ujoint bellows

[WHITEINDIAN]

i got meself a new old boat, it has a 140 hp mercruiser engine in it and i'm not sure about the lower unit. i believe it is an MR (boat is 76) anyways the bellows that covers the ujoints has a split in it and am wondering the procedure to change it. anything special i need to know or do? while i'm in there how do i check to see if the bearing is ok, is there any kind of "re-packing" to do? i'm assuming the bearing is sort of a sealed unit but should i try to pack grease in there anywhere? also, what kind of oil shold i put in lower unit? regular 80-90 ok? thanks.

 

[ziggy]

Re: ujoint bellows

ya might have a lot of work ahead of you...

for sure you need 'the book'... that'd be the oem service manual. ya can get it in the adults only sticky thread at the top of the i/o fourm. ya likly want #2. confirm by s/n.
best is to go read the book for the proceedure. it's detailed. but basicly, yer gonna be having the drive off, then the bellhousing. you'll also want to do your water hose while your there along with your shift cable if it's not been serviced that your aware of.
ya test the gimble brg. by turning it with your fingers. it should feel icey smoooth. no feel at all. if ya can feel it. it's bad. if you've had water intrusion you want to R&R it anyways. if ya got rust. you'll want to do ujoints and inspect the ft. seal of the drive. this is a drag to to and you really really gotta have the book to see the proper method of going and looking at that seal and other related parts that are involved.
that's a start of what's involved. others will chime in to i'm sure...

oh and when ya put yer waterhose on. really expand the end that attaches to the gimble housing nipple. this nipple is impossible to get to. i used heat and cones and pliers and screw drivers to expand that end of the hose up as much as possible. put the gimble side of that hose on first..... doing what i did made it better to get that hose on. you don't do that or attach it to the bellhousing first and it gave me so much trouble, i ended up doing it twice to get it right... ya don't want to do it twice...