Drive Service question

charlieft

charlieft

Member
Nov 14, 2006
166
Plymouth, MA
Boat Info
2003 300 Sundancer,
Engines
T-350 Magnum w/Bravo III
I have a 300DA with Bravo3 drives. I was told by the surveyor that I should get the exhaust bellows replaced and have the drives "serviced". They may also recommend replacing the drive bellows.
Anybody have an idea of how much this might set me back? Just looking for a ballpark figure so I can prepare myself.

Thanks,
Charlie
 
Can't offer you the price quote, but before you get it done - look at it yourself. It could need replacing after 5 years - and that would certainly be within the norm. But, look at them - do you see any cracks in the pleats? Does the rubber look glazed/shiny? Press on the pleats - do they feel rubbery or are they feeling a bit more on the hard side? If you can answer "no" to these questions, you would at least be best served to get a second opinion - the surveyor was probably just covering his bases.

The drive has to be pulled for this, so another thing to do would be to have the drive's alignment checked. Might as well do as much as you can while the drive's already off. Oh, there is also a shift cable bellows.
 
Had this done by our Highport Marina tech Al: $290 Parts and Labor for the U-Joint, Shift Cable and Exhaust Bellows, $150 Parts and Labor for the drive lubrication change. My boat is slipped all year long and I don't have a trailer to pull her out otherwise I would have done all of this.

Have them check the gimbal bearing (supports the main drive shaft that comes out of the engine) if they do the bellows replacements. They have to pull the drive anyway!

If the gimbal bearing is shot it will cost around $250 P/L including an alignment check to fix it (they stick a precision shaft through the gimbal bearing and into the engine coupler to see if the engine mounts have shifted).

And have the anodes and mercathode / bonding system linkage checked out also (Corrosion protection).

They don't call it a money pit for nothing! :grin:
 
$1000 ??? Holy crap! You need a different mechanic. Where are you? Hell, I'll do it for that!!!

Seriously, that sounds rediculous. It does of course depend on what you mean by serviced. I just had the drives in my boat "serviced" They replaced all bellows on both drives, changed oil in engines and drives, new water pumps in drives (which you don't have), and even touched up the paint! all for a little under $500. of couse, if you get into gears, it will be more, but unless your boat is poorly maintained this should not be necessary at this point.
 
charlieft said:
I think I'll be lucky to pay anything less than $1k.
Click to expand...

B-O-A-T = Break Out Another Thousand

Seriously, if the boat is/was used in salt water, the boots likely are ready for a change. In my area, I have to inspect them annually as we have muskrats that like to use them as appetizers. As mentioned there are 3, if you do 1, do them all.

As far as cost....it depends what they find once they get into it. I would have both drives pulled and the alignment checked as well as the gimbal bearing, plus the U joints just so you know what condition everything is in....
 
Last edited:
Since a 2 year/200hr service on my boat was quoted to me at $1800 I don't see why you can't expect to pay atleast that on 2 outdrive services.
 
Morpheus said:
Since a 2 year/200hr service on my boat was quoted to me at $1800 I don't see why you can't expect to pay atleast that on 2 outdrive services.
Click to expand...

Holly smackers, Batman! What the heck is involved in their 200 hour service?
 
It's a pretty good list, I posted it in another thread not to long ago but can't find it now.
 
I got the estimate today ...

Service drives --- $588
Replace Bellows -- $470 parts + 12 to 16 hours labor at ~$100/hour

So I was off by $1000 ... I'll be lucky to get off for $2000 or less.
 
Mine was about 640.00 for the first 100 hr service and engine oil change. It didn't have a cost break down and that is me hauling it out and taking it to them. So I would figure about 500-to 550 on the outdrive.:huh:
 
For comparison' sake, my dealer charges:

Full engine winterization (run, flush, drain, fog, antifreeze), change engine oil/filter and drive lube, lube fittings, etc, change fuel filter, pull outdrive and check alignment: $450.

They said a bellows kit (3 bellows, gimble bearing, water tube, outdrive gaskets) costs $211. Labor for this kit is about 4 - 5 hours.

Not exactly what you were looking for, but hope it helps.
 
Lazy Daze said:
For comparison' sake, my dealer charges:

Full engine winterization (run, flush, drain, fog, antifreeze), change engine oil/filter and drive lube, lube fittings, etc, change fuel filter, pull outdrive and check alignment: $450.

They said a bellows kit (3 bellows, gimble bearing, water tube, outdrive gaskets) costs $211. Labor for this kit is about 4 - 5 hours.

Not exactly what you were looking for, but hope it helps.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks, that's pretty close to the quote they gave me since my price was for 2 drives. your dealers estimate would be $422 for the kits and 8 - 10 hours ... my marina estimated $470 for the kit and 12 - 16 hours.

Looks like they just gave an estimate a little on the high side.
 
It may be painfull, but the boat will sink if you get a crack in the bellows. My buddy tilted his drive up just in case the anchor dragged, woke up to pee and was ankle deep in water at 3 AM. - with the wife and two small kids aboard and the dinghy "over there". putting the drive down slowed the flooding until it could be hauled at 8 AM.
You don't want to be there. Pull the drive Every year if it lives in the water. The u joints need to be lubed as well as the bellows checked.
 
Wow. Why not wait until the boat is on stands and at least service the drives yourself. It's very easy. Oil change, a few shots of grease on the u-joints, and paint. All you'll need is an outdrive stand and grease gun and you can save $500 every season. As for the bellows, it's not easy but if you understand the procedure and have the time, it's doable. Mercruiser manual 28 gives very detailed instructions. But like Lazy Daze said, check them first. Put a few rags in there when the drives are off and get all the excess grease out. The grease speeds up the drying out process and makes them brittle, more so than age.
 
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