Do you change your bellows every year?

[Thajeffski]

Seems kinda pricey! I just paid 130 for both of mine...... the kit was 200+ !!

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

Mine have not been changed since 1995.

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

bellows every year? no way!

15 years is pushing your luck though

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

It depends. Like, how do you stow your outdrive after every use.

 

[Pierutrus]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

I forgot to answer the original ?

When they start leaking into the boat.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

bellows every year? no way!

15 years is pushing your luck though

I ain't gonna fix it till it's broke, though. The outdrive has not been off since it was serviced in 1995. The boat gets used a good bit, but doesn't sit in the water. I know lots of people will say Armor All is crap, but I spray the bellows after every trip. I got that tip from the original owner. He had only put one set of bellows on the boat since he bought it in 1985....the ones put on in 1995. I bought the boat in 1996.

 

[Don S]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

RULE OF THUMB
5 years for Mercruiser, OMC Cobra, Volvo SX style (94 and newer).
Every other year for Volvo 290 style drives. They are thinner than Merc & OMC/Volvo.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

well how can I inspect my current one that FELL OFF?!

Doesn't seem to have any cracks and feels just fine.......

What's the easiest way to get this thing back on without any special mail order tools?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

IThe outdrive has not been off since it was serviced in 1995.

That is definitely pushing your luck in a lot of ways besides just the bellows.

See this post http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2695827#post2695827

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

What's the easiest way to get this thing back on without any special mail order tools?

The easy way ain't been invented yet!

You have two choices:

1. Buy the tool...roll up your sleeves...pull the outdrive...and get one hell of an education.

2. Buy the Quicksilver replacement 'tube'...leave the outdrive in place...and install.

Oh yeah--there is a third and a fourth option...run it like it is, or take it to your local shop!

Happy boating!

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

Pull the out drive?! oh boy........ sounds like this will be fun weekend.

Why do you think this thing fell off in the first place?

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

It wasn't glued on properly!

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

glue? you mean the clamp around it doesn't do the holding? Hope yer F'in with me!

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

My boat is always stored indoors when not in use. Never in the water overnight. Drive unit down. ArmorAll the bellows once a year. The U-joint and water pump are serviced every 100 hours, but that doesn't require the bellows to be removed, just the outdrive.

Both my bellows are 26 years old. No leaks yet and no cracks either.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

glue? you mean the clamp around it doesn't do the holding? Hope yer F'in with me!

The shop manual calls for glue. The clamps won't do the job by themselves.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

The shop manual calls for glue. The clamps won't do the job by themselves.

Ok, well that's another thing Ill have to pick up.......any hints on a specific kind of glue? is there anything else I'm missing?

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

The easy way ain't been invented yet!

You have two choices:

1. Buy the tool...roll up your sleeves...pull the outdrive...and get one hell of an education.

2. Buy the Quicksilver replacement 'tube'...leave the outdrive in place...and install.

Oh yeah--there is a third and a fourth option...run it like it is, or take it to your local shop!

Happy boating!

I do 90% of my own maintenance. Helped my buddy "try" to replace his bellows, and we even had the shop manual...LOL. He later got a mechanic come to his house and do it. I watched!

No thanks....ever again...let the shop do it.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

let me just clarify I'm not going to change them, I just want to re-attach the one that fell off

 

[Don S]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

Do you have an Alpha I Gen II outdrive?

 

[JimS123]

Re: Do you change your bellows every year?

Ok, well that's another thing Ill have to pick up.......any hints on a specific kind of glue? is there anything else I'm missing?

The shop manual shows a part number for the glue. Your local dealer should know what to use.