water in bellows

[wikiedickie]

hi
i have a 1991 302 omc cobra four winns. i have the same problem last year with my boat as i do know. the gimbal bearing is failing. i am almost certain that it is from the water in the bellows. not sure how it is getting in there. i replaced the bellows last year so i know there are no rots or cut in it. the old bellos were in good shape also but i thought that was the problem the first time. so i replaced them. is there any other way that water can be getting in where the gimbal bearing is i put on a new gastket everytime i take off the out drive. i clean the surface good. i am so confused. also ccould water be getting into the boat causing the bildge pump to run from this problem? or is another issue. it seems like my bildge pump runs alot and the battery dies not sure where all the water is coming from. waht else can i look for to solve this problem and the other
thanks
sam

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: water in bellows wtf!!!!

Re: water in bellows wtf!!!!

If you have a leak somewhere in the hull and run quite often with a bilge full of water then yes, water can back up into the bellows through the flywheel housing drain.

 

[pinecrestwoods]

Re: water in bellows wtf!!!!

Re: water in bellows wtf!!!!

Was the "water" in your bellows totally clean? (I'm doubting it). I had "water" in my bellows, but it was quite oily. It came from the drive side, not the hull side. I don't know the exact source of mine, but one of the seals was failing, perhaps in around the water pump (or a few other places). Regardless, my drive was sucking in water, then it was getting pushed up into my bellows through a leaking driveshaft yoke seal. I don't think my bellows were leaking, either.

Time for you to do some exploration. A pressure test is in your future as step 1. There's great info around here for how to do it, and it is really quite simple.

 

[wikiedickie]

Re: water in bellows wtf!!!!

Re: water in bellows wtf!!!!

If you have a leak somewhere in the hull and run quite often with a bilge full of water then yes, water can back up into the bellows through the flywheel housing drain.

how does it get in from the flywheel housing drain. where is it located
can you give me some more info? thanks

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: water in bellows

At the bottom of your flywheel cover or bellhousing as it's sometimes called, there is a drain tube, nothing but a 3/8 nipple with a length of hose connected to it, the hose usually just lays in the bilge, if your bellows get torn the incomming water drains to the bilge rather than just filling the void flooding the starter and all.
I was thinking if your bilge was full of water the reverse could be happening.
The drain is clearly shown in the service manual.