www.iFourWinns.com

Is it possible to replace just the shift bellows? I was inspecting them today and noticed that there is a small tear in the shift bellows. I have heard that this could actually sink the boat, so that would be bad. My exhaust and driveshaft bellows look good though and are now cracked or anything.

Sooo...if is dont have to do all the bellows, I would rather not. I have read some procedures and it looks like you take the shift bellows out before taking off the drive and all the other bellows.

Anyone ever done this or am I nutz?

Thanks,

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Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

Might just be me, but if you know the drive shaft bellows are the same age as the shift bellows, I'd do 'em both.

_________________


Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

+1

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-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

Someone put something though it (shift that is). The bellows are only 2 yrs old and look in good shape. Not to mention, I am a little $$$ strapped right now.

Anyone in Michigan want to trade a laptop to do my bellows?

_________________
Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

Might just be me, but if you know the drive shaft bellows are the same age as the shift bellows, I'd do 'em both.

+2
It's cheaper than the repair bill if it fails
IMHO

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

U are prolly right and if everything HAS to come off to do the shift bellows, I will do them all.

_________________
Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

Gotta pay to play!!!!! I hear you, its been a rough year.

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

I am pretty mechanically inclined and have almost every tool under the sun. Is this something that I could do myself? I do have a buddy who is a marine mechanic too.

On a scale of 1 to 10? difficultly? It is a merc alpha drive.

Thanks,

_________________
Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

I do all my own wrenching, I would rate pulling the drive off as a 2 with a stand, 4-5 without.

One thing that it is helpful, is to have a drive stand, can get by without, but nice to have.

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

Hmm.. I am a little worried about all the hub-bub that everone talks about with stretching the bellows etc. Any inpup on all that? The one thing that I dont want to do is have it all apart and NOT be able to get it back together again.

It scares me about that part. Other than that, I am willing to do just about anything.

Thanks,

_________________
Don't forget the plug....
.......Don't ever forget the plug......

Have you researched your service manual yet?? Look at diagram of your outdrive. You will notice that the bellows has nothing to do with pulling outdrive off. There is an O-ring that need to be replaced that goes between the outdrive and housing it mounts to.
You should replace bellows every so many years anyways, is it showing any cracking/weathering? Bellows is approx $30 part.

What stretching of the bellows are you talking about. It is designed to move in any direction that the drive physically can move.

The only thing I can think of that would prevent you from reassembly, would be engine alignment. If that is off, you will not get the driveshaft back in.

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

If you want some good tips on changing the bellows I'd ask this question over at Iboats on the IO forum....there are a couple of very experienced marine mechanics there that can give you helpful tips...bottom line is it has to be done right because if not you will get water in the bellows and that will eventually ruin the gimble bearing and ujoints....

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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