bellows leaking

[bigbob_FTW]

Just pulled off my outdrive and saw this. I would say I'm at least looking at u-joints, a gimble bearing, and bellows. Sound resonable?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: bellows leaking

Yep.

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

thought so. I've done once before and its no fun.

 

[Don S]

Re: bellows leaking

You'll also want to pull the yoke out of the front of the drive. The seal surface will undoubtedly look just like the ujoints, and that rust will make short work of the seal. You may also need the yoke.
Plus your gear lube is probably milky also so change it.
Also check the bottom of the gimbal housing where the bellows attaches. If it's corroded off, the bellows won't seal, and it wil leak again.

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

You'll also want to pull the yoke out of the front of the drive. The seal surface will undoubtedly look just like the ujoints, and that rust will make short work of the seal. You may also need the yoke.
Plus your gear lube is probably milky also so change it.

Don, this is the one I have thats been sitting for several years. He stored it with no lube in it, so at this point I'm going in all the way just to make sure its right. is the yoke a back breaker? never done that one.

 

[Don S]

Re: bellows leaking

Here's a link to the oem service manual.
http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6covr3.pdf

Scroll down to the manual outline and click on the LETTER of the section you want to look at. You will want to look at section 3A.

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

thanks Don. Don't know what I'd do without you guys.

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

OK, finally got the gimble housing off. its not in too bad of shape. all the seal surfaces are good. However, my trim limit and positions wires are toast. anyway to replace them without pulling the gimble ring? that looks like a job.

 

[Bondo]

Re: bellows leaking

anyway to replace them without pulling the gimble ring? that looks like a job.

Nope,.......

And, You're Right.......... It's a B!tch of a Job.....

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

I might just have to learn to live without. also, how do i get the threaded end off my shift cable so I can pull it out?

 

[Bondo]

Re: bellows leaking

Ayuh,....

After you unscrew the adapter in the transom housing,.....
The Whole thing comes out......

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

as luck would have it, I got the trim wires out. I'm supposing these need to come from the dealer, as they have integral grommets on them. They were not connected inside the boat either, so i'll have to figure out were they go. just glad to have it all apart now!

 

[Fishermark]

Re: bellows leaking

Actually you don't need to pull off the gimbal ring to replace the trim limit and sender switches. But yes, they will need to come from the dealer, or at least A dealer of some sort. Anyway, the new sender / trim limit parts will come with the wire / grommet /everything you need.

 

[Don S]

Re: bellows leaking

Several items to comment on.
1. Removing the Gimbal ring without removing the engine will be one of the hardest jobs you can do on your boat.
2. You only have part of your gimbal bearing removed. You need to replace the whole thing, not just part of it. Have a look at this service bulletin.
SB 85-26
3. See section 4A of the manual link, it explains all you need to know about everything you are doing. On page 4A-3 it shows the cable anchor. It has very small square headed screws that tightens down on the cable. Loosen them remove the plastic part and unscrew the rest of it (part with barrel nut)
4. The GIMBAL HOUSING is the outer part that is also know as the outer transom shield. The part you removed is the bellhousing (sometimes known as the pivot housing)

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

thanks Don, I haven't removed the rest of the bearing yet. I did get the shift cable out however. I also got the wires for the senders out, but I guess I have to buy the complete kit to fix them. At least I didn't have to pull the gimble ring. all in all, I'll have about $350 in parts and I should be on the water. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: bellows leaking

To get the "rest of the bearing" out, it will probably be easier to slide the gimbal bearing back in, then use a slide hammer to remove the entire bearing assembly. If you don't have one, I know the various auto parts store have tool loaner programs, Autozone for one, that will let you borrow the tool for free.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: bellows leaking

its rather obvious an untrained tech installed the previous gimbal bearing as the note in bold letters in the manual states specifically that the notches face forward.
dunno why, never asked but its in the manual.
but Like DonS said, remove the yoke and check the seal surface at a minimum.

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

The "untrained Tech" was the manufacturer. Its never been changed.

 

[Fishermark]

Re: bellows leaking

As I understand it, and it may be an urban legend , they used to put them in like you have it, but too many people simply rotated the bearing out and put in a new one. So they turned them around. True? I don't know! But as Bill Murray says in Ghostbusters, "Well, that's what I heard!"

 

[bigbob_FTW]

Re: bellows leaking

I believe before '84 they faced forward.