Replace all bellows with a gimbal bearing replace?

[fwebster]

It looks that way because that is the way outdrive powered boats are built.

The transom is saw or milling machine cut, then the exposed area is sealed with resin. There is no need to finish the cut-out.......for the same reason that the inside of the bilge isn't smooth and shiney like the ouitside of the hull is.

If i'm seeing what I think I am in the photos, what concerns me more than the finish on the hull cut-out is that this boat has had water in the engine spaces long enough or often enough to set up some decent corrosion .......there may well be a bellows leak and a bad gimble bearing......and it doesn't look like the bilge has ever seen soap or a scrub brush. If you will get in the habit of keeping a clean dry bilge it is much easier to spot potential problems like oil leaks, extra water in the bilge, corroded bonding wires, etc.

 

[SR Tech]

Sad to say, yes that is searay manufacturing at its finest:smt009.

Looks the the old style aluminum coupler.

Merc came out with an update that puts about a 3" sleeve on the spline passage, giving it more support and hiding the splines a bit more. Also giving a bit more access to the grease zerk.

As for the corrosion on the one transom nut, the green wire needs to go on the transom, that completes a circuit for your corrosion guard.

If its connected to the transom allready...then ground it to the motor on the back of the bellhousing, you'll see a stud on either side that grounds are allready hooked to. Thats would be my guess

 

[Henry Boyd]

Let's also keep in mind the rusting looking stain could also have been caused by a non-SS bolt, nut, screw etc that might have fallen down under the engine and is marinating in bilge water.....

 

[dsteele1]

Thanks for all the great info. I'm feeling a lot better than I was yesterday about the "looks" of the transom area and the bellows replacement. I'm going to have all the bellows replaced as they are in there already.

I've got bilge cleaner ready to clean up the rust colored mess.

I still have a leak or water coming in from somewhere though. :huh: When I check the water level in the bilge after every outing, I have water that is just below the float switch which makes me think the bilge pump is doing its job. How much its coming on I don't know. Don't like the idea of high speed running with the ER hatch open :wow:. Guess I could hook a 12VDC indicator light into the bilge pump circuit to see how often the pump is coming on? More important question is to find out WHERE the water is coming from! Run the boat at high speed, stop and open the hatch and check I guess... maybe the bellows replacement will solve the problem?

Thanks again for the help! :grin:

 

[douglee25]

Open the hatch with the boat idling. More than likely you'll see the leak at idle.

Doug

 

[Dave S]

Thanks for all the great info. I'm feeling a lot better than I was yesterday about the "looks" of the transom area and the bellows replacement. I'm going to have all the bellows replaced as they are in there already.

I've got bilge cleaner ready to clean up the rust colored mess.

I still have a leak or water coming in from somewhere though. :huh: When I check the water level in the bilge after every outing, I have water that is just below the float switch which makes me think the bilge pump is doing its job. How much its coming on I don't know. Don't like the idea of high speed running with the ER hatch open :wow:. Guess I could hook a 12VDC indicator light into the bilge pump circuit to see how often the pump is coming on? More important question is to find out WHERE the water is coming from! Run the boat at high speed, stop and open the hatch and check I guess... maybe the bellows replacement will solve the problem?

Thanks again for the help! :grin:

Here's something else to look for if you have a water leak. I had a leak at the thru-hull pickup for the Air Conditioner. The leak never showed up when the boat was sitting still but the pressure caused by runnning at speed caused the water to leak into the engine room. Keep in mind you also have a hull liner in the engine room and if you have a thru-hull leak it could be leaking betwen the hull and the liner too. I am not saying this is the problem with your boat but it's just another thing to consider.

 

[dsteele1]

Here's something else to look for if you have a water leak. I had a leak at the thru-hull pickup for the Air Conditioner. The leak never showed up when the boat was sitting still but the pressure caused by runnning at speed caused the water to leak into the engine room. Keep in mind you also have a hull liner in the engine room and if you have a thru-hull leak it could be leaking betwen the hull and the liner too. I am not saying this is the problem with your boat but it's just another thing to consider.

Dave,

I'll put that on my list of things to look for. What is the hull liner - sounds like there is a hollow space between the hull and liner? It opens up to the bottom of the bilge? Any pictures you have would be great!

(By the way the Optimas are working great! My only concern was the battery hold down covering the battery vent - looks like it only has a 1/4" space between the vent and the hold down. I used marine carpet to provide a cushion on the bottom of the battery holder. Nearly pulled my back muscles out taking the old out and putting new in. I'm getting too old for this :smt101:smt101)

 

[dsteele1]

Got the boat back from service 4 days ago: The outdrive sound with a brand new gimbal bearing is "different". No whining sound anymore. :grin:

All the bellows were changed out and the old u-joint bellows was starting to wear out on the top and bottom and left and right sides. The tech says this is where the u-joint bellows always wears most as you trim the sterndrive up and down (top and bottom bellows wear and steer left and right (left & right side bellows wear). Thes are the stress points. Makes sense!

No water intrusion at all in the outdrive. The old gimbal bearing looks and feels fine but the new one has definitely made a difference. With the hull bottom cleaning and outdrive service and new parts, she's run her best WOT speed of 39 MPH vs 34 MPH before. :grin: :smt038

I've still got a small leak though so off to find it... :smt101