I'm doing my Bellows. Mercruiser A1G1. Are the Amazon Bellows Kits any good?

[1985 Century Mustang]

Has anyone used Amazon Bellows Kits? If so did they hold up. Just getting some ideas before I purchase a Bellows Kit. I'm probably only going to need the Bellows is all. My Gimball Bearing and all the other parts are fine. Just curious to know if the actual Bellows are halfway decent. Thanks

 

[cyclops222]

Amazon..................DOES NOT ............specify the quality of anything.
I have caught Home Depot selling a famous brand name item and model with derated quality. Just 1 letter or number in the original model number states a......ANYTHING.... goes. All part of big businesses doing HUGE volumes.

 

[alldodge]

Has anyone used Amazon Bellows Kits? If so did they hold up. Just getting some ideas before I purchase a Bellows Kit. I'm probably only going to need the Bellows is all. My Gimball Bearing and all the other parts are fine. Just curious to know if the actual Bellows are halfway decent. Thanks

Amazon is fine so long as it's an actual Merc dealer using Amazon.,, can also be Sierra otherwise it's a crap shoot

 

[CayugaCobalt]

FYI, my brand new OEM Mercruiser Bravo3 U joint Bellows that cost me like $140 is Made in China. So if Mercruiser Corp Purchasing/Quality Depts can find a worthy Chinese vendor, maybe you will too??? Point being made in China is not automatic disqualification.

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

FYI, my brand new OEM Mercruiser Bravo3 U joint Bellows that cost me like $140 is Made in China. So if Mercruiser Corp Purchasing/Quality Depts can find a worthy Chinese vendor, maybe you will too??? Point being made in China is not automatic disqualification.

Interesting, thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Has anyone used Amazon Bellows Kits? If so did they hold up. Just getting some ideas before I purchase a Bellows Kit. I'm probably only going to need the Bellows is all. My Gimball Bearing and all the other parts are fine. Just curious to know if the actual Bellows are halfway decent. Thanks

Nope,..... But I once used a Sierra bellows kit on my ole Alpha 1,.....
After 5 or 6 years, it didn't leak, but was Extremely bloated, so I changed it out for a Merc / Quicksilver kit, which is still on that transom assembly,....

 

[Scott06]

Has anyone used Amazon Bellows Kits? If so did they hold up. Just getting some ideas before I purchase a Bellows Kit. I'm probably only going to need the Bellows is all. My Gimball Bearing and all the other parts are fine. Just curious to know if the actual Bellows are halfway decent. Thanks

Get an oem merc. They last a long time. My original ones on my 2004 boat were changed at 18 years and still not leaking

 

[ScottinAZ]

the off-brand chinesium bellows kits are a crapshoot.... I put one in, and it lasted about a year and a half.... OEM will last usually 3-4x that. Sure you should be inspecting every year, but they arent cheap enough nor fun enough to do more than you have to.... and having one go out mid season is even less fun.... Unless you are using it to prove the hull/engine/drive and are on a strict budget, avoid and use Sierra or Genuine Mercruiser....

the gimbal bearings in those kits are pure unadulterated JUNK.... The one in my kit had metallic debris from machining in the outer aluminum ring.... DO NOT USE THESE without a GOOD inspection....

 

[CayugaCobalt]

the off-brand chinesium bellows kits are a crapshoot.... I put one in, and it lasted about a year and a half.... OEM will last usually 3-4x that. Sure you should be inspecting every year, but they arent cheap enough nor fun enough to do more than you have to.... and having one go out mid season is even less fun.... Unless you are using it to prove the hull/engine/drive and are on a strict budget, avoid and use Sierra or Genuine Mercruiser....

the gimbal bearings in those kits are pure unadulterated JUNK.... The one in my kit had metallic debris from machining in the outer aluminum ring.... DO NOT USE THESE without a GOOD inspection....

FYI the first 2 of 3 new Mercruiser OEM gimbal bearings (Made in Italy) ordered this May and produced in separate lots late last year had same machining debris. 3rd one had no debris but I could not articulate the gimbal function using alignment bar. Hoping it will bust free under force of engine and is not a mfg defect.

 

[ScottinAZ]

FYI the first 2 of 3 new Mercruiser OEM gimbal bearings (Made in Italy) ordered this May and produced in separate lots late last year had same machining debris. 3rd one had no debris but I could not articulate the gimbal function using alignment bar. Hoping it will bust free under force of engine and is not a mfg defect.

Ugh…..

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

Another Question: Would I be needing the Quicksilver Power Tune Spray on a Mercruiser Alpha One Gen One to help attach the Ujoint Bellows.

 

[Bondo]

see yer other thread, 'n quit posting yer same question all over 'ell,......

 

[1985 Century Mustang]

The bellows kit came today, it's actually decent, the rubber is real nice, the gimbal bearing is real sweet too. I purchased mine on eBay from a local dealer in NJ instead of Amazon. They had some good feedback on Ebay, so I purchased it from them $46 + tax. Some pics.

 

[Jmunk]

They can feel pliable, however it’s the fitment that matters. Perhaps you got luckily and found a good aftermarket kit, you’ll find out when you install. For me, the labor involved I wanted to use OEM.

Numerous people have had issues with the OD tolerance of some aftermarket gimbal bearings. I hope your kit is good and works out for you.

 

[ScottinAZ]

They can feel pliable, however it’s the fitment that matters. Perhaps you got luckily and found a good aftermarket kit, you’ll find out when you install. For me, the labor involved I wanted to use OEM.

Numerous people have had issues with the OD tolerance of some aftermarket gimbal bearings. I hope your kit is good and works out for you.

I didnt have any issues with the FITMENT on the set I got, it was the longevity...within a couple of months, they were showing signs of cracking, and within a year, I was replacing them because they were torn.... they fit good, they looked good, they felt good, they just didnt last for diddly....

 

[Scott06]

they looked good, they felt good, they just didnt last for diddly....

insert joke here ...

 

[Jmunk]

I didnt have any issues with the FITMENT on the set I got, it was the longevity...within a couple of months, they were showing signs of cracking, and within a year, I was replacing them because they were torn.... they fit good, they looked good, they felt good, they just didnt last for diddly....

Last fall when I changed out the bellows on one of my boats I was surprised by the condition. They were the originals from 2005 and still useable with no cracks but I figured it was time. Garage storage with the drive down seems to have been kind to the rubber components.