shrink wrap - drive up?

[dough41]

After I winterized my boat for the year ( 98 Monterey 180m 3.0 l) I had it shrink wrapped. My dealer wrapped it over the drive unit with it in the up position. My question is , he took the batteries out and I wanted to know how bad it is to not have it in the down position as far as having the bellows set? He said he does several hundred a year and does it that way to all the boats with no problems? Any thoughts...

 

[Don S]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

I wouldn't worry about it. If it takes a set in the up position, it will in the down position also. How about if it's turned left or right? In the summer it's OK to have the drive up while the boats in your driveway, but not during the winter?<br />If your bellows is over 5 years old, it should be replaced anyway, but being stored in the up position will not be what kills it.

 

[Weirdwalt]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Ya know I've been called names for telling folks just that Don.

 

[scotttu]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Don - what are the bellows?<br /><br />I don't mean to sound ignorant but it sou nds important! and my boat has sat for a couple of years! <br /><br />Tx

 

[Don S]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Scott. <br />They are the corrugated, flexable rubber tubes that connects the pivot housing (aka bellhousing) to the transom shield. On a Mercruiser there are 3. Ujoints, Exhaust, and shift cable bellows.

 

[Don S]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Originally posted by Weirdwalt:<br /> Ya know I've been called names for telling folks just that Don.

Yea, Me too, but one year of having it up isn't going to be the end of the world. If it does damage the bellows, then they needed replaced anyway.<br />I sure as heII wouldn't destroy my shrink wrap job just to put the drive down for the winter.<br />I would be more concerned about water in the drive in front of the prop than the bellows.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

It sure won't extend its life. Can't help, but won't hurt for a season, but I don't store my office rubber bands extended around a sheet of cardboard either. Bellows going on 10 years with 3 months in the slip yearly on my big boat, and it still looks and feels like new. A new one will go on this year, even if it still looks good. I mainly want to look at the U-joints, and greas'em up. On the bellows, I massage it with white grease, leave it in the down and straight position EVERYTIME (yeah, water too), because that's where 90% of it life is spent, and I inspect it often. Cheap piece of rubber protects massive amount of expensive parts.. And shrink wrapping a boat with the drive up is done that way so the thing can be MOVED if it has too, to get at another boat. And if that moving around somehow results in that wrap ripping, and if (mentioned) water gets in the drive exhaust and freezes, now ya got a really problem. And did you ask to maybe see the mechanics boat? Betcha his is stored down and straight. Just my 2 cents

 

[Don S]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

 

[Weirdwalt]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Yea I know Don. I store my boat at Offshore Marina and I must store it with the drive up because when I call they will pull it out of storage for me. Simply wont do to have the drive scaping on the ground then now would it? 5 years since my last bellows replacement and it was fine before I took it there for winter storage this year. Store mine up every winter, never have had a problem.

 

[dough41]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. This is a great place with alot of good information. I always leave my drive in the down position when parked in my driveway during the summer and this was the first year to not park it in my garage ( only so much room and the wifes car and my truck go in before the boat over the winter this year...haha) Probably should do the bellows in the spring anyway- 8 years, can't complain. I do most of the work myself- is it that difficult to replace the bellows? Thanks again for everyone taking the time to respond...

 

[Don S]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

At 8 years, you're pushing your luck, the bellows on the Alpha Gen II drives aren't near as bad as the Old Alpha I's. Doing it yourself shouldn't be a problem. One thing you will need is a manual. If you don't have one, here is a link to the Merscruiser online manual. <br /><br /> http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf

 

[Scaaty]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Opinions, gotta love'em.........

 

[scottatwork]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> Scott. <br />They are the corrugated, flexable rubber tubes that connects the pivot housing (aka bellhousing) to the transom shield. On a Mercruiser there are 3. Ujoints, Exhaust, and shift cable bellows.

Ah, I have one major one that I believe the exhaust and/or return water goes through, but either way it's split on the bottom right above the outdrive and leaks water......I plan on replacing it but it doesn't look critical, just annoying (Probably an exhaust leak sound?)<br /><br /><br />Thanks!

 

[marunr]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Originally posted by Scott at work:<br />

Originally posted by Don S:<br /> Scott. <br />They are the corrugated, flexable rubber tubes that connects the pivot housing (aka bellhousing) to the transom shield. On a Mercruiser there are 3. Ujoints, Exhaust, and shift cable bellows.

Ah, I have one major one that I believe the exhaust and/or return water goes through, but either way it's split on the bottom right above the outdrive and leaks water......I plan on replacing it but it doesn't look critical, just annoying (Probably an exhaust leak sound?)<br /><br /><br />Thanks!

If it's a u-joint bellows it's more than annoyance...it's a real problem. On my OMC, the exhaust bellows is made with a split in it. You should determine which it is.

 

[scottatwork]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Will do, I should have specified it leaks water out since it's above the waterline but still.<br /><br />This is the rubber tube covering something inside, right? That's what mine is, looks like a pvc yard drain tube except with out the holes (Except in my case it has the holes LOL)<br /><br />Tx

 

[b45701]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Don, i get page not found with the online manual link "http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/14/14cover.pdf".<br /><br />Was the file removed or am i having a system problem?

 

[QC]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

b4,<br /><br />Link works for me . . .

 

[Don S]

Re: shrink wrap - drive up?

Do you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer? If not, it won't open.<br /><br /> http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html