exhaust bellows

[rasbury]

I did an exhaust bellows replacement and tried to do it with the OEM, what a crappy design that is for putting that on the drive side! Anyway, I finally got it on but could not do it with the adhesive as by the time I could get it nearly on, it got to tacky and would have to restart. I can't imagine pulling that stern drive off again to reattempt. Others on the site were saying not to worry and there is a replacement boot that just attaches to the trasom side and mates when you trim the motor down....I have the oem boot there loose....should I replace that with this aftermarket product or let it rip the way it is? I'm usually a real stickler for putting things together the way they were intended but this sure looks like an after thought design....very disapointing!

Rick

 

[cr2k]

Re: exhaust bellows

Don't use adhesive on exhaust bellows. The V-8 boot will work fine just a little louder.

 

[achris]

Re: exhaust bellows

With the correct installation tool the job is very simple and quick. You don't need to put adhesive on the exhaust bellows as it fills with water when the engine is not running (and has quite a lot of water in it from the cooling system when the engine is running).

The tool is also quite cheap to buy and would have saved you all that grief. The design works well and is not "crappy"...

Chris............

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: exhaust bellows

I did an exhaust bellows replacement and tried to do it with the OEM, what a crappy design that is for putting that on the drive side! Anyway, I finally got it on but could not do it with the adhesive as by the time I could get it nearly on, it got to tacky and would have to restart. I can't imagine pulling that stern drive off again to reattempt. Others on the site were saying not to worry and there is a replacement boot that just attaches to the trasom side and mates when you trim the motor down....I have the oem boot there loose....should I replace that with this aftermarket product or let it rip the way it is? I'm usually a real stickler for putting things together the way they were intended but this sure looks like an after thought design....very disapointing!

Rick

The 'flaw' is not in design, but in trying to do the job without the necessary tool.

The upgrade 'tube' design is not aftermarket, but was designed by Mercruiser to reduce the exhaust backpressure in the larger displacement engines. The tube works for the 4 cylinder engines as well.

Leaving your original design bellows loose will not do what the tube will: make proper contact when the drive is lowered into the run position. On the other hand, your accordian style exhaust bellows will not stop you from boating until you can rethink all of this.

Happy boating!

 

[rasbury]

Re: exhaust bellows

I was able to make a tool that worked pretty well...someone here had a tool they made. I ended up putting it on without adhesive and it came off. If there were a lip or something for the clamp to work against, that was my point of crappy design...just seems like an after thought! Next season I'll probably change my impeller and try it again...there was some other stuff someone said to use to adhere it...no big deal, I like to put things back the way I found them...happy boating!

Rick

 

[cr2k]

Re: exhaust bellows

Make sure both the bellows inside surface and the exhaust port are clean and dry.