusty or grooved.
Gasket kit to install drive
Gear lube (old probably has water in it)
Drain and vent screw gaskets.

 

[Demolitron]

Re: Do I need to buy nre U-Joints?

Don,

Thanks for that info, I'll be spending some time with the online service manual #6 and crowley marine's parts catalog. I got through the rebuild of my evinrude lower unit, so I hope this won't be a whole lot more difficult.

Also, while I'm in here do you thing I should replace the shift shaft seal? Also, it dies while going from fwd to neutral and from rev to neutral sometimes. So, I've been reading that this is highly likley to be a old/worn lower shift cable.


Thanks again!

 

[Don S]

Re: Do I need to buy nre U-Joints?

IF the engine is stalling when shifting, yes, change the shift cable. I would strongly suggest OEM for the shift cable kit. It has a teflon coating on the inner cable that makes them last longer and work smoother. for just a few bucks more than the ole standard aftermaket cables without the coating.
The shift shaft bushing wasn't a big problem on the Alpha I's, the Gen II's had some serious problems with theirs.
From the look inside the bellows, make sure the transom shield lip sticking out into the lower forward part of the bellows is actually there, and smooth. The rest of the drive and bellhousing is in some dire need of TLC, cleaning and painting or you will be spending some big bucks on replacement parts.