Bellow Change and Gear Oil Hose

[Jmunk]

I’m going to soon tackle changing the bellows and related items on my 2005 185. I’ve read that the plastic gear oil fitting that passes through the transom is very brittle and easy to break. Is it better to try to remove the gear oil hose from the bell housing and reuse the original hose or take my chances of getting it off the fitting without breaking it?

I have the 4.3 and it looks very difficult to get to the fitting with the engine in the boat.

How many people have gotten the hose off the fitting without breaking it?

 

[Espos4]

Replace the hose with a new one. There is a Merc part number for the oil hose. Just cut it to length.

Very easy to remove it without doing damage. Just use a brand new utility knife blade and lightly score the hose lengthwise along the fitting. Keep slicing lightly until you cut through it. Open the gap gently with a screwdriver and the hose should just fall off the barb.

Keep all portions of the old hose and use that to Cut the new one to the proper length.

Too short and too long are both bad.

 

[BillK2632]

Mine broke did and I knew about it and tried to carefully cut the hose. I would have a new one on hand. Yes it’s a PIA to replace but doable. Really depends how old and brittle it is.

 

[Scott06]

Just did mine last spring

Geta complete OEM bellows kit from merc will include the hose . I belive my 2003 vintage gen two drive had metal lube oil fitings so likely yours does too.

Not a bad time to replace bushings and seals on shift shaft in bell housing too, look at your shift cable too. If it has any drag replace it because you have to take it out anyways to get the bell housing off. I used a weedwacker wire , after you take shift cable core out of outer sleeve, run a long weed wacker wire through the outer sleeve, then pull cable out of bellhousing… weedwacker wire will guide it in correct routing when installing…

if you don’t have the factory drive manual (14 i think) get it, it is invaluable for bellows replacement …