www.iFourWinns.com

Anyone know how often you need to replace your bellows? On another board I follow a guys bellow failed just after an inspection and the insurance company denied their claim since it was a maintenance item.

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2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

I do it every two years.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

Because I am a trailer boater, I inspect often. Replace approx every 2 years.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

How difficult is it to replace?

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2008 V288 with twin 5 litre Seacores
http://www.galwayhouse.com.au

You have to pull the drive. Not an incredibly easy task.

I have mine done. Pulling the outdrive is not something I wish to do. IMO it's worth having a shop do it since they can inspect everything. I would miss something. Last time I had my bellows replaced, they:

1) Rebuilt the props.
2) Inspected the U-joints, bearings
3) Pressure tested the drive (my request)
4) Changed fluid
5) Replaced bellows (exhaust and drive)
6) Replaced anodes
7) Did a bottom job (paint)

I am confident I could do 2, 4-6 .... but my laziness convinces me otherwise.

Craig C.

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2003 Vista 248, VP 5.0 GXi-C, DP

To some extent this depends on your storage habits...if you can keep the drive down which relaxes the tension the bellows...you might be able to go longer...I check mine for cracks when it's tilted up and I do pull the drive myself each fall and inspect the bellows for water...lube the gimble (also check it for smoothness of turning) and inspect and lube the ujoints....I also lube the bellcrank (OMC Cobra only) and driveshaft splines...I feel that on the OMC/Volvo drives where there is no grease fitting on the coupler you really should pull the drive to grease the splines in addition to the other checks/lubrication...it just makes for longer trouble free operation...my 22 year old Cobra shifts like a new boat but only because it has always gotten regular maintenance...and this is in salt water...moored for 6 months/year...

I think you can go 5 years on these bellows as long as you can store it down and are not seeing cracking in the folds...if you see cracks then it's time...

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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

I think its a relatively easy job, I also dont trust the shop to do it right. But thats just me.

I have been burned by the shop a few times, with a huge bill and job not done correctly, and they keep having there trainee doing the work. No thanks.


I also believe that if you do the work, you are more apt to stay on top of preventative maintenance, along with knowing what to do, god forbid, something went south on a boating trip.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

What exactly are the bellows? (Sorry for the dumb question, but the boat I have now is my first I/O.)

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1999 234 Funship
5.7 GSi

The drive bellows is basically a corrugated rubber tube that connects between the transom shield and the outdrive; the drive shaft (with UJs) runs through it and the bellows are meant to keep the water out.

The exhaust bellows is not water tight. They are sometimes a corrugated tube connected to the transom shield and outdrive, or in some casesd a straight tube only connected to the transom shield. The former type has relief holes on it's underside, to allow water to drain out when the boat is out of the water.

Graham

The bellows fits where the driveshaft passes through the transom...it is a critical part that keeps water out of the boat...and what outboard boaters are referring to when they say "I'd never have an I/O because of the big hole in the transom"....the bellow is what seals the hole....

http://www.dougrussell.com/partscatalog ... 09,507,508

Part # 76 is the u-joint bellows...the driveshaft passes through it...if it leaks you get water in the boat and water in the gimble bearing and ujoints...

Part #31 is the exhaust bellows...this one is not so critical it just carries exhaust water out....

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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

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but I needed to know about these parts.

Thanks so much for the excellent explanations and diagram!

Dan

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1999 234 Funship
5.7 GSi

Lou,

We saltwater boaters have got to stop replying at the same time!

Graham

Graham speaking of salt water....do you use anything on the bellows to keep barnacles from growing on them....this is a big problem here as the paints now legal (TBT free) doe not work that well...it's the main issue I have with the I/O in salt water....if it were not for the growth issue I would get another since now I am familiar with their maintenance needs....

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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

Lou,

I smear the outside wth silicone grease before I refit them, it sems to keep them at bay.

Graham