replacing bellows

[davidonmars]

Hey guys got the drive off and the bellows seem fine but while its out might as well replace them as I have them. Can I do it without taking the gimbal housing out? If so can someone give me some steps. The bottom one looks fairly easy to get at. Thanks for the help

 

[dubs283]

Re: replacing bellows

you will have to remove the bell housing at a minimum to replace the u-joint bellows

1/2" hex/allen to remove the hinge pins

blue loctite and retorque to 100lb/ft

 

[DBreskin]

Re: replacing bellows

You do NOT have to remove the pivot housing to replace either bellows. I replaced mine by following the official procedure and did not remove the pivot housing. I suggest you get a service manual so you can refer to the proper procedure. Either buy one or download it from online. BTW, the pivot housing is attached to the gimbal housing, which is then attached to the transom bracket.

dubs283: the bellhousing is attached to the back of the engine. I'm sure you don't need to pull the engine in order to change the bellows.

 

[dubs283]

Re: replacing bellows

the bellhousing is attached to the back of the engine

this is true, there is a bell housing attached to the back of the engine, and you do not have to remove the engine to change the bellows

the bell housing i was refering to is what you call a pivot housing, i was just using mercruiser terminoligy, sorry if i upset you

it has been a while since i did this job and you may not have to remove the pivot housing but i would think it would be much easier to do so

do you then just pull the u-joint bellows out through the pivot housing??

 

[rickryder]

Re: replacing bellows

BTW, the pivot housing is attached to the gimbal housing, which is then attached to the transom bracket.

dubs283: the bellhousing is attached to the back of the engine. I'm sure you don't need to pull the engine in order to change the bellows.

I beg to differ..... from the merc service manual....

3. Install bell housing between gimbal ring. Push on
bell housing and guide U-joint bellows onto gimbal
housing mounting flange.
23363

But then again were speaking OMC language in this thread

 

[dubs283]

Re: replacing bellows

from the merc service manual

appreciate the support rick but this is the OMC forum and we are assumming the OP is referring to a Cobra package

 

[rickryder]

Re: replacing bellows

appreciate the support rick but this is the OMC forum and we are assumming the OP is referring to a Cobra package

Ya I get that! OMC is kinda Greek to me....

 

[dubs283]

Re: replacing bellows

you know, now that i think of it - with the exhaust bellows out of the way, it is possible to rotate the bell housing up and have enough room to get the u-joint bellows out through the bottom

sorry for the confusion fellas, been workin on the mercs too long i guess

used to own a cobra package but its been a while since i dug into one!

 

[davidonmars]

Re: replacing bellows

You do NOT have to remove the pivot housing to replace either bellows. I replaced mine by following the official procedure and did not remove the pivot housing. I suggest you get a service manual so you can refer to the proper procedure. Either buy one or download it from online. BTW, the pivot housing is attached to the gimbal housing, which is then attached to the transom bracket.

dubs283: the bellhousing is attached to the back of the engine. I'm sure you don't need to pull the engine in order to change the bellows.

see i was looking in the omc manual and it shows them removing the pivot housing as the official procedure. I to was thinking if I remove the exhaust bellow I would have enough room to get at the u-joint bellow

 

[Don S]

Re: replacing bellows

you know, now that i think of it - with the exhaust bellows out of the way, it is possible to rotate the bell housing up and have enough room to get the u-joint bellows out through the bottom

You can pull the ujoint bellows out that way, but you do have to remove the plastic nut holding the water hose fitting to the bellhousing (not to be confused with a flywheel cover that in automotive terms is called a bellhousing, assuming we are working on boats and using boat terminology), pull the hose out of the way, and you have room.

 

[davidonmars]

Re: replacing bellows

so the hinge pin is a 1/2" allen key? Not some special tool like this?http://www.go2marine.com/go2_structure/1/1/5/0/115042F-p.jpg

 

[davidonmars]

Re: replacing bellows

and do i need to remove the shift cable to take the bellhousing off if I decide to go that route and find squeezing the bellows in

 

[Don S]

Re: replacing bellows

If you remove the hinge pins, you do not have to remove the shift cable, exhaust bellows, or water hose. Just pull the top of the bellhousing aft to make enough room to get the bellows in and out. no, you don't need that special Mercruiser tool to remove the pins. The 1/2 allen wrench works fine.

 

[davidonmars]

Re: replacing bellows

thank you i will try tonight and post back with results

 

[RIDEPATE]

Re: replacing bellows

I replaced my Cobra bellows, with O/D off, and only removed the ex bellows, cake..........very easy.

 

[davidonmars]

Re: replacing bellows

just pulled the exhaust and u joint bellows out... exhaust was a joke and the u joints one was a tight squeeze. Wish me luck are they hard to seat? should i put them on pivot or transom ride first?

 

[Don S]

Re: replacing bellows

the u joints one was a tight squeeze.

That is why you pull the water hose loose. You don't want to poke a hole or rip a hole in a new bellows. So just to be safe, give yourself some room and remove the water hose fitting.

 

[davidonmars]

Re: replacing bellows

gotthe bellows onwasn't that hard....question ihave is the exhaust bellow is brand new sierra one and the lower half is like allcut on the ribs. Looks like they were made like this? Is it normal? will it leak water into my boat somehow

 

[Don S]

Re: replacing bellows

Looks like they were made like this? Is it normal?

yes, they are just water drains.

 

[davidonmars]

Re: replacing bellows

old ones didnt have them though