1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

[tfitch03]

I got my outdrive off today to inspect some concerns I have been having. I have been having some bearing noise coming from my sterndrive and thought it may be my gimble bearing or something internal. I still believe I have internal issues that I will be checking out later but check out what I found today! My suspicions were confirmed as I found my u joint bellows half full of water. U joints are shot, bearing is shot, who knows what else. I am brand new to boat maint. so if anyone has any tips for me, I would LOVE to hear them. I have learned so much from this site already.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

What does your gear oil look like?

 

[tfitch03]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

Gear oil is good to go, zero water. This will be my first attempt at changing bellows, u joints, and gimble bearings.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

Gear oil is good to go, zero water. This will be my first attempt at changing bellows, u joints, and gimble bearings.

I have done u-joints before but I now just bring the whole drive in to a shop that can do the u-joints. I bent a yoke once pulling out the bearing caps and have since just let someone else do it.

 

[tfitch03]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

I have done u-joints before but I now just bring the whole drive in to a shop that can do the u-joints. I bent a yoke once pulling out the bearing caps and have since just let someone else do it.

Thanks, I am going to take your advice. Just talked to a shop and told him I was coming in on Friday.

 

[tfitch03]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

Update. Rented the ujoint puller tool from Pep Boys and got the new ujoints installed. new gimble bearing installed. Ready for bellow install.

New:

Old:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

Ahhh...so you ended up doing the u-joints yourself?

 

[tfitch03]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

Ahhh...so you ended up doing the u-joints yourself?

Yes sir. Had some unforeseen events that didn't allow me to make it to the boat mechanic so rather than wait around I watched a YouTube instructional and then rented the tool. Little awkward to do with just two hands but having the right tool saved me hours and a lot of unnecessary trouble.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

Yes sir. Had some unforeseen events that didn't allow me to make it to the boat mechanic so rather than wait around I watched a YouTube instructional and then rented the tool. Little awkward to do with just two hands but having the right tool saved me hours and a lot of unnecessary trouble.

There's a lot of satisfaction doing it yourself, but you've no-one to blame if it fails...

 

[Reinell-BRXL-191]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

There is a tool for doing U-Joints? ( Just Kidding) ball peen has always worked for me... or there is the old trick of 2 sockets and a bench vice... that works really well...

 

[tfitch03]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

There is a tool for doing U-Joints? ( Just Kidding) ball peen has always worked for me... or there is the old trick of 2 sockets and a bench vice... that works really well...

I don't have time for tools! I just grabbed the yoke and pushed them out, and the new ones in, with my thumbs.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: 1992 OMC Leaky Bellows

After bending a yoke, I learned the hard way that its easy to break things in this area.