U joint bellows question

[tacx]

Hi All,
I have a Mercruiser Alpha1 gen 2 outdrive. I don't understand how the u joint bellows connects to the outdrive? I know the u joint sits in a bellows, but when watching videos of outdrive removal, I never see how the connection is made between the outdrive and the end of the u joint bellows? Does the casing around the u joint slide into a socket that has a sealing ring inside the hub? Sorry if this is a stupid question.
Thank
Tom

 

[Who me?]

Uni joint bellows doesn't connect to the foot it connects to the back of the helmet the foot then bolts on the helmet

 

[wahlejim]

The 'helmet' is the Bell Housing. Other than that, the previous statement is correct.

 

[harringtondav]

The front of the bellows slips over the hub around the gimbal bearing, and is secured with adhesive and a hose clamp. The rear of the bellows has a circular bead. The bellows slips inside the bell hsg. bore, with the bead setting into a groove in that bore. It is held in place by a press-in retaining ring that expands the bellows/bead into the groove.

 

[tacx]

ok I think I got it. For example, when installing the od back on, the shaft and the uni joint are passed through the bellows. And the water tight seal is made when the od cylindrical hub around the uni shaft slides into the bell housing socket? So, the bell housing socket which has the rear of the bellows attached must have a o ring, or some kind of seal?

 

[Rick Stephens]

Nope.

U-joint bellows are inside the bellhousing and gimbal housing. Yes, the drive shaft goes through it. No, it does not seal to the outdrive. It seals between bellhousing and gimbal housing with clamps.

 

[Who me?]

bellows seals the front of the bell housing od seals the back

 

[tacx]

Got it, thanks