www.iFourWinns.com

Are you supposed to use any kind of sealer when installing a new bellows?

Thanks

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Steve K
1993 Four Winns 210 Horizon
5.8L EFI OMC

Nope. The clamp fastens one end and then the outdrive itself will seal the other end as you bolt it down.

VP actually do recommend the use of their or OMC gasket sealer/ cement on the driveshaft bellows ( but not on the exhaust bellows). The same stuff that's recommended for the water inlet O ring fitted to the pivot housing..

For the DPS/ SX transom assembly it's applied on the transom shield stub and inside of that end of the bellows, plus on the tilt housing and the inside of the lip on tilt housing end of the bellows; where the bellows pulls through the pivot housing.
For the SX/ DPS fitting the outdrive ( with waterproof grease on the "nose" of the bearing/ seal housing) forces together the tilt housing and outdrive to the bellows.

Earlier drives had a hose clamp on both ends of their drive shaft bellows, rather than the single one at the transom end on the SX/ DPS

I had the dealer say no you don't need sealer but the factory manual says you do
I always use a little sealer to coat the surface

_________________
"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

I didn't notice any suggestion for it when I replaced mine last year. No leaks. But, I suppose it can't hurt, as long as it doesn't make it too difficult to get off.

I never added sealer with my sundowner and it never leaked in 3 years

_________________
"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

I'd always used gasket sealant as per the factory manual on my previous boat; never had any water ingress in the 5 (6 month immersion) seasons I used it.

When I took the original bellows off by 2004 boat after 6 months iin water there was evidence of slight water ingress ( small ammount of salt water in there and very light rusting on the driveshaft yokes; I reckon I caught it just in time)). There was no sealant on the bellows from the factory ! To me, that was enough proof that the gasket sealant makes the installation more secure/ watertight.

Guess what? I always used the sealant since and have never had any more water ingress !

When do you change the bellows if you see no problems my boat has about 180 hrs and she is dry rack stored no sun no rain when would be a good time to do it to avoid problems. 2008 5.7 H220SS. Is it a fun weekend project I have been running out of those.

Put the outdrive up and look for cracks. I would replace it regardless at the end of this year if I were you. My boat is an '04 and I'm on my third one.