exhaust bellows

[rolmops]

This is for a Volvo-Penta AQ 170 straight block with what I presume is an AQ270 outdrive.
The exhaust bellows are ruined and my friend asked me to replace them for him.He bases my I/O expertise on the fact that I like to fix late 1950s 10 horse Johnson outboards....
Anyway,replacing the outboard bellows seems simple enough.Loosening a couple of screws and the bands come off.
Then I looked into buying replacement bellows and there is mention of bellows with flaps and presumably bellows without flaps.
My questions are these: Do i need to buy with flaps or is without just as good?
Do ruined exhaust bellows cause the boat to flood or must I look for a different reason for the boat taking on (lots of) water?
Thank you for your thoughts and opinions.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: exhaust bellows

Well to answer your first question, I am not sure which flaps you are speaking of. The second question, the bellows are a big cause of boats taking on water, well, mine anyways. After two tubes of marine grade caulking, I found out it was the bellows causing the water to leak in. It was quite a bit of water as well, pretty much a full bilge if left unattended for two hours.

 

[180shabah]

Re: exhaust bellows

Just to clarify, leaky exhaust bellows do not permit water to enter the boat. Leaky u-joint bellows will.

This is a good time for a complete reseal job on your friends boat.

 

[cooter2506]

Re: exhaust bellows

AS 180 said exhaust bellows dont let water in to the boat. I would check all the other bellows

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: exhaust bellows

On the Alpha One Gen II outdrive, the three bellows are the exhaust, drive shaft, and shift shaft bellows. The drive shaft bellows, which is the largest of the 3, is the one that was causing my leak.

 

[captmello]

Re: exhaust bellows

On the 270 outdrive, the flapper is at the bottom of the outdrive, above the prop. You dont need bellows with flaps.

Examine the ujoint bellows as well, should be done every two years.