Mercruser = **** bellows

Smeghead

Smeghead

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From what ive been reading, this is my problem, and not uncommon with Mercruiser


http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9066

Some small leak somewhere in one of the bellows letting water very slowly seep into the bilge, meaning it kicks the float switch on the bilge pump on a few times a day when left alone.
Also getting a small amount of "chocolate milk" seeping through

Anyone had experience with this problem? probly gonna cost a **** load isnt it :mad:
I mean i can live with it maybe this summer, get it fixed in the winter if its not getting any worse
 
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Smeghead said:
From what ive been reading, this is my problem

http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9066

Some small leak somewhere in one of the bellows letting water very slowly seep into the bilge, meaning it kicks the float switch on the bilge pump on a few times a day when left alone.

Anyone had experience with this problem? probly gonna cost a **** load isnt it :mad:
I mean i can live with it maybe this summer, get it fixed in the winter if its not getting any worse
Click to expand...

Leaky shift bellows will only get worse and when it finally goes, is capable of sinking the boat in minutes.

Leaking UJ belllows if left for a season will leave you with a very expensive repair bill.

Exhaust bellows, no consequence other than noise.
 
The bellows only become a problem if you do not service them. I think in general, bellows should be replaced every 3 years. Mine were done this past Winter, and it looked like the first time they had been removed. Boat is 7 years old.

I will keep up the 3 year cycle. I'm sure there will be some on the forum who will advocate 5 or 7 years, however, as has been stated above, you don't want to be caught out.
 
tinkicker0 said:
Leaky shift bellows will only get worse and when it finally goes, is capable of sinking the boat in minutes.

Leaking UJ belllows if left for a season will leave you with a very expensive repair bill.

Exhaust bellows, no consequence other than noise.
Click to expand...

I have noticed its a little louder than normal (maybe)
but that wouldnt leak water into the bilge would it?
 
yeah but from what ive read the chocolate sludge means its mixing with oil

realistically im not going to get this fixed till the Autumn, but now im going to be worried every time I go out :rolleyes:
 
Smeghead said:
yeah but from what ive read the chocolate sludge means its mixing with oil

realistically im not going to get this fixed till the Autumn, but now im going to be worried every time I go out :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Sorry did not realise what you meant with chocolate milk.
The drive needs to come off and come off NOW.

The consequences of running it all season are a new drive and maybe a new transom shield.
The UJs are running in seawater, your upper drive oil seal has failed, the gimbal bearing will likely be shot and leaving it longer may mean the drive shaft has to be cut with oxy acetylene to get the drive off as it seizes solid in the gimbal.

The longer you leave it, the more expensive it will get.

Sorry :o
 
Smeghead said:
yeah but from what ive read the chocolate sludge means its mixing with oil
Click to expand...

Yes...

Smeghead said:
realistically im not going to get this fixed till the Autumn, but now im going to be worried every time I go out :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

...you should be worried. Sorry to sound pessimistic, but you're possibly about to knacker your drive and will potentially rack up an enormous bill if you don't fix it straight away.

Could be an idea to read this before dropping her back in the water...

Outdrive oil in the bilge

(Edit: Booger - TK got there first!)
 
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Smeghead said:
:(

I just filled it with gear oil so its probably ok right now at least
DOH
This is gonna be 'spensive
Click to expand...


Seriously Smeg. Your boat may no longer be seaworthy. If the problems are as I stated, I predict a loud bang a mile or so out at sea, The UJ yokes and shaft have been known to tear the bellows, gimbal housing and grease seal apart as they flail around, You will then lift your engine cover and see the bilge filling far faster than your pumps will cope with.
A Mayday call ensues and the race is on to see if someone can reach you faster than the inrushing water does.

I hope I am overstating the problem, but your symptoms match the disease like a glove.

If you pull the drive now, you might get away with belllows, oil seal, gimbal bearing and a UJ kit. Parts cost £150, plus some special tools.

Neglect it and an alpha gen 2 style (copy) drive will cost £1500 plus and VAT.
If it takes out your transom shield by going bang violently, or by having to cut the driveshaft out by oxy acetylene; gawd knows what the cost will be and you are now messing with the transom itself. Engine will have to come out too usually.

Alternatively, the boat sinks as far as its buoyancy foam will allow, insurance company has the wreck dragged ashore, see's it's a mechanical fault and refuses to pay out.

You would then be an ex boater.

I really can't make it any plainer. :)

EDIT:

ok thanks for the help and advice, i'll get it taken care of asap

You got that in whilst I was typing, damn this useless cordless keyboard.

You are doing the right thing
 
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I'm with tinkicker and carlton on this. You're making the right call in getting it sorted before risking putting it in the water again.

Only thing I would add (as a fellow boat owner with boat, engine and bits of drive unit scattered all round my driveway, garage and shed with new parts on order), is: keep us posted with what you find, and plenty of progress reports as you sort it all out please.

Isn't boating fun :) :) :)
 
I'll do it, especially as the only insurance I have is the minimum to cover and accident with another person. If the boat goes under, it stays there with my hopes of ever having a boat again lol

Theres a Bayliner at the marina having the same thing done, i'll see what he thinks
 
Could it be the steering lever/swivel shaft seal, which is also a common fault apparently. Remedies include drilling into the gimbal ring to replace or removing engine and replacing.
 
Hi Smeg,

I think the others are right in you need to get her lifted and checked over. Some forum memebers might remember that I had a grumbling Gimbal bearing right in the middle of the season last year, I had her lifted the following day. Luckily no water was found in my belllows, gimbal was replaced, I then took the opportunity the change the anodes, antifoul her and get her back in the water in under a week!!! We used the opportunity to keep her in the water over the winter and enjoy some winter cruising, so all is not lost!!

So if you catch it earlier enough, it doesn't need to cost a fortune, you can use it to your advantage and the piece of mind it gives is worth every penny!!

Good luck,

Paul.
 
Mexican said:
Could it be the steering lever/swivel shaft seal, which is also a common fault apparently. Remedies include drilling into the gimbal ring to replace or removing engine and replacing.
Click to expand...

I had this problem when we first bought the boat, usually you can see water sitting on the flat plate that is under the steering arm as it passes through the transom..... If your in salt water (I think you do your boating inland?) the you can see traces of salt on the same plate. If it is the steering pin leaking, it does need sorting but you won't get oil from the seal, unless it's mixing with oil already in the bilge.
 
have a look at this picture
I THINK the brown sludge is seeping from where the large pipe on the left that to me looks about 1.25", (that in this picture