Water in drive bellows...what needs maintenence?

[IGeeky1]

So I got water in the drive bellows. This was not a thing over a period of months but just days.

The u-joints were just recently lubed, so I figure a a bit more to squeeze out the edge and see what it looks like maybe

Do I need to worry about the stern drive? would it have maybe gone into it? If so do I need to do more that drain lube and refill?

gimball bearing I imagine is impregnated with water as I got water in the boat. If I waited a month to change out (maybe 20 boating hours) would I risk damaging more than the gimball bearing? What?

Starter has been disassembled and cleaned and re-lubed and is working.

Anything else I need to look at?

 

[Josh P]

Re: Water in drive bellows...what needs maintenence?

The drive has seals, i would drain the fluid just in case. Not sure how much water were talking about. I would change the gimbal bearing,and find out where your water came from.

 

[IGeeky1]

Re: Water in drive bellows...what needs maintenence?

The reason, I believe, was stern drive rubber gasket was out of place, I found it inside bellows instead of in shaft recess.
http://forums.iboats.com/mercruiser...se-pics-give-clue-why-618516.html#post4311621

Took on considerable water to the point stalling engine (likely due to loss of spark due to starter getting partially submerged) and getting tow to shore.

 

[thumpar]

Re: Water in drive bellows...what needs maintenence?

The seals on the drive are meant to keep oil in not water out. Get the drive oil changed to be sure. I would just change the gimbal bearing. I just had mine done and it was not expensive. What I did is get the slide hammer 3 jaw puller from the Autozone loan-a-tool program. It only took my 15 seconds to get the old one off. My local shop said he would put the new one in for free if I bought the bearing from him. I brought it down and he took a minute to install the new one. The charge was $60. I did my bellows also. That turned out to be easier then expected.