www.iFourWinns.com

for the second time in my boating life I have a had new bellows rip due to the clamp position. I put the clamp in the 2 o-clock position with the ajusting screw pointing to 1 o-clock.
what am I doing wrong I used a FW boot kit and I went by the picture.
any advice.

now I am going to replaced the boot as well as the gimble bearing to be safe

and this happened today and when I got home and saw the rip I cut the bottem of the boot to drain the rest of the salt water out, and then jammed the garden hos into the hole and flushed fresh water through it for a while. Tomorrow I will remove the drive...
Should the u-joints be ok? they are the non-greasable joints.

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

Almost positive the screw should be on top with the head facing the port side of the boat.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

well my FW manual says either 1 or 2 o-clock position and it shows the adjuster screw looking at 3 o-clock. The meatballs at FW said thats what it should be(not that i trust them, they sell parts and are not great at advice or diag)
so thats what i ended up doing this morning. new gimble bearing and boot. all together ready for the water for tomorrow night.

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205

The VP manual I have spexcified the clamp should be in the one or two-o-clock position, but doesn't indicate in writing where the screw head should be. However, in the photos in the manual, on close examination the screw head is facing down, I have always aligned the clamp that way on my bellows since 2002; never had one tear.

well last night after work and a lot of inspecting of the old clamp i decided to use the clamp that was on a few months ago with the original boot. the edges of the clam that comes with the FW boot kit have extremly sharp edges, so I just removed the clamp and slid this one that is a different brand in place. it has all smooth sides and i figure it was in there for a few years with no tears.

_________________
"Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes "

1996 238 Vista dlx "Casper's Toy Too"
2006 5.0GXI w/closed cooling, DP-sm 1.95 drive
Previous boat:
1998 Sundowner 205