Leaking Bellows

[GRR]

I've just flushed the engine through with antifreeze and I noticed that it was coming out from the lower bellows ( and the exhaust of course )

obviously the bellows is split. I am planning a full engine and leg service ( 290DP ) during the winter. is there likely to be any damage ?

 

[DAKA]

Long time since I did these but can you clarify please.

The thin bellows ( exhaust ) do and should have a hole in them.
You should have seen antifreeze coming out of the exhaust bellows.
If they have spilt it doesn't matter.

If you saw antifreeze coming out of the larger UJ bellows then that is a puzzle ?

How would the antifreeze get into the uj area , it cant can it ?

 

[spannerman]

If you think about it these bellows are full of seawater 99.9% of their life, its only when the engine is running above idle speed that there is exhaust gas in them, if it leaks out its not a crisis, there may be a different exhaust noise and in some types of boat maybe a drop in effect at the prop if the gas gets sucked through while under way.
There will be no damage if they are split.
One thing are you sure they are split and its not the exhaust coming out the of the relief by-pass ports each side at the bottom of the shield.
I have only changed two exhaust bellows on VP in the last 12 yrs.

 

[gjgm]

one USA boat I had didnt even have the bellows. I only got it fitted bcz it was so damn noisy without it!

 

[oldgit]

In my exhaust bellows there is very small hole moulded into bottom of the the
Ex. bellows.This allows water to drain out when the leg is in the "UP" position.Other wise you would have a little lake of water inside your exhaust system with no where to go until you drop the leg again.!

 

[jparham]

The jubilee clips on both my exhaust bellows (2 x KAD32's) coroded through in 12 months.........One of them the bellows had come off the leg..... Hadn't noticed during the year. Two things I noticed:
1) Barnacles and other crusties had started growing in the pipe where it goes through the transom. Easy to clean off
2) Paint had started to bubble due to ali corrosion....not sure whether correctly fitted bellows would have stopped the latter....
So I'm coming to the conclusion that the exhaust bellows doesn't do a whole lot, but those jubilee clips need replacing every year (at least at the drive end - transom end seemed fine.)

 

[oldgit]

Any good quality stainless clip securing that bellows should almost impossible to get off without releasing it first.One or two of my clips have been pressed into service for 3/4 years without any corrosion or other problem(not recommended).
The only way for that bellows to possibly come off is because the clip was not made out of decent materials.

Ps.You will have noted that no reference has been made to a brand of high quality securing clips made in vastly superior stainless steel by a company whos name starts with a "J" /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif