www.iFourWinns.com

Hi All,

Hope everyone fared through the winter OK! I am going to replace the bellows before putting the out-drive back on for spring commissioning, but have not found OEM bellows for the OMC Cobra out-drive. I know these are increasingly becoming scarce, but have heard from many marine mechanics to use OEM for this and not the aftermarket products. I saw some posts from Lou too on here that corroborate this, so am convinced that this is the way to go...but has anyone seen a good place online to get them?

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

If want local find an Evinrude dealer they can order any available OMC parts from BRP. If Internet try Crowley Marine I've bought a lot of stuff from them. BTW no problem with most commonly needed regular Cobra parts. The Cobra bellows and the Volvo SX bellows are the same part!

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Thanks Lou, good to know. I will give the local dealer a call and see what they can get for me.

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

Ok, this may be a question more for Lou, but why not use aftermarket. Please school me.

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1990 Four Winns Horizon 200
2005 GMC Sierra

With a critical part like a driveshaft bellows or a raw water impeller, I prefer OE, they seem to fit and work better. I have used aftermarket for other things (like starters where there are no new OE units available for OMCs) and they were fine too. You will get all different opinions on this, but over at iboats, the guys that have worked as mechanics, prefer OE for critical items. Other stuff, I have used Sierra for the circulating pump, starter, drive/pivot gasket, trim sender and all were fine.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

The mechanics I have spoken to about these also say the OEM bellows last longer generally than the aftermarket. They have also said some of the time the aftermarket don't fit 100% and are a b!t@h to put on at times.

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1988 215 Sundowner 5.7L OMC

Good to know I was wondering if it was going to be a quality issue or an "oil thread" issue.

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1990 Four Winns Horizon 200
2005 GMC Sierra