How often do you change your bellows and shift seal?

[Homerr]

My boat: 2001 Bayliner, 5.0 Mercruiser, Alpha 1 Gen. 2.
I don't recall the exact hours on it but it's less than 300 (yes, she's still a baby somewhat).

I was curious how often do you change your bellows and shift cable seal(s)?
After getting my boat back in shape from sitting and replacing my tires due to rotting and cracking, it didn't really occur to me until now about the other 'rubber' in my boat such as the bellows and shift cable seal(s). After all - they are rubber too and can rot as well.

My engine and drive doesn't have that may hours on them; however like the tires - it's been sitting. And although the drive has never been stored in the sun (always covered), I'm assuming the rubber can still rot just like a tire.

There are no signs of rotting or cracking on the bellows, but the engine is bone stock and original (except for the water pump that I've changed a few times).

Any thought here? This is one of those items (obviously) that you can't wait until something happens! A tire is easy to change. A bellows? Not so much when water starts pouring in!

PS: Thee's also the exhaust rubber, but those I'm not too worried about.

Thanks,

 

[Scott Danforth]

If your tires were cracked..., what do you think the other rubber bits are like

I generally go 3 years max on a VP and 3-5 years max on a mercruiser bellows.

You are pulling the drive annually for the yearly alignment and bearing check, correct?

 

[achris]

VP Bellows are designed to be changed every 3 or so years.. Most of the Merc bellows I have changed that failed due to age (and not some other reason) have all been well in excess of 15 years. Gimbal bearings and unis are other items that people feel the need to change 'because they can'. No, just ... no. If they don't get water in them and (if they aren't the sealed type) get greased annually, then they will last AT LEAST 20 years.

My own engine is coming up on 15 years old now, and it's still got it's original bellows (all of them), gimbal bearing, unis and shift cable. I use the boat, a lot, and they aren't showing any signs or symptoms of needing to replaced any time soon.

This idea of changing things because it's 'good insurance' is complete and utter rubbish, but it's great for Merc, just not so much for your pocket.

Chris.....

 

[Scott06]

VP Bellows are designed to be changed every 3 or so years.. Most of the Merc bellows I have changed that failed due to age (and not some other reason) have all been well in excess of 15 years. Gimbal bearings and unis are other items that people feel the need to change 'because they can'. No, just ... no. If they don't get water in them and (if they aren't the sealed type) get greased annually, then they will last AT LEAST 20 years.

My own engine is coming up on 15 years old now, and it's still got it's original bellows (all of them), gimbal bearing, unis and shift cable. I use the boat, a lot, and they aren't showing any signs or symptoms of needing to replaced any time soon.

This idea of changing things because it's 'good insurance' is complete and utter rubbish, but it's great for Merc, just not so much for your pocket.

Chris.....

My experience has been similar 15+ years for oem merc parts. Current boat is 2004 sea ray 200 with alpha gen 2 drive. noticed this spring my exhaust bellows had torn and driveshaft bellows are showing some age So they will get changed this offseason.
similar experience with impellers changed out my neighbors ten year old impeller that was in perfect shape.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I wouldn't change the bellows on my Mercruiser unless they were failing. I check them every year with the drive off, and unless I see a problem, they're staying. (I'm in no hurry to do that particular job again!)

 

[Lou C]

I went for 11 seasons on an OMC Cobra bellows (OE parts) before I saw small cracks and replaced it. What happens is that the rubber loses flexibility over time and starts to crack when you steer or trim up. So as soon as you see small cracks in the folds I think its time. I still have the original u joints and the gimble that was replaced back in 2005. Both grease-able. If you replace when you just start to see small cracks I doubt you will have a failure.

 

[Homerr]

Thanks for the replies everyone! It was very helpful.

I gave my bellows a looksie and I can't see any cracking. Not yet anyway. Being 20-21 years old however - the rubber getting stiff does concern me. If you go by hours, the boat is practically new, but of course little-use doesn't stop the rubber from breaking down. You might be able to get away with cracking for a while on some things, but I wouldn't take the chance on the drive bellows. If it goes - you might be swimming!

So it sounds like I might be looking at a Gimbal re-seal soon. There's not much left in my season this year. Probably a half-dozen trips or less, so maybe a project for this winter.

PS: I'm curious - anyone know approx. how much a shop charges for a bellows job these days (OEM parts + labor)? I've done ONE re-seal job on a Gen 1 drive years ago when I had far more 'youth and exuberance'! The job wasn't horribly difficult, but I must admit the exhaust bellows and I had a few words... I'm not sure if I want to tackle another one. All I will need replaced is the bellows. Everything else is fine.

 

[gerrydoc826]

I recently got a call from my boat mechanic telling me that the Bellows had leaked and it looked like somebody jammed a stick through them. Call the insurance company and they said you know those have to be replaced every 3 to 5 years so if it's wear and tear then they won't cover it. However the mechanic said it was punctured the boat has only been used in the Summers and has less than 300 hours on it it's a 2018 Tahoe 500ts. It probably gets used 10 to 12 times per summer. Do I really need to change those Bellows with such little usage. I'm pretty sure my mechanic checks and every year when I store the boat with them. Got to love these insurance companies man the first thing he said was how it might not be covered I've had them for 10 years without a claim unbelievable.

 

[Lou C]

I have had bellows last as long as 10 years even on a boat moored in salt water. I do carefully inspect it when the drive is pulled each season and will replace it as soon as I see any signs of cracks in the rubber between the folds. That strategy has helped me avoid expensive repairs.
Think of a bellows like a tire on a car. Replace when you see concerning cracks or when the rubber feels dried out & stiff. I’ve done the bellows on the OMC Cobra and it takes a few hrs you have to be careful to get it on the flange on the gimble housing right & put the screw end on the clamp in the right place. I learned a few tricks peculiar to the Cobra to make it easier. An OEM bellows is about $65 and about 2 hr of my time if the drive is already off…

 

[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

 

[muc]

Welcome to iBoats @gerrydoc826
a couple of things,
It's best to start your own thread === you will get better advice!
Please take a look at this link,

How to ask a question

In this forum, we do not need to know what type boat you have, we need to know the following to answer your questions with any kind of specific information. 1. Engine year, make, type, Full Model number, or a serial number if possible. Giving only the year does not help, as that is the year of...

forums.iboats.com

There is a huge difference between models, NO ONE can give accurate advice without knowing what you have. What boat it is has no bearing on your question, what drive it is makes a big difference.

 

[cyclops222]

Mine have gone 20 years and no leaks.