Bellows replacement

[gerrydoc826]

What's the average cost to have all the Bellows replaced. I have a Tahoe 2018 500 TS with the alpha 1 Merc outdrive

 

[Scott06]

What's the average cost to have all the Bellows replaced. I have a Tahoe 2018 500 TS with the alpha 1 Merc outdrive

Would think a grand plus of minus a few hundred depending on where u are . Saw you comments In other post On lifespan.… use OEM parts in fresh water my u joint bellows were just starting to crack after 18 years .
boat will sink if they leak and it is slip kept…

 

[gerrydoc826]

Thanks for your reply. I wouldn't think mine would be worn out after just 5 years only having the boat in the water for 6 months out of the air and maybe using at 12 times a year. Of boaters whose have lasted anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Again thank you

 

[alldodge]

Replaced mine for first time when it was about 20 years old. Still didn't need replacing, no cracks. The thing is I'm in fresh water and the big thing is after parking boat in garage I lowered the drive full down. Don't leave it up

 

[Scott06]

Thanks for your reply. I wouldn't think mine would be worn out after just 5 years only having the boat in the water for 6 months out of the air and maybe using at 12 times a year. Of boaters whose have lasted anywhere from 10 to 20 years. Again thank you

Does seem odd but may be influenced by water quality. I believe in salt or brackish they don't last as long. How were yours torn?

My situation being in a shallow cove (drive almost all the way up to get in) and storing on a trailer with the drive up during winter layup puts more strain. The last couple years prior to replacement I had seen signs of chaffing on the sides of the u joint bellows where it can rub on gimbal ring or pivot pins, and certainly they were stiffer than new. Exhaust bellow were torn several years prior. While I was keeping an eye on it, certainly I would not fault a mechanic for recommending replacement earlier, especially if someone is expecting them to check out the boat prior to "summerizing" it

either way use the OEM bellows.

 

[cyclops222]

Driving around a lot in shallow water with the drive tilted up a lot. Is tough to.

 

[Pmt133]

Mine lasted ~17 years in salt. Or if dad is remembering wrong they were ~30 years old. Shift boot was replaced once or twice as the old cables didn't last that long.

 

[Scott06]

Driving around a lot in shallow water with the drive tilted up a lot. Is tough to.

for all I have read about it here and other forums have not had an issue.

my family has had a cottage in a shallow cove since the early 60s and the 3 I/O boats we have had have been 33, 25, and 20 years old. the greaseable u-joints in my '91 made it 23 years, the non greaseable in my current boat made it 18 years 9just on wear no water in bellows).

The barn where I have kept them the owner moves them in at his convenience so no way to drop the drive... I would say if you can leave it down great if not don't worry about it.