5.0L OMC Cobra exhaust bellows

I was just checking out my boat today and had the outdrive in the fully up/out position. I noticed from below that my exhaust bellows is not physically connected to the pivot housing assembly, but is attached properly on the engine side with the correct clamp. Is the exhaust bellows supposed to be clamped in some sort of way to the pivot housing so that the out flow of water/exhaust travels down through the upper and lower unit and then out by the prop? I tried to extend the bellows up to the flange on the pivot housing and it appears that its not long enough to reach properly with the outdrive in the fully up position. Makes me think that it was replaced at some point in the past and perhaps they used the wrong length part. Does this represent a significant issue or not?

1987 Bayliner Trophy 24' hardtop
5.0L OMC Cobra

Re: 5.0L OMC Cobra exhaust bellows

The bellows fits inside the pivot housing. Then an internal snap ring is installed in the groove of the bellows to keep it from pulling out.
It's very possible your bellows is torn where it goes into the pivot housing. Have you removed the drive to check inside the pivot housing?

Re: 5.0L OMC Cobra exhaust bellows

I don't think it will be an issue for now, it should be attached to direct exhaust gasses thru the prop hub, if not the exhaust just kinda blows out in all directions which for lack of a word (dirties) up the water ahead of the prop.