Bellows DIY

[hostage]

For preventive maintenance, I would like to replace my bellows and my impeller. I am curious how hard is this to do, I hear it can be time consuming and costs about $125 for parts and another $800 for labor for bellows. Do I need a torque wrench, I am just nervous about something going wrong. I frequently changed my own motor oil in my car as well as changed my brakes. I am an IT guy who is good at problem solving, but the idea of water coming into my boat scares me.

Boat: 2000 Maxum 1900 SC
Engine: 4.3L V6 @ 190HP
LU: Alpha I

 

[dozerII]

Re: Bellows DIY

You will need a manual, and an alignment bar. I had a price form a Mercruiser dealer of $1000.00 to change the bellows and gimbal bearing. The water pump is pretty easy and straight forward, just make sure you get all the bolts out before you start prying the L/U off. Depending on if you boat in salt water or not you may run into corroded parts and items real tuff to get apart. If your unit is vintage like mine you may find other problems as you take it apart, so be prepared to order more parts and wait.
Glen

 

[seaphase]

Re: Bellows DIY

More than likely your're going to need a hinge pin tool to remove the bell housing. I just replaced mine a couple weeks ago. Not to bad but if you have run it in saltwater you're going to need to put some heat on the hinge pins to get them to break loose more than likely. You are also going to need a flexible shaft nut driver to get to the hose clamps. Make sure you use bellows adhesive on the bellows and WEAR THROW AWAY GLOVES. That stuff is hard to come off your hands.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Bellows DIY

What type of drive do you have? Merc Alpha perhaps?
Depending on the work you want to do, you'll might need some specialty tools.

Start by finding out what is involved in doing this work. If you have access to the factory service manual, I'd start by reading that. It will detail the process and any special required tools. Or search around- lots of places to learn the basics. But do get the manual if you decide to proceed.

Definately a torque wrench, alignment bar is good (as mentioned already), you may need to remove hinge pins (special tool on Merc), special socket if shift cable needs attention, exhaust bellows may require special tool, gimble bearing tools needed too- for removal and replacement.

You won't know for sure what you'll need to replace till you pull the outdrive and take a look. Maybe all is well and you'd only do the impeller. On the other hand, what if all bellows and gimble bearing need attention?

 

[sethjon]

Re: Bellows DIY

For preventive maintenance, I would like to replace my bellows and my impeller. I am curious how hard is this to do, I hear it can be time consuming and costs about $125 for parts and another $800 for labor for bellows. Do I need a torque wrench, I am just nervous about something going wrong. I frequently changed my own motor oil in my car as well as changed my brakes. I am an IT guy who is good at problem solving, but the idea of water coming into my boat scares me.

By the way you worded your message it sounds to me you'd be better off having it sone professionally. The impeller is cheap, $35, and labor should only be about $150-200. Not sure of the bellows price but real easy to install.

 

[nola mike]

Re: Bellows DIY

give it a shot. not rocket science, the manual is great. you don't need any special tools. the exhaust bellows isn't critical, and you can replace with an exhaust tube if necessary (no tools required); i reinstalled the old one and it was loose enough that i didn't need the tool. hinge pins don't need to be removed for bellows. you also don't need a special socket for the shift cable, i used a standard deep well socket. a torque wrench is always a good idea. alignment tool isn't strictly necessary, but you should make sure the engine is aligned every once in a while--if the drive is off anyway, that's a good time.

 

[Searay87]

Re: Bellows DIY

I'm assuming you have a Mercruiser alpha series outdrive.

I've never done this job but I've been doing some research on it. The best advice I've read here is get yourself a manual. TC Marine Electronics and others have decent how to videos on youtube specifically for the bellows job and the water pump inspection. Have a look at the videos and judge for yourself if you're up to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzqGDrj5peA&feature=channel

 

[hostage]

Re: Bellows DIY

I have looked at a couple videos, my specs are as follows, sorry for not mentioning them earlier >< DOH!

Boat: 2000 Maxum 1900 SC
Engine: 4.3L V6 @ 190HP
LU: Alpha I

 

[seaphase]

Re: Bellows DIY

give it a shot. not rocket science, the manual is great. you don't need any special tools. the exhaust bellows isn't critical, and you can replace with an exhaust tube if necessary (no tools required); i reinstalled the old one and it was loose enough that i didn't need the tool. hinge pins don't need to be removed for bellows. you also don't need a special socket for the shift cable, i used a standard deep well socket. a torque wrench is always a good idea. alignment tool isn't strictly necessary, but you should make sure the engine is aligned every once in a while--if the drive is off anyway, that's a good time.

