found out that our rivers are very cold

ningram

ningram

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the exhaust bellows came off the outdrive again so I had the choice of paying the boatyard over 100 quid for a lift out, 5 minute repair and then lift in, or get in the water and try and do it myself. Low tide yesterday wasn't very low, couldn't touch the bottom of the river, but decided to try anyway. Climbed down the swim ladder and stopped when the water reached my waist - thought it was going to be too cold, and I was hyper-ventilating. But after a few minutes of getting used to the temperature I took the plunge. I was wearing a big lifejacket, rope attached as well. 10 -15 minutes later, after splashing about, gripping the outdrive with my legs, and having to replace the jubilee clip, get the bellows in place and then tightening it all up, all under water, I emerged triumphant. And Red all over.... by heck it was cold. Got dried, wrapped in a duvet, then dressed after another 10 minutes. I was wearing a jumper - in August, for flip's sake, for the next 3 hours....
Saved all that money though
 
Guess you'll be buying a new tube of glue this winter, hateful job getting it back on without removing the drive, you did well to manage it in those conditions.

Gotta admire your balls doing that though.
Did they shoot right up up inside your chest cavity or just partway?
 
it was the exhaust bellows where they attach to the outer part of the alpha one gen 2 drive. AFAIK only held on by a jubilee clip unless anyone else knows better?

Balls? Garden Peas more like it, come to think of it petit pois....

Cheers

Nick
 
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ningram said:
the exhaust bellows came off the outdrive again so I had the choice of paying the boatyard over 100 quid for a lift out, 5 minute repair and then lift in, or get in the water and try and do it myself. Low tide yesterday wasn't very low, couldn't touch the bottom of the river, but decided to try anyway. Climbed down the swim ladder and stopped when the water reached my waist - thought it was going to be too cold, and I was hyper-ventilating. But after a few minutes of getting used to the temperature I took the plunge. I was wearing a big lifejacket, rope attached as well. 10 -15 minutes later, after splashing about, gripping the outdrive with my legs, and having to replace the jubilee clip, get the bellows in place and then tightening it all up, all under water, I emerged triumphant. And Red all over.... by heck it was cold. Got dried, wrapped in a duvet, then dressed after another 10 minutes. I was wearing a jumper - in August, for flip's sake, for the next 3 hours....
Saved all that money though
Click to expand...
I think you deserve a large glass of wine for doing that!
 
river water

This time of year the sea water temp(south coast!!)is usually about 16/17 C ,river water,maybe a tad colder! Invest in a six MM wet suit and keep a snorkel handy!
 
Stabbing away randomly at buttons on my dash the other day I found I had something which tells me the water temperature. This seems to be 16/17C at the momemnt, with shallower areas up to 18.

Lovely for a swim, I remarked to the family.

"After you" was the response.
 
We swam off the back of the boat the weekend before last, just off Sandy Point Hayling Island.

A bit cold at first, but a few minutes of swimming like mad, and creeping numbness, made it quite a pleasant little dip

The warmest we've seen all season was 71f round Thorney Island after that very hot week (was it end of June or start of July), since then it's been around 67f

MVP
 
I think there's an update for the Alpha 1 drives which does away with the exhaust bellows and replaces it with a much stiffer oval rubber tube, which is only fixed at the transom end. The spigot on the drive unit sits loosely in the rubber tube when it's down and it comes right out when you tilt it up.

I put one of these newer tubes on my Alpha 1 many years ago when I replaced the bellows and it seems to work OK. Apparently, there had been a number of cases where back pressure in the exhaust (and/or weakened bellows, presumably) led to the exhaust bellows ballooning and pressing the drive shaft bellows into the U/J. That then wears through and lets the sea into the boat. Having had this possibility explained to me I was quite happy to convert to the tube idea. The exhaust pipe at this level is full of water when the engine is stopped anyway, so not having a sealed bellows on the exhaust makes no difference in that respect. Maybe the exhaust is a bit louder when you're up on the plane - I don't know.

The exhaust bellows therefore seems to be a bit superfluous and, if I were in your position and it came off again, I would be tempted to leave it until the next scheduled lift out. Maybe a quick check to remove the loose jubilee clip out of harm's way, but that's all.

BTW - How did you know it had come off in the first place?
 
I think there's an update for the Alpha 1 drives which does away with the exhaust bellows and replaces it with a much stiffer oval rubber tube, which is only fixed at the transom end. The spigot on the drive unit sits loosely in the rubber tube when it's down and it comes right out when you tilt it up.

Interesting idea cos its a bummer trying to get to the jubilee clip once the bellousing is back on.
Where did you purchase such an item?
 
tinkicker0 said:
Where did you purchase such an item?
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From BAM marine of Ft Lauderdale in Florida. It was part of a consignment of about $600 worth of bits and pieces I needed in January 2002 to get Excalibur II running and seaworthy on first aquaintance. It's still fitted now - it doesn't move much so it doesn't wear out and it was as good as new when I checked at the start of this season.

AFAIK it's a standard Mercruiser part (number is 78458A1) and it cost me $45 in 2002. Should be available locally but, at that time, and for the amount of stuff I needed, it was much cheaper to get it all sent from t'other side of the pond.
 
I had a similar experiance earlier this season, when the newly replaced bellows came off after being replaced (at great cost) as part of a pre season service. They had been glued and jubilee cliped.
As I did not know of a good Mercruiser dealer in my boating area, I a rang a marine mechanic pall in the US who helped me when I bought the boat there. He said that it was a common problem, to run it as it is until the end of the season then fit the open ended type. I have now done about 400 miles since it pulled off and yes it does seem a little louder when up on the plane, but not enough to bother about. Some where, probably with the boat, I have the alternative part number from Keypart. I also have the proper bellows fitting tool if anyone needs to borrow one.
Regards mikej
 
The exhaust bellow rubber should and will stay on as long as the drive unit surface is prepared and glued properly with the clamp firmly attached. Possibly down to who ever is doing the job....

Exhaust back pressure is relieved through ports on the lowest point of the transom housing (alpha series). The solid tubes are thought to be noisey.
 
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