u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

[Liquid_force]

Replaced this in Spring '06. Why did this happen so quickly??

 

[Don S]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Have you ever started the engine with it in the full up position?

 

[mcleaves]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Definitely looks like abrasion to me. I am with Don.

Either that or squirrels..

Do you store with the drive up?

 

[45Auto]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

We had a mouse in the garage once that loved to eat the washing machine drum bellows. I replaced the first one figuring it was just bad. Second one went bad a week later, I noticed tooth marks on it when I looked closely. No more problems after I invested in $20 worth of Home Depot mouse traps!

 

[tommays]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Sierra or OMC

 

[MikDee]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

OMC it says in his signature,,, Either you abused it somehow with the drive tilted up, or Maybe you got an old dried out OMC bellows that's been sitting on the shelf for too long, past it's expiration date you know, like stale beer

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

never started in full up, has been stored with the drive up, but still - TWO seasons?? The one I replaced was probably the original ('89), if not at least several years old, and certainly wasn't perfectly cared for. I only replaced it because it was starting to dry out and show some surface cracking. I figured I'd be set for 5-10 yrs.

Sierra/OMC?? Whatever basicpower sells.

 

[tommays]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Well

That was the whole point was it a and aftermarket Sierra part OR and OEM omc part

 

[MikDee]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Well

That was the whole point was it a and aftermarket Sierra part OR and OEM omc part

Good Point tommays!

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

This is a pretty good point about OEM OMC rubber parts.....

Anything you get from a dealer that is OMC (new, old stock) may be so old that it just isn't going to last very long. You might want to steer clear of that stuff.

I bought a complete transom kit from eBasicpower for my King Cobra and the rubber parts looked (and flexed) new. I think they were GLM parts.

Well

That was the whole point was it a and aftermarket Sierra part OR and OEM omc part

 

[erikgreen]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Ebasicpower sells GLM Marine parts.

Edit: Brain glitch... Sierra and GLM both make parts, ebasicpower sells GLM.

I just put on a GLM bellows, it looked decent quality, was the right size, etc.

I'm kinda with the other guys here.. it's not just the part, something happened to it.... abrasion, or chemical decomposition, or something that deteriorated the rubber.

Erik

 

[tommays]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Well

There allways leaving soemthing out of the rubber in chinese tires what makes you think a chinese bellows could not have the same failure due to poor quality control

 

[mcleaves]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

I always buy genuine VP bellows for my drive and replace every 2 years regardless. They should be good longer than that and people will tell you they have run the same bellows for 10 years or more. More power to them. The mfgring process can change any time and who knows what you are getting.

This thread shows what can happen without attention and inspection.

Replace them often and inspect every chance you get

M

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

Well

That was the whole point was it a and aftermarket Sierra part OR and OEM omc part

I would not have been so blind as not to recognize its condition if it had been sitting on a shelf for 10 yrs. Here it sits after being on the boat for 2 years and besides the tear the rubber appears to be in good shape.
I'm sure basicpower moves hundreds of these per year - to think they're still sitting on OMC parts doesn't make any sense IMO.
All I can guess at this point is that the wire inside that gives it its shape is just to stiff and wore through the rubber. All the other ribs look fine.

 

[Don S]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

All I can guess at this point is that the wire inside that gives it its shape is just to stiff and wore through the rubber. All the other ribs look fine.

That, or the wire wasn't in the proper location and the ujoints hit it and caused it to damage the bellows.

I really don't know of anyone here that can look at only 1 picture and tell you WHY something happened. You can look inside out, look at the ujoints, look at the spring and everything else in the area of the bellows.
Basically, from here you just get a bunch of WAG's

 

[JustJason]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

wild *** guessers??

 

[PSS-Mag]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

wild *** guessers??

Thats what I assumed.


As for the pic, looks like a blown bellow to me!

That would be a SAC
Smart A** Comment.

Seriously by the pic, looks like the rubber could be both melted and tore.
Would make me ask, Hows the gimbal bearing?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

looks almost like its burned by exhaust gasses.
but I have noticed large quality differences in aftermarket VS OEM bellows over the years.
but regaurdless, now you need to check the gimbal bearing and the ujoints and yoke seal for damage.

 

[Liquid_force]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

gimbal brg seems ok. It was replaced at the same time we did the bellows.
We greased it and the old grease came out clean.
U-joints, not so reasurring, some water came out when we greased them. We're hoping for the best.

 

[PSS-Mag]

Re: u-joint bellow failure in ~2 seasons (pic)

U joints are cheap and easy, might as well replace them while you got the drive out. IMHO.