Leaking bellow video...normal...?

[bunker108]

Hello all. I finally started poking around in my 1998 Caravelle w/4.3GL SX after I took on some water after being beached all night with the leg down at Lake Powell. I found two loose bolt on the inside of the boat to the outdrive so I hope that solves the problem.

Then I discovered that water is leaking out of what I believe is the exhaust bellows, when running on the muffs. The bellows were done, gimbal and allignment checked in 2009. The drive has not been off since then. So it is probably time anyway, but is this normal? Should I put off a water test until the bellows are done? I am from the outboard world so I am still trying to wrap my head around all of this stuff.

Quick video while running

http://youtu.be/PPyFb73KgGQ

What do you all think?

 

[Don S]

Re: Leaking bellow video...normal...?

Then I discovered that water is leaking out of what I believe is the shift bellows, when running on the muffs.

There is no shift cable bellows on a Volvo drive. You have the ujoint bellows (The upper larger bellows) and the exhaust bellows (the lower smaller bellows).
The exhaust bellows always has water in it coming from the exhaust manifolds and elbows. That is how the water from the raw water pump circulates and goes out of the boat. If the engine isn't running the are under water and water is inside them as well.

bellows were done, gimbal and allignment checked in 2009.

The drive should be pulled yearly to check alignment, and lubing the coupler splines.

Just get an error message on the video. Non moving pictures work to show what is leaking.

 

[bunker108]

Re: Leaking bellow video...normal...?

The video should be working now. Yes it is the exhaust bellows...so I understand water is in there...and if it can get out it is surely getting in right.

I took still pictures but though a video was much easier to see. It's only about 20 sec. Thanks for the quick response there Don!

 

[Don S]

Re: Leaking bellow video...normal...?

Raise the drive up and see if there are cracks in the bellows. If they are original, they are getting a little long in the tooth and very well could be leaking. But the leaks will not damage anything. The bellow could be completely missing and it wouldn't hurt anything. Would be a little noisier and the transom might get blacker, and you might see a veeeeery slight drop in top speed. But that's about it.

 

[dypcdiver]

Re: Leaking bellow video...normal...?

The exhaust bellows are perforated to allow them to drain when the boat is out of the water and the leg raised. Otherwise a pocket of water can accumulate and freeze in the exhaust passage! And we don't want that do we?

 

[bunker108]

Re: Leaking bellow video...normal...?

Thanks everyone. You put my mind at ease. I am hoping to squeeze in one more trip to the lake before I winterize. I thought a dripping exhaust bellowed ended my season. I suppose you have to love he design of the SX vs. Merc.