Preserving Bellows

MTribe08

Senior Chief Petty Officer

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Oct 25, 2008

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680

• Sep 18, 2009

• #1

1995 Merc Alpha One

Just wondering if there is any type of "coating" you guys spray on your bellows to avoid rot for as long as possible?

 

I

indy440

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Jul 15, 2009

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #2

Re: Preserving Bellows

i could see maybe giving them a heavy coating of WD40 before storage... but this will be my first year storing an I/O so Im not sure anyway... and I see some dry cracks (not leaking or anything) on my shift bellows so I'll probably change them all before next season anyway...

 

mdlee

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #3

Re: Preserving Bellows

if the bellows r giving u problams,, consider tubes,, verry simple last longer.

 

mkast

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #4

Re: Preserving Bellows

indy440 said:

i could see maybe giving them a heavy coating of WD40 before storage...

Click to expand...

WD40 is petroleum based, not recommended for rubber products.
If you feel the need, try 303 Aerospace Protectant.

 

U

Utahboatnut

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #5

Re: Preserving Bellows

Keep the drive down so you arent keeping them stretched out as much. Bring up a good point, I wonder if armor all would help at all?

 

B

BF

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #6

Re: Preserving Bellows

mdlee said:

if the bellows r giving u problams,, consider tubes,, verry simple last longer.

Click to expand...

tubes only replace the exhaust bellows... not the U-joint or shift cable bellows.

 

blouderback

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #7

Re: Preserving Bellows

I always spray some Armour All on them at winter lay-up and again in the spring.

 

mdlee

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #8

Re: Preserving Bellows

my bad on the bellows advice... did not consider u may be haveing problams with the other.. cable and u joint bellows.... tubes are nice though

 

Bt Doctur

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #9

Re: Preserving Bellows

It`s not so much the rot factor, when they get old, they get softer and start expanding from the sping inside. When they grow too big they start rubbing on something and that causes the leak.

 

bruceb58

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #10

Re: Preserving Bellows

Best thing to do is to store your drive down and change them every 5 years.

 

Don S

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #11

Re: Preserving Bellows

Burning Incense and doing a chant may help.

Like bruce stated. changing the bellows every 5 years is cheap preventive maintenance. Especially on a Gen II outdrive. During winterization when you have the drive off, it's an additional hours work and the cost of the bellows.
Sure is cheaper than getting water in the bellows and fixing all that goes wrong.

 

C

carverjesse

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #12

Re: Preserving Bellows

teflon lubricant spray is very good for rubber to extend the life.

 

MTribe08

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #13

Re: Preserving Bellows

Thanks for all the responses? I'm not currently having any problems with any of the bellows..they were all changed fairly recently and look very good. I also store my boat with the drive down.

Its just very hot and dry out here in AZ and I'd like to do all I can to preserve them for a few years. It doesn't freeze here either, and I'll be using the boat year round. Thought maybe you guys used something..but I suppose some sort of Armorall(or similar) product couldn't hurt anything..hoping to keep them from drying out and cracking too soon.

Thanks.

 

MTribe08

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #14

Re: Preserving Bellows

carverjesse said:

teflon lubricant spray is very good for rubber to extend the life.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I'll check that out!

 

bruceb58

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #15

Re: Preserving Bellows

I wouldn't spray anything on them. You have no idea what is in the solution with the teflon. Could be a solvent that attacks the rubber over time. I am also NOT a fan of Arnor All for anything.

 

Bifflefan

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #16

Re: Preserving Bellows

bruceb58 said:

I am also NOT a fan of Arnor All for anything.

Click to expand...

Amen to that... It seals the surface and then hear come the cracks..

 

Don S

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #17

Re: Preserving Bellows

Armor All, WD-40, just another swiss army knife in a spay can. Jack of all trades, master of none. Same with teflon tape, looks cheap and easy for anyone to use on pipe threads, but used improperly and things break, get plugged up, etc.
Amazing what people will do so they can just turn the key and go boating and never have to do anything but spary things to make themselves feel better.
Good thing people are like that though. Keeps me busy fixing boats when things go real bad.

 

MTribe08

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #18

Re: Preserving Bellows

bifflefan said:

Amen to that... It seals the surface and then hear come the cracks..

Click to expand...

Do you put anything on your truck tires?

 

MTribe08

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #19

Re: Preserving Bellows

bruceb58 said:

I wouldn't spray anything on them. You have no idea what is in the solution with the teflon. Could be a solvent that attacks the rubber over time.

Click to expand...

Fair enough..I just thought that since I live a very dry climate, that you guys that have been in the business a long time might reccomend something.

I am also NOT a fan of Arnor All for anything

Click to expand...

Thats interesting..I've been using their products without a problem for decades. In fact I have 60,000 miles on tires I have on my Yukon and they are in great shape.

 

MTribe08

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• Sep 18, 2009

• #20

Re: Preserving Bellows

Don S said:

Armor All, WD-40, just another swiss army knife in a spay can. Jack of all trades, master of none.

Click to expand...

Isn't WD-40 a good anti corrosion product?

Amazing what people will do so they can just turn the key and go boating and never have to do anything but spary things to make themselves feel better.

Click to expand...

I'm sure there are people out there like that. I like to take care of my stuff and I like it to look nice. I am a new boater and I'm trying to learn all I can about preventative maintanence. I know the bellows were changed about a yr ago and they look fine...You said you normally have to change them every 5yrs....I was just wondering if you keep something on them in the meantime. Sounds like its a no. Thanks for the help.

One other thing I was going to ask you Don..A while back you said that there is a different between the gimble bearing/u-joint grease and the 2-4-C and that I should buy both. Well tonight I was reading though my Merc handbook that came with the boat,and it says to use the 2-4-C on the gimble bearing Nothing about the specific Gimble/U-Joint grease..Did that product maybe come out after my book was printed?