Help renewing the belows-gctid375211

[Guest]

Hi i have been told that before launching this year (2001 2455 ciera) that as well as servicing i should renew the belows, is this correct and is there a walkthrough anywhere for doing this?

Thanks

Robert

[2850Bounty]

Robert..... 2001 boat, and if not yet replaced, it would be a very good idea to do so.

If not yet replaced, and if you routinely store your drive in the UP position for any length of time..... do this yesterday!

I think that one of the guys has posted a link to a YouTube video before. Hopefully someone will post it again for you.

.

[Guest]

Buy the complete "transom reseal kit" if you don't know what's been done before or when. This is a full set of bellows, a bearing, etc. You will also need a couple of specialty tools like a gimble pivot removal tool ($13) and a bearing tool. Unless you're pretty good mechanically, you might want to leave this to a pro. The penalty for doing it wrong or not doing it at all can be a sunken boat (bad bellows is the #1 cause of sinking), destroyed engine coupler (remove the engine to fix), and a few other things. So it's pretty important.

Which drive do you have? It helps in tech discussions if you include your boat details in the signature, as you can see in mine.

[Guest]

Here is what you need assuming you Have Alpha 1 drive:



Make sure you pick right kit for your out-drive model/year.

http://www.iboats.com/Mercruiser-Transom-Seal-Kits/dm/view_id.269626

You will need few special tools and a buddy to help you hold and align things when reassembling, but otherwise this is a straight forward job.

[Guest]

You don't need to replace the gimbal bearing... just the bellows. You just need to replace the bearing if something's wrong with it.

[Guest]

leedub wrote:
You don't need to replace the gimbal bearing... just the bellows. You just need to replace the bearing if something's wrong with it.

True, however if you are going to take off the out-drive and rechecking alignment, replacing the gimball bearing is a cheap insurance considering you probably not going back in there for another 4 to 5 seasons.

[Guest]

GrindKore wrote:
True, however if you are going to take off the out-drive and rechecking alignment, replacing the gimball bearing is a cheap insurance considering you probably not going back in there for another 4 to 5 seasons.

+1

[Guest]

That's ludicrous. You also don't need to replace the bellows unless something is wrong with it. Do you want to have to take it apart again because a $20 bearing went bad? Of course not! Use the full kit, replace everything. Do it right every few years and you'll never have a failure or emergency repair.