Exhaust Tube

[PontoonLou]

Hi, I have a 1999 Ercoa pontoon with a 4.3 Mercruiser with alpha one outdrive. My question is my exhaust seems a lot louder than normal lately. I kinda look for something loose like my hose clamp around the manifold and they all seems to be nice and tight. So I looked at the outdrive looking for a bellow but found a Tube. Didn't know what it was at first until I googled it. Well a buddy of mine told me before to keep my outdrive down everytime I store the pontoon witch I did. Just wondering now if I was suppose to do that with a tube.The tube looks good but its flimsy and it looks short, not sure how to tell if its time to replace it. Its cheap enough but not sure how to replace it. Do I need to pull the outdrive to replace it? It looks easy enought to replace (if I don't have to pull the outdrive) but I don't like surprises... Thanks

 

[cr2k]

Re: Exhaust Tube

If you want quiet replace it with an exhaust bellows. Keeping the outdrive down when stored is mainly for the drive bellows.
You don't even need the exhaust tube or bellows.

 

[Brentathon]

Re: Exhaust Tube

The tube was developed for specific applications (drive shaft models), but seem to have become more popular because they are easier to install. My marina installed one (because they're lazy), and I had to replace it myself, because they are SIGNIFICANTLY louder.

 

[PontoonLou]

Re: Exhaust Tube

If you want quiet replace it with an exhaust bellows. Keeping the outdrive down when stored is mainly for the drive bellows.
You don't even need the exhaust tube or bellows.

I do want it quiet but I was more concern of if need it or not. Didn't want it to break something else because of a simple exhaust tube. I just don't remember it being that load before.. But anyways I shouldn't have to take the outdrive out to replace the tube right? Now i just need to figure out how to loosen the clamp. Thanks

 

[PontoonLou]

Re: Exhaust Tube

Ok Nevermind I just when to my boat storage to see how hard it would be to replace my Exhaust tube. It didn't look that bad, There is a little hole on the side where you can stick a screw driver to loosen the clamp and I think my little hand should fit in that little space. Im even thinking about replacing it with a bellow instead. ( nahh Tube is easier ha ha) Thank You guys for your replies