How long will bellows last ?

[fisherman73]

Ive been wondering if I should be replacing my bellows before it cracks and leaks. My boat is 97 with VP SX. I believe that the bellows were replaced right before I bought the boat. New motor had about 30 hours on it. Ive had the boat about 5 years and have had the lower unit off each year for maintainence. The outside of the bellows looks a little dry but inside looks like new still. How long should I wait. If it cracks and leaks will it be more involved to replace than if I do it as maintainence ? Another curiosity Ive had is how long should I expect to get out of exhaust manifolds ? Again they were replaced right before I got the boat. We do both salt and fresh water but I always flush with salt-a-way after an ocean trip.

 

[Don S]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

How long will bellows last ?

Till they fail !

Rule of thumb for preventive maintenance, replace after 5 years.

If it cracks and leaks will it be more involved to replace than if I do it as maintainence ?

Absolutely. OEM bellows are around 50 bucks and takes about an hour and a half to change.
If it leaks, you end up needing ujoints, gimbal bearing new seal and usually a yoke for the front of the drive. The yoke assembly is over $700 itself, no labor.

 

[danond]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

There's no science to this, but they might last a little longer if you leave the drive in the down position when the boat's not in use. At minimum, they're not as exposed and it's tougher for something to chew on them. I know of at least one boat sunk by a muskrat who thought the bellows looked tasty.

 

[fisherman73]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

Ok thanks Ill plan on replacing them when I pull the lower unit this winter. I assume that I should be replacing both the exhaust and the u-joint bellows at the same time ? Anything else I should do while I have it apart ? What about the manifolds ?

 

[danond]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

Gimbal bearing, inspect and grease (or replace) u-joints. Might as well do the exhaust bellows since you're in there. The cost is negligible.

 

[fisherman73]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

Sorry was that replace the gimble bearing or just inspect it ?The u-joints were new 5 years ago and have been lubed every year since. Should I still replace them or will they last assuming they have not been exposed to water and had proper lubrication?

 

[Don S]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

There is no reason to change the gimbal bearing or ujoints unless they are bad. Replacing the bellows before it goes bad is what keeps the expensive parts safe, checking and lubeing yearly is also a great help.

 

[woosterken]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

is there a shift cable bellow in there also?
my merc has one.
I made the mistake of not changing the water pick up hose when in there,now it has a small leak.

woosterken

 

[Don S]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

It's a Volvo not a Merc, no shift cable bellows

 

[woosterken]

Re: How long will bellows last ?

WOW,learn some thing new every day
thank you Don S.

woosterken