Bellows treatment

V

VRG

Cadet
Joined
Oct 9, 2008
Messages
14
Would it help to treat the bellows from the engine to the outdrive with some type of rubber treatment (similar to the door trim treatment on cars) in order to keep them from cracking or getting brittle?
 
imraan47

imraan47

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 18, 2009
Messages
315
Re: Bellows treatment

good question...i'd like to know more about this too
 
H

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: Bellows treatment

Howdy,


In a word, no. The best treatment for the bellows is to replace it.

Using any liquids or snake oils in an attempt to extend it's longevity is really asking for trouble considering the damage that happens when you get water intrusion in there and then having it sit during a winter lay-up....



Cheers,



Rick
 
fat fanny

fat fanny

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Feb 9, 2006
Messages
1,935
Re: Bellows treatment

HB I fail to see the logic in that staement! not that I dissagree with it but has it been proven? or is it just your opinion? Do you think a treatment of some kind would jeprodize the integrity of the bellows making it prone to tearing or making it softer?
 
Don S

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Bellows treatment

There are no products on the market for protecting marine bellows. Don't forget, they usually gets put in water occasionally, so don't want to use something that could wash off an kill the fish or other marine life, or create a slick and get you a fine.
The bellows are a maintenance item that should be replace every 5 or 6 years or you take a chance of destroying 1000's of bucks worth of parts.
Your choice.
 
S

security6

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 21, 2008
Messages
191
Re: Bellows treatment

What about using silicone to protect/condition the bellows? I have used food-grade silicone to lubricate washers in faucets. If silicone (at least food-grade silicone) is safe for drinking water, it ought to be safe for a lake. Any thoughts on using silicone to condition the bellows?
 
skargo

skargo

Banned
Joined
Sep 14, 2008
Messages
4,640
Re: Bellows treatment

Just replace them at their recommended service intervals.
 
seaboo

seaboo

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Sep 8, 2008
Messages
300
Re: Bellows treatment

security6 said:
What about using silicone to protect/condition the bellows? I have used food-grade silicone to lubricate washers in faucets. If silicone (at least food-grade silicone) is safe for drinking water, it ought to be safe for a lake. Any thoughts on using silicone to condition the bellows?
Click to expand...

These is JUST my opinions (no facts to support these thoughts), but I would think that putting any greasy (sticky, whatever) substance would tend to trap dust, dirt, ect. Bellows expand and compress and it would seem that the trapped dirt would have an abrasive effect (and actually do the reverse e from what you are trying to accomplish).

Rubber bellows are not porous so any treatment would only be treating a thin layer on the outside and not the whole bellows (or am I over thinking this???).
 
Don S

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: Bellows treatment

Rubber bellows are not porous so any treatment would only be treating a thin layer on the outside and not the whole bellows (or am I over thinking this???).
Click to expand...

No, you aren't overthinking it, but there are many that do.
The funny thing is, even with a spray, you can not get to every spot on a bellows. So guess where the cracks and holes will begin.
 
S

schankla

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Oct 17, 2009
Messages
32
Re: Bellows treatment

i dont know if it would help the bellows but i bet someone out there is thinking of putting some sort of mystery solution in a can and calling it bellows preserve and making a bunch of money off of it...:eek:
 
cr2k

cr2k

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
3,730
Re: Bellows treatment

ALL NEW Bellows Treatment, guaranteed not to rust, bust or create dust.

Try it now just $19.95 a bottle. +S&H

But wait there's more.....get a free bellows brush (a 24.95 value), just pay separate shipping and handling.

Now how much would you pay?
Call NOW for free shipping, just pay separate shipping and handling.

Call in the next 12 min. and get a free bottle of prop wash and rudder lube.

Yea I totally got it going here.
 
F

fishrdan

Admiral
Joined
Jan 25, 2008
Messages
6,989
Re: Bellows treatment

cr2k said:
ALL NEW Bellows Treatment, guaranteed not to rust, bust or create dust.

Try it now just $19.95 a bottle. +S&H

But wait there's more.....get a free bellows brush (a 24.95 value), just pay separate shipping and handling.

Now how much would you pay?
Call NOW for free shipping, just pay separate shipping and handling.

Call in the next 12 min. and get a free bottle of prop wash and rudder lube.

Yea I totally got it going here.
Click to expand...


Nooooo, that's not catchy enough...............

It's gotta be something snazzy like DonS Bellow Juice or Bondo's Bellow Grease,,,, fishrdan's Bellow Ointment, cr2K's Bellow Mariade?


Change the name and you have a winner!



(Test product compatibility in an inconspicuous area. Do not expose the following items to product; nonferrous metal, paint, fiberglass, gelcoat, organic matter. Highly corrosive when exposed to water, keep container tightly sealed when not in use. Could cause headaches toothaches, neckaches, backaches, buttaches, hair-loss, infertility, constipation, diarrhea, short term memory-loss, constipation, diarrhea)
 
achris

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Bellows treatment

fishrdan said:
[(Test product compatibility in an inconspicuous area. Do not expose the following items to product; nonferrous metal, paint, fiberglass, gelcoat, organic matter. Highly corrosive when exposed to water, keep container tightly sealed when not in use. Could cause headaches toothaches, neckaches, backaches, buttaches, hair-loss, infertility, constipation, diarrhea, short term memory-loss, constipation, diarrhea)
Click to expand...

love it... :D:D:D
 
H

hoot

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Sep 8, 2002
Messages
434
Re: Bellows treatment

Perhaps the best way is to lower the outdrive during inactive periods of use and winter storage.
 
achris

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Bellows treatment

hoot said:
Perhaps the best way is to lower the outdrive during inactive periods of use and winter storage.
Click to expand...

You don't mean..... like it says in the owners handbook, do you?
 
J

jkust

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: Bellows treatment

Boating magazine this month has a how-to article on replacing a bellows. Their take is that you can't treat them but just need to replace them at the correct interval.
 
B

Brew2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 12, 2004
Messages
427
Re: Bellows treatment

LOL!!!

Need a Canadian distributor for the new wonder treatment??!!
 
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