new bellows and now a small leak??

[Chaparralboater]

I replaced my bellows but couldn't get my drive back on because of not properly aligned gimbal bearing. So I had a shop align it and put a new shift cable on. When I took it in there all the bellows were on and good to go. When I got it back it was all good and now water at all. But today I took it out and about 3 gallons came out. I looked around and noticed a clamp at the end of the shifter bellow was gone. With that end clamp gone, is there enough of a gap between the bellow and cable enough to take in about 3 gallons? I think when then shop replaced my cable he never put on the clamp or maybe he didn't tighten it good enough

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

Which clamp? The bigger one at the transom, or the little one on the aft end of the bellows that snugs the cable? For sure missing that big clamp could potentially sink you boat, if the bellows came off, the transom... cant imagine the little one missing would allow more then a tablespoon of H2o in the boat... if that

 

[stonyloam]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

... With that end clamp gone, is there enough of a gap between the bellow and cable enough to take in about 3 gallons? I think when then shop replaced my cable he never put on the clamp or maybe he didn't tighten it good enough

I assume that you are talking about the small end, I assume the clamp is on the large end? If so, probably not, that should be a tight enough fit that it is watertight even without a clamp.

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

yeah I was talking about the small one. Sorry ! Well I will have to look else where for the leak then. I am confused as I put these on my self and looked for anything not done right. Couldn't find anything..

 

[stonyloam]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

Look for water trickling down the transom, if it is your driveshaft bellows may have come loose.

 

[EddiePetty]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

...... noticed a clamp at the end of the shifter bellow was gone......... is there enough of a gap between the bellow and cable enough to take in about 3 gallons?

...soooo, you're talkin' about the aft, smaller end of the shifter boot.
To make you feel better, the last several shifter boots that I have replaced/examined either did NOT have a clamp or had a zip-tie in its place.
My memory (for what that's worth) tells me that the last Mercruiser lower shifter cable kit I purchased simply had a zip tie included for the small end of the bellows.

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

I was thinking I should put a zip tie on it ! well I will look today when I pull her out of the lake. Thanks guys

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

took it out again today. I had about 3 gallons pour out. I looked at the bottom of the outdrive and noticed water comming out of the lower unit peep hole? Its a tiny hole on the lower unit on the right side I noticed. Is that meaning I have a bad seal between my lower and upper unit?

 

[MRS]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

If I remember right water no problem oil a bad seal. I run a omc now but did run a merc. before that....

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

hmmmm?

 

[MRS]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

What year and model are we talking about?

 

[Don S]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

Before you pull the boat out of the water, you really need to locate the leak FROM THE INSIDE of the boat. It may take mirrors, but you have to find the leak or you won't have any idea what to fix.

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

sorry, 91 chap, 3.0 lx alpha 1 gen 2

 

[dubs283]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

I looked at the bottom of the outdrive and noticed water comming out of the lower unit peep hole? Its a tiny hole on the lower unit on the right side I noticed. Is that meaning I have a bad seal between my lower and upper unit?

no, if you had a lube leak you would notice the level in the gear lube monitor dropping, eventually sounding an alarm

as stated, you need to have the boat in the water to see where the leak is coming from

it may take a flashlite and a mirror to see but you will never know exactly where the water is coming in until you look

it may even only leak when the motor is running

 

[MRS]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

If it is a shift boot with boat in water motor off try raising the outdrive all the way up and see if it leaks inside. Sometimes if they leak will only leak real fast with drive up when I had a merc. out drive that is how I found my leaking shift boot.
Plus like dubs said check motor while running maybe a hose or drain plug is loose.
For motor leaks you can run at home on the muffs to check that out.

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: new bellows and now a small leak??

good idea on the last reply with the hoses leaking. Didn't think of that !! thanks guys