Exhaust bellow

[aharper00]

I have a 4.3 mercruiser alpha I in/out. Most of the bellows look to be in decent shape except the exhaust bellow. It appears old, rotten and has a good size gash in it. I'm inclined to do nothing as I hear that water can't get in but wanted to ask this crowd just to be on the safe side. Do I need to change it? I honestly could care less if I'm venting exhaust into the water. Is this something worth worrying about or just let it go?

Thx.

 

[Philster]

Re: Exhaust bellow

It can do no harm.

When you tilt the outdrive up, even an exhaust bellows without gashes is just open to the sea anyway. Many boats with through-hull exhaust just have the bellows missing anyway.

 

[Knot Waiting]

Re: Exhaust bellow

Like Philster said, it's harmless. However, just something to think about is that you can't replace the other bellows without removing the exhaust bellows. Meaning that they are all likely the same age and if one is that bad......

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Exhaust bellow

Most of the bellows look to be in decent shape except the exhaust bellow. Is this something worth worrying about or just let it go?

As the others have said, the exhaust bellows is the least important of them all and is not really needed.

But I would not leave it on just to rip more and fling pieces around or have a clamp come loose getting the way.

What I did was remove the exhaust bellows and put on an exhaust "boot" that only attaches to one side and is a simple DIY job.

Mark