so i have a water leak on my alpha 1/5.0 mercruiser and my gimbal bearing just blew out. yes yes this points to the obvious bellows needing to be replaced. but i just bought this boat from an established marine mechanic who is a good friend of mine. all of the bellows were replaced last year.
i bought this boat knowing there was a very slight (autobilge kicks on once every 3 days deal) leak in the transom plate. but now water is pouring in (constant drip almost run) and the autobilge kicks on once every 30 minutes. the water is leaking in by the steering controls near the top of the outdrive. is this were a transom plate leak would be found? Or does this sound like were the bellows would leak in and they either ripped or were installed incorrectly?
i have the outdrive off and the gimbal bearing out now ready to pop another one in and go on my merry way, but i know this is prob gonna happen again as the gimbal bearing was just replaced with the new bellows. i dont see any rips in the bellows. can they be installed incorrectly or is it pretty much idiot proof?
is there a way to fill the bellows with water and see if they leak out?
would a transom plate leak run the water back into the bellows and fill them up rusting out my gimbal bearing?
i'm very new to boating, esp the mechanics of an outdrive so all help much appreciated in advance. thanks alot
i bought this boat knowing there was a very slight (autobilge kicks on once every 3 days deal) leak in the transom plate. but now water is pouring in (constant drip almost run) and the autobilge kicks on once every 30 minutes. the water is leaking in by the steering controls near the top of the outdrive. is this were a transom plate leak would be found? Or does this sound like were the bellows would leak in and they either ripped or were installed incorrectly?
i have the outdrive off and the gimbal bearing out now ready to pop another one in and go on my merry way, but i know this is prob gonna happen again as the gimbal bearing was just replaced with the new bellows. i dont see any rips in the bellows. can they be installed incorrectly or is it pretty much idiot proof?
is there a way to fill the bellows with water and see if they leak out?
would a transom plate leak run the water back into the bellows and fill them up rusting out my gimbal bearing?
i'm very new to boating, esp the mechanics of an outdrive so all help much appreciated in advance. thanks alot