Time for my first bellow change, tips?

[MEDEL514]

My shift cable bellows is torn, so I am going to do a full service of the transom, all bellows and gimbal bearing. While looking at kits, I noticed the Quicksilver kit is very expencive ($313) compared to others that are around $100 for the kit. What are the preferred parts brands that you guys prefer to stick with?

Also, what kind of paint should I use to repaint the transom after I remove the corrosion?

 

[matt167]

Bellows should be OEM. Sierra could pass as well. Don’t shop on Amazon.

Remember that bellows keep your boat from sinking.. the cheap ones are known for dry rot and QC issues

 

[Scott06]

My shift cable bellows is torn, so I am going to do a full service of the transom, all bellows and gimbal bearing. While looking at kits, I noticed the Quicksilver kit is very expencive ($313) compared to others that are around $100 for the kit. What are the preferred parts brands that you guys prefer to stick with?

Spend the money for the OEM kit. Just changed my original 18 year old bellows 2 springs ago. If the OEM last that long why screw around with cheaper parts that don't fit great. Its a fair amount of work so why F around.

Get a factory shop manual if you don't have one will walk you through how to do the whole thing. make sure you have right special tools like hinge pin tools, big slide hammer to get out gimbal bearing, exhaust bellows expander tool. Power tune helps slide the bellows on. Good time to do the trim sender/limit switch as well.

You can use the core of the old shift cable w end cut off or weed wacker wire to help route the new cable. Routing the new outer cable can be a pain if you have a V engine.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Changing the bellows is sufficiently time-consuming (and important) to require only OEM parts.

@Scott06's recommendations about Power Tune and using weedwacker string or wire to help re-trace the shift cable are right on, too.

 

[kenny nunez]

The best tool for the job is a 1/4” drive 5/16” universal socket or a 1/4” universal with a short 5/16” 1/4” drive socket & driver handle.

 

[Lou C]

Agreed, I will use only OEM for parts like that, it's not that much fun to have to re-do it because of a premature failure. My OEM Cobra bellows last at least 10 years if not longer before I see small cracks in the folds, then I change them because that's a sign the rubber is getting stiff.

 

[Stinnett21]

Also, if you're going in for major surgery...how much side to side play is in the drive? Assess this situation before going any further. It would be a shame to go this far down the road and then a few years later wishing you had replaced the gimbal ring and/or steering lever when you had it all apart. And as Scott says above, definitely replace both trim senders while in there. They're not expensive. Even if they look ok I'd change them. The wires start to fail. Not a good design.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Yeah, definitely replace trim limit/trim sender switch while in there.

 

[flashback]

be sure to remove all old sealants, dirt etc. clean is good.

 

[MEDEL514]

I planned on getting this Sierra kit 18-8206-1 from amazon. Sierra is a brand recomended by my local boat shop, its cheaper on Amazon, but I'm having trouble finding if this is the right part number. This plus the sealant and trim senders should be everything I need, right?

 

[Scott06]

I planned on getting this Sierra kit 18-8206-1 from amazon. Sierra is a brand recomended by my local boat shop, its cheaper on Amazon, but I'm having trouble finding if this is the right part number. This plus the sealant and trim senders should be everything I need, right? View attachment 399713

get the oem. yes bellows adhesive. Do not get sierra senders, the ones I got thinking I could same some money dont work, but it’s your call.

do you have the tools you need ?

what drive do you have , that will determine parts numbers that fit .

 

[Chris1956]

Make sure you note where the clamp screws are oriented, before you take 'em off. Put the new bellows on and put the clamps exactly where they were.
A glue is used on the bellows.
The service manual procedure specified putting the driveshaft bellows on the transom plate and the exhaust bellows on the other moveable side. I had no luck with that. I ended up putting both bellows on the moveable side, pressing the bellows into the transom plate and using a blunt tire iron to push the bellows onto the flanges.

 

[Stinnett21]

Install the exhaust tube instead of the bellows, much easier. That is...assuming this is an Alpha 2. Not sure about others.

 

[flashback]

Install the exhaust tube instead of the bellows, much easier. That is...assuming this is an Alpha 2. Not sure about others.

Yea and it sounds like a boat. The older drives can use it as well.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I planned on getting this Sierra kit 18-8206-1 from amazon. Sierra is a brand recomended by my local boat shop, its cheaper on Amazon, but I'm having trouble finding if this is the right part number. This plus the sealant and trim senders should be everything I need, right? View attachment 399713

Don’t do it. Get OEM parts. Nobody has ever finished a bellows job and regretted using OEM parts. That cannot be said for aftermarket brands…

 

[nola mike]

I'll be the lone dissenting voice... I've used Sierra bellows and qs. Year 6 on the Sierra and they look perfect still. The one concern is the water hose. I've heard that the OEM hose is pre molded into shape rather than straight, which would make the replacement much easier. +1 on the power tune, that stuff is magic for the shift cable and also the weed Wacker string.

 

[Dubed]

Time after time I've tried using the Sierra exhaust bellows on my Alpha Gen1 and could never get it on, and if I did, it would pop off so I would put a tube on. This year I bought a complete OEM set and the exhaust bellows went right on and has been on all season with no issues. Coincidence? Not sure, but I wont buy a Sierra one again.

 

[MEDEL514]

Thanks for the feedback guys, I will be getting the Quicksilver brand, which I was told was OEM by the boat shop.

Second question, I plan on cleaning off the corrosion on the transom. WHat kind of black paint should I use to repaint the assembly?

 

[Scott06]

Time after time I've tried using the Sierra exhaust bellows on my Alpha Gen1 and could never get it on, and if I did, it would pop off so I would put a tube on. This year I bought a complete OEM set and the exhaust bellows went right on and has been on all season with no issues. Coincidence? Not sure, but I wont buy a Sierra one again.

I had expected a fight when I did my exhaust bellows too but I didn't think it was a big deal, was glad I did full bellows vs the tube.

Mine is a gen 2 to be honest I had more of an issue getting the driveshaft bellows retaining ring on

 

[Dubed]

I had expected a fight when I did my exhaust bellows too but I didn't think it was a big deal, was glad I did full bellows vs the tube.

Mine is a gen 2 to be honest I had more of an issue getting the driveshaft bellows retaining ring on

And having the correct tools is a must!
Engineers could have left a little more room in there for maintenance I would think..