Interested on how you replaced the u-joint bellows without removing the hinge pins???

 

[nola mike]

Re: Bellows DIY

Interested on how you replaced the u-joint bellows without removing the hinge pins???

are you really interested, or are you just convinced that the bellhousing has to come off to change it?

 

[wanna-be]

Re: Bellows DIY

unless you think you may do this again, its more economical to pay a professional. The special tools make repairs alot easier but the aren't cheap.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Bellows DIY

are you really interested, or are you just convinced that the bellhousing has to come off to change it?

I'm curious as to how one would change the Ujoint bellows without removing the bell housing

 

[nola mike]

Re: Bellows DIY

I'm curious as to how one would change the Ujoint bellows without removing the bell housing

yup, i'll give the same response. not sure what the issue is. i didn't have any problems when i replaced mine. although, looking at the OP's stats, he says he has an alpha 1, but a 2000 should be a gen 2--don't know if that changes things. on a gen 1 anyway, bellhousing doesn't have to be removed to replace bellows.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Bellows DIY

yup, i'll give the same response. not sure what the issue is.

That didn't explain how you changed the Ujoint bellows with the bellhousing still attached
I can see the exhaust and shift cable bellows, but the Ujoint bellows?

 

[hostage]

Re: Bellows DIY

yup, i'll give the same response. not sure what the issue is. i didn't have any problems when i replaced mine. although, looking at the OP's stats, he says he has an alpha 1, but a 2000 should be a gen 2--don't know if that changes things. on a gen 1 anyway, bellhousing doesn't have to be removed to replace bellows.

It is An Alpha One Gen II

 

[nola mike]

Re: Bellows DIY

That didn't explain how you changed the Ujoint bellows with the bellhousing still attached
I can see the exhaust and shift cable bellows, but the Ujoint bellows?

again, if you can tell me what you think the issue is, i can tell you why it isn't. i promise that a) i have no hinge pin tool, b) i have a new u-joint bellows, and c) my boat is still floating after putting several hundred miles (so far) on it this season.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Bellows DIY

again, if you can tell me what you think the issue is, i can tell you why it isn't.

How did you get all the mounting surfaces clean? I can see being able to clean up the gimble side, but you can't see the bell housing side. Then, how did you get the bellows mounted without messing up the adhesive? I imagine, trying to mount the bellows with the bellhousing still attached would be like trying to stuff 10 # of sh*t into a 5# box...

Seriously, how did you get the bellow up in there, shove it up in there and fannagle it around?

Did you replace the FW cooling hose when you did the bellows?

 

[nola mike]

Re: Bellows DIY

How did you get all the mounting surfaces clean? I can see being able to clean up the gimble side, but you can't see the bell housing side. Then, how did you get the bellows mounted without messing up the adhesive? I imagine, trying to mount the bellows with the bellhousing still attached would be like trying to stuff 10 # of sh*t into a 5# box...

Seriously, how did you get the bellow up in there, shove it up in there and fannagle it around?

Did you replace the FW cooling hose when you did the bellows?

didn't replace the cooling hose (probably should have). most wrenching is stuffing 10# of...you know. just kept at it. probably harder with it on there, but doable. cleaned the surfaces by feel. bellows, iirc, went on fairly easily. i think my biggest problem was getting to the clamp screws.

 

[hostage]

Re: Bellows DIY

i think I am going to get my mechanic to do it, there seems like a lot can go wrong =\

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Bellows DIY

i think I am going to get my mechanic to do it, there seems like a lot can go wrong =\

If you can do brakes you can do bellows! Tools: not much more than a long flat bladed screwdriver and the hing pin tool is needed, oh ya this little gem: http://www.mercstuff.com/shiftcable1.htm . If the hose is in good shape, firm, not kinked, don't mess with it. Same with the exhaust bellows, unless they are ripped, reuse them. Once the outdrive is off, you will get a good idea of what needs to be done. I would use the OEM u-joint bellows, and replace the shift cable bellows too. You can't really mess it up too bad. You can at least do the impeller and save some money. Man up! Give it a shot, you have all winter.