Exhaust Bellows or Not

[beruken]

Hi All, I'm replacing the bellows on my Alpha one Gen2 and the kit came with an exhaust bellows. My current setup has just a open ended rubber tube clamped to the transome that the outdrive exhaust port slides into when the is drive attached to the gimbal housing. Question is would it be better to use the bellows that came with the kit and clamp it to both sides. Not sure it's necessary/better since it never was setup that way that I know of.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The tube was originally for big blocks . Up to you to use the bellows or tube

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... I like the tube,.... Much easier,....

 

[Alumarine]

The advantage to the one that attaches to both ends is it may be quieter.
They can be difficult to install without the right tool.

 

[Chris1956]

On a side note. I replaced the bellows on my Alpha 1 Gen 1 drive some years ago. I followed the instructions precisely, but was unable to get the bellows onto the flanges. MerCruiser cited some special tool, used to pull the bellows onto the flange.

I ended up putting both bellows on the transom plate, pushing it against the transom, and using a dull tire iron to push the bellows onto the flange.

 

[ScottinAZ]

The bellows is a pain the backside to properly get on both sides. The tube works just fine for most applications. In my case, the exhaust bellows has enough splits in it to render it useless (its a year old FFS).... Im not in a hurry to replace it, until I do the u-joint bellows next year (I replace every 2 years or so). As stated it may be slightly louder, it may be slightly messier with regards to carbon and schmutz getting on the back of the boat, but I consider that acceptable.

 

[Scott06]

The bellows is a pain the backside to properly get on both sides. The tube works just fine for most applications. In my case, the exhaust bellows has enough splits in it to render it useless (its a year old FFS).... Im not in a hurry to replace it, until I do the u-joint bellows next year (I replace every 2 years or so). As stated it may be slightly louder, it may be slightly messier with regards to carbon and schmutz getting on the back of the boat, but I consider that acceptable.

Are u using oem bellows ? I just changed my original ones last year 2004 boat. The exhuast had torn two or so years before but driveshaft bellows were just starting the chaffe against gimbal ring

 

[ScottinAZ]

no, this was a chinesium set. Im keeping a VERY close eye on the u-joint bellows for issues. Didnt want to spring for the "expensive" factory bellows before making sure the rest of the boat ran.... cheapo parts for the cheapo boat. make sure it runs properly, and then replace with good ones when the REALLY expensive stuff has proven itself. Since changing these out, the boat is back on the water, the engine and drive are GREAT, so its due for the factory replacements. At this point, as long as its just the exhaust bellows, Im not in a hurry to replace anything, its full of water anyway during use, so I dont see it as a major issue.

 

[Scott06]

no, this was a chinesium set. Im keeping a VERY close eye on the u-joint bellows for issues. Didnt want to spring for the "expensive" factory bellows before making sure the rest of the boat ran.... cheapo parts for the cheapo boat. make sure it runs properly, and then replace with good ones when the REALLY expensive stuff has proven itself. Since changing these out, the boat is back on the water, the engine and drive are GREAT, so its due for the factory replacements. At this point, as long as its just the exhaust bellows, Im not in a hurry to replace anything, its full of water anyway during use, so I dont see it as a major issue.

You are fine with torn missing or destroyed exhaust bellows.

Having seen how well the merc stuff holds up , it’s not worth the time you put into doing the work to deal with pos parts that don’t fit or don’t last

 

[ScottinAZ]

You are fine with torn missing or destroyed exhaust bellows.

Having seen how well the merc stuff holds up , it’s not worth the time you put into doing the work to deal with pos parts that don’t fit or don’t last

I agree, but couldnt justify the difference in cost if the engine/drive was crap. Now that its all proven good, It will get the good stuff when the crap stuff goes belly up, or at least on a reasonable interval. frequent inspections are the name of the game at this point.....