Replacing bellows on 898 305 mercruiser sterndrive

[jeepofino]

Trying to get new exaust bellows in transom and can't get the little screw out of shaft going through exaust holding the shift lever on.There is a shaft coming down through the middle that holds the shift lever, there looks to be a big screw in the top of the shaft and a little one on the side...can't get the little one to break loose. It appears that the shaft will have to come out to get the tool for stretching the bellows in there....does this make sense enough for an answer?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Replacing bellows on 898 305 mercruiser sterndrive

.can't get the little one to break loose.

if the attached pic shows the screw. that screw, holding the lever to the shift shaft has red locktite on it. heat it up to remove. caution is in order though. there is a plastic washer underneath the shift lever.
i don't think you need to remove this item to install exhaust bellows..

 

[jeepofino]

Re: Replacing bellows on 898 305 mercruiser sterndrive

Thanks for the reply, yep that's the screw. I have a pair of plier type things for stretching the bellows to hook it on, they won't go through with the shaft in place....maybe I could get it attatched with out the tool?

 

[ziggy]

Re: Replacing bellows on 898 305 mercruiser sterndrive

i do remember the problem, just can't remember how i solved it. maybe. do you exhaust bellows pliers come apart in the middle, at the pivot point. stick one half of the tool in at a time? then reassemble the pivot.
best i can do for ya. hate it when my memory fails me... grrr...

i do remember that i tried to take that shift lever off w/o heat and messed it up bad enough to require replacement of the shift shaft and lever.

 

[jeepofino]

Re: Replacing bellows on 898 305 mercruiser sterndrive

Took the pliers apart, theyll go in but won't close enough to manuver inside the bellows....got heat, I'll try that, maybe just the gas on the torch low? what about an impact screwdriver? Such a small obstacle.......

 

[Don S]

Re: Replacing bellows on 898 305 mercruiser sterndrive

Those screw are noted for freezing in, they are long and go all the way through the shaft.
If it won't come loose, even with heat, the easy way is to take hammer & chisel and crack the lever where the screw goes through, then replace the lever and screw.