Water coming from bellows when on ears?

[BeaufortTJustice]

New to boating...please forgive my ignorance...

I've done a quick search of forum for this issue, but did not find anything exact. I am in a time crunch as I am about to winterize and need to know if this is an issue that needs addressing prior to doing such.

When running on the water ears, I noticed water coming from the bottom of the bellows, right at the front and back where the clamp is. Is this normal? This is the first time I've run it on ears, and had the water about half pressure (I've heard it is bad to have too much pressure).

Please put my mind at ease, or let me know if it is something that needs fixin' and what damage may have been done. Thank you.

Volvo SX-A (2007)

 

[spydertrex]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

ur good to go no worries also you can run the tap fully open not enough psi to screw things up

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

Thank you for the reassurance...my heart can start beating again...just to clarify...
so it's normal and that should happen every time, or not normal but I didn't do any damage?

Thank you again, spydertrex

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

Its normal. Probably most of it is coming from the idle port relief which is just in front of the bellows.

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

Thank you for responding.

Its normal. Probably most of it is coming from the idle port relief which is just in front of the bellows.

Possibly...but I could see it specifically coming from the clamp areas, and it seemed to be under a little bit of pressure...water was spraying out a bit from between black rubber lip of the bellows and the metal part of the outdrive.

still normal? I won't be able to sleep tonight without knowing...lol.

Thanks for help...once again this forum proves to be the best.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

If it's the exhaust bellows your looking at then of course you'll see water spraying like crazy out and around them.

 

[cr2k]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

If it is the drive bellows, there is no water in it. But it may be coming form a loose or leaking water hose. (Above)

The upper (larger) bellows is the drive bellows and should be intact and are open to the inside of the boat so there should be no pressure in this bellows.

The lower (smaller) bellows is the exhaust bellows and does carry water with the exhaust and is not a major problem if it is leaking, in fact OMC Cobra bellows have a series of holes on the bottom of them to drain.

But as stated in a post above, there are relief ports right below and next to the drive bellows to relieve back pressure at idle and non planing running.

 

[BeaufortTJustice]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

It is indeed coming from lower bellows (exhaust bellows). Thanks to all who responded and eased my mental suffering. I'm still learning how the motor and outdrive functions...

Thanks again...happy boating.

 

[Paul Ryan]

Re: Water coming from bellows when on ears?

Like others have stated the bottom below is for the exhaust and water does flow through it. My Volvo 270 strendrive exhaust below also has a line on holes for daining. Water, underpressure coming out at clamp? Make sure the clamp is snug and the below has no big rips or tears. Other than that no worries. Belows need to be inpsected a few times every year and replaced every second to thrid year. The top drive below is the major point of inspection. Any signs of tears, rips, or hard material should be changed asap!!! Water in the drive below is nothing but bad, bad, bad. Also, when not in use, store the drive down. With the drive up the belows are strecthed and under a stain. Not a huge strain, but a little bit. In the down position the belows are in their natural relaxed state.