Is this from a damaged bellows?

[Chavez1978]

First time boat owner. Learning a bunch over the past few months. I have an alpha one outdrive. Purchased this boat in January and have only had the boat out twice. I noticed after the first trip that there was a fair amount of water upon pulling the plug. This second trip today I got down in the engine bay and inspected with a flashlight. While the engine was running I really couldn't tell. When I shut it down I noticed it was still leaking, thus not the cooling hoses.

Found it coming from here...this is inside of the engine compartment looking towards the outdrive. Pardon my ignorance if I don't as I don't know what you would call that entry cavity where the water is coming through.

My big question...would this be coming in due to the ujoint or throttle bellows? I didn't think to look under the outdrive once I got it back to storage. My buddy told me that's where I should have looked (like I said, I'm still learning)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ6u0YvZwU8

I saw on here that is be looking at $750-1000 for marine mechanic to repair. Is it likely the gimble bearing will have taken some damage...should I have it replaced it they are going to have to drain the outdrive and repair the bellows anyhow? What else should be replaced pre-emptively. Just so I don't have to go through it all for something else in less than ideal time?

 

[makonnen]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Thats coming from the driveshaft bellows.

If the DS bellows is leaking, water will go into the driveshaft area, past the gimbal bearing, past the oil seal behind the gimbal bearing and into the gimbal housig which is what you are filming.

Possible damage: gimbal bearing, driveshaft bellows, driveshaft itself (maybe) ... cost to fix $700-1000 as you mentioned. Possibly more as you will want to replace the exhaust bellows, shift bellows, maybe even a shift cable ... definately brighten things up. And ++ if you have to replace the actual driveshaft.

I should also mention that is an unusually fast leak. I'm sure others will ring in. The gimbal bearing and oil seal does a good job of slowing down the water flow. If you look at the DS bellows, you might be able to see the problem ... perhaps its a major malfunction ie: the bellows completely slipped off or something.

 

[achris]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Would love to know exactly what year that is... That water leak looks suspiciously like a hole in the exhaust pipe, not the bellows...

Chris......

 

[makonnen]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Wait that makes more sense haha ... what he says ... too fast flow for a bellows leak really. Thanks for the cool video.

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Would love to know exactly what year that is... That water leak looks suspiciously like a hole in the exhaust pipe, not the bellows...

Chris......

Thank you guys for the quick replies. Doesn't sound good.

Not sure of the exact year of the outdrive. The boat is a 1995 Caravelle 20' bowrider.

I believe the original owner replaced the outdrive. I'm 3rd owner.

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Would love to know exactly what year that is... That water leak looks suspiciously like a hole in the exhaust pipe, not the bellows...

Chris......

Although I don't remember seeing an exhaust "pipe". But I may be ignorant here....

 

[Don S]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Might also look under the anode on the transom shield. There is a hole through the trim line manifold that should have a rubber plug in it.
(Item e in the picture below).

 

[achris]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Although I don't remember seeing an exhaust "pipe". But I may be ignorant here....

The y-pipe then.... and 95 is the right year for the last of the single plate exhaust shutters, which had a habit of falling off and getting caught at the bottom of the y-pipe. Where they wear a hole and let lots of water in....

Chris

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Thank you for all the replies and tips. Appreciate you all.

 

[makonnen]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Let us know how it goes.

if it is an exhaust y-pipe its an engine-out fix. Depending or not if you're keeping the boat, you're going to want to do a lot of other stuff while the engine is out.

Maybe this will make you feel better ... this is not neccessarily a bad thing. Having the engine out means you'll have a good look at everytihng and have a chance to do everything needed. You'll have a very reliable boat when its all done.

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Let us know how it goes.

if it is an exhaust y-pipe its an engine-out fix. Depending or not if you're keeping the boat, you're going to want to do a lot of other stuff while the engine is out.

Maybe this will make you feel better ... this is not neccessarily a bad thing. Having the engine out means you'll have a good look at everytihng and have a chance to do everything needed. You'll have a very reliable boat when its all done.

Thanks for the attempt to sweeten it up. Hope it's not that extensive. But it is what it is...right!

 

[achris]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Hoicking the engine out's no big deal... Over the last 3 years I've had mine out 10 times... 3 times in one week once.... Just rip the drive off, 3 minutes... Disconnect fuel, electrics, water, a few bits of plumbing at the back, and the exhaust rubbers, rear mounting screws and front mounting nuts, then lift on a block, no wuckens.... Start to out, in about 2 hours....

Chris........

 

[makonnen]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Yea but I think for the average joe its quite a big job. Even for me, I have no means of removing the engine. I would have to build some kind of elaborate jig to do it.

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

I drove out there today at lunch (takes me about 30 minutes) to look at some of this stuff. The billows all visually look good (though a clamp could be loose I suppose). At the transom where the outdrive is bolted up, the previous owner siliconed around the outdrive. I'm not sure why there wouldn't be a gasket in there, but i see no issue with silicone also (as insurance). Only open spot I saw was at the very bottom ...perhaps it's not water tight right there...you can see it in some of the photos.

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

A few more that got missed

 

[achris]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

The bottom bellows is the exhaust bellows. That is normally full of water and exhaust... Even if that was gone completely, no water would enter the boat. The silicone around the bottom of the transom housing is more of a concern... You had better hope it's not that... Because not only are you taking the engine out, but pulling the transom assemblies off as well....

So, 2 possibilities... Exhaust pipe leak (pull engine) and transom seal leak (pull engine AND transom plates)... I guess I know where you should be starting...

Chris.....

 

[79Glastron]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Fill bilge with water and check to see where the water is leaking from on the outside?

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

The bottom bellows is the exhaust bellows. That is normally full of water and exhaust... Even if that was gone completely, no water would enter the boat. The silicone around the bottom of the transom housing is more of a concern... You had better hope it's not that... Because not only are you taking the engine out, but pulling the transom assemblies off as well....

So, 2 possibilities... Exhaust pipe leak (pull engine) and transom seal leak (pull engine AND transom plates)... I guess I know where you should be starting...

Chris.....

Come to think of it though...if you watch back at the video....it's not coming from between the transom seal...so I'm thinking that's fine. I guess from the inside I could put some water through the hole (that's leaking) and see where it comes out on the outside...

 

[Chavez1978]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Fill bilge with water and check to see where the water is leaking from on the outside?

i'm not sure that filling the bilge will do anything unless I get water level over that lip (where the bottom of the outdrive is letting water in....in the video...am I missing something?

 

[79Glastron]

Re: Is this from a damaged bellows?

Yes, you'll have to fill to the level at which it starts to leak. The bottom of the transom plate is 2 or 3 inches from the bottom of the hull? Raise the bow high and it will require less water. Just a suggestion before you pull the motor.