Cobra bellows replacement

[rdc]

Can someone walk me thru the replacement of the bellows on my boat. 1988 2.3L Cobra drive. I think everything is still the original parts. I am looking at the kits with all 3 bellows, and gimbal bearing. Can the bellows be changed without removal of the gimbal ring? Where can I get a puller to remove the bearing? Last question to change the shift cable bellows, does it require the cable to be replaced? This site is great!

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra bellows replacement

1. Remove drive.<br />2. Pry bellows out of pivot housing end.<br />3. Remove pivot pins<br />4. remove clamp on front of bellows.<br />5. remove bellows.<br />6. install in reverse order.<br />7. Check engine alignment before installing drive.<br /><br />The job can also be done by disconnecting the exhaust bellows and water hose and pulling the bellows out from below. This eliminates removing the pivot pins. But you MUST be careful not to damage the bellows. For your first try remove the pin and remove it from the top. Lots safer.<br /><br />Oh, and one other thing. Get an OMC Service manual.<br /><br />The sets of bellows are for Mercruiser, not OMC. There is no shift cable bellows on an OMC.

 

[Norm Malcosky]

Re: Cobra bellows replacement

Hi Don,<br /><br />Can this proceedure also be used on a VP-SX drive? i.e. Pulling the pins and removing and replacing the bellows from above ?<br /><br />I have to do a couple SX drives this spring and when I did bellow replacment on a 270 drive two years ago it was a big job!<br /><br />Thanks for your advice.<br /><br />erie_guy<br />Port Clinton, OH

 

[Don S]

Re: Cobra bellows replacement

Yes, it's the same procedure, BUT, in my opinion the 270's, 280's and 290 style drives were about the easiest to change bellows on that I have come across. (Unless you pull the complete drive) then you have a lot of unnecessary work to do.

 

[Norm Malcosky]

Re: Cobra bellows replacement

Thanks Don,<br /> <br />Perhaps I was trying too hard on the 270. We had a problem trying to get the new bellows over the front attachment. Seems the rubber bellows was to small in diameter - and perhaps it was also too cold.<br /><br />We will try again with the SX. Any additional tips would be appreciated.<br /><br />erie_guy<br />Port Clinton, Oh

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Cobra bellows replacement

rdc- note that one of the tips from Stuart Hastings Cobra site is that the u-joint bellows is not symmetric, i.e., there are more 'rings' on one side than the other. You want to install so that the side with more 'rings' is facing down, giving more 'flex' when you raise the outdrive. I forgot this & had to reposition after installing the first time.

 

[rdc]

Re: Cobra bellows replacement

Thanks for the input everyone. For some reason the search function does not go back to far. I found a post from Sept. 27th. that is helpful.