Getting gimble and bellow replaced

[Meps1983]

Hi guys. I purchased a bayliner 285 2009 in April from a local marina. Surveys etc a came back good, but I was warned the bellows might not last the season. Being new to a boat with an inboard engine etc, I duly obliged to have the work done. Since then I've noticed a faint grinding sound that's gradually got worse over the season.
I called on my local engineer who came and looked at it that day. He said its definitely a gimble bearing that's shot and that I also have watter dripping through the bellow into my engine bay. Not good!!!
Contacted the marina I bought it from who were quick to come out (next day). They agreed I had issues and organised it to get craned out for me at a local marina where they could carry out repairs.
Anyway they craned today and stripped the outdrive off. Water was everywhere inside and the bearing was shot to bits. The bellow looked brand new when I looked as they said they can get pierced by river debris!? No holes whatsoever. This tells me that something didn't go back properly and that they have probably caused this issue.
The guys replaced all the o rings seals bellow and gimble and put it back together.
I've just been billed nearly 700 quid for the work today but with nearly 40% discount... I'm told. What would that cost normally? And should I be paying at all?? Sorry for the rambling, thanks for reading Ben

 

[bowler]

Sorry to hear that. If that includes the lift out and in again then sounds reasonable to me.

 

[Meps1983]

Yes that included lifting out and back in on the same day. I thought it seemed reasonable, but the damage wasn't caused by myself. Something didn't go back together right when the changed the bellows which to me has caused these problems.

 

[volvopaul]

Obviously they didn’t use bellows glue and misplaced the bellow at the shield end , also where the drive mates to the gimbal there is a seal , it’s also possible the clip was not tight .

 

[bowler]

Yes that included lifting out and back in on the same day. I thought it seemed reasonable, but the damage wasn't caused by myself. Something didn't go back together right when the changed the bellows which to me has caused these problems.

Hmmm. Fair point. How game are you for a fight?

 

[simonfraser]

whats past the bearing, has that's got water in too ?
any leakage into the bilge ?

 

[Meps1983]

There was water dribbling in through the bellow area into the bilge. I believe that's why they came out so quick (following day). The bellow looked brand new but wet and the bearing was rusted up and really lumpy! We've emailed them back to question why we should pay for any repairs yesterday. I've tried to upload a pic but it's saying its to big to process!? Thanks for the quick responses guys

 

[oldgit]

Yes that included lifting out and back in on the same day. I thought it seemed reasonable, but the damage wasn't caused by myself. Something didn't go back together right when the changed the bellows which to me has caused these problems.

............could well be worth doing this job yourself next time
It is not the most complicated or difficult task to do.

Loads of video info online especially Youtube.
Better to do it in two seperate operations , one to strip down and find out exactly which bits need replacing (in addition to the regular service stuff bellows/oil etc )
Source all the bits you need to rebuild/ refit.
Do not rush or scrimp, any urge to hope something will "last" until "next time" usually results in disaster, not just the expence but he time lost boating.
Do not underestimate the weight of the outdrive, it really needs two to remove and definately needs two to fit.
The real faff is removing all the barncules and growth out of all the nooks and crannies.
DIY ensures the job is done with care , however if it fails, there is nobody else to blame.

 

[Portofino]

Aprils a long time ago now .So it’s had a season s use age .That works against you , by the sounds of it you have had a huge discount anyhow ?
Parts fail on these , it’s aged maybe at the April work some other stuff should have been done , its a grey area getting engineers to agree and I bet difficult drawing one into your endeavour to challenge the invoice . May be not .

At the bellows change it’s not unknown to swop other stuff like the universal joint or what ever , trim ram pipes and there seals .

I would put it down to experience, these are maintenance hungry ( aged outdrives ) .Basically look at it this way you are on a never ending journey of replace / repair , like a train .Just depends where you got on and eventually where you are getting off , and some one else ( next owners ) sits in your vacant seat …..the train continues……..

You might need there “ expertise “ again , so don’t burn that bridge quite yet .

 

[jointventureII]

Assuming this is a mercruiser, check the steering pin seal too, this is 99% of the time the source of water inlet

 

[volvopaul]

There was water dribbling in through the bellow area into the bilge. I believe that's why they came out so quick (following day). The bellow looked brand new but wet and the bearing was rusted up and really lumpy! We've emailed them back to question why we should pay for any repairs yesterday. I've tried to upload a pic but it's saying its to big to process!? Thanks for the quick responses guys

There is a tell tale drilling in the transom shield that’s there to tell you that you have a problem , the company did the correct procedure in getting the boat out the water asap, it’s obviously someone’s fault but how you fight it is up to you , normally in this case it’s better to employ a third party engineer to asses the situation, but I assume the boats back in the water now so an inspection cannot be made , the cost to me doesn’t seem bad plus your ok now for 2 further years of boating as the service is up to date .

As a matter of cause I would check that the shift cable bellows was changed at the outset as this can also cause your boat to sink .

 

[Meps1983]

Amazing amout of information from everybody cheers!
I've watched hours of videos of the job in hand but I'm a bit nervous to go it alone first time. I'm quite practical with most stuff but mechanical stuff gets me worrying particularly where water is involved!
In terms of usage portofino (stunning place btw) after purchase it didn't get used until mid June for reasons I won't get into now lol. And July /august was too bloody hot. I don't think it's been used more than a dozen times over that period. As I said the bellow they removed looked brand new still with no holes or piercings at all.
They did the repairs while we waited so the boat is back in now. After a short cruise home there was zero dripping that I could hear or see and the bilge was lower than I've ever seen it. And the grinding sounds were gone!
Appreciate everybody's advice and we've now gone back to them regarding whether we should pay at all!
Ahhh the joys of boating

 

[russ]

I had the same issue years ago on a Bravo3 drive. New bellows fitted and only lasted a few hours then the bearing began to fail.
Back then it cost me £750 for new bearing and bellows.

 

[spannerman]

My concern is having seen this dozens of times, did they check the oil inthe drive, as when water gets in the bellows the steel surface on the drive shaft where it goes into the drive often rusts, this then damages the lips on the seal allowing water into the drive. I always closely examine this area if we get a boat with water ingress into the bellows and do a pressure test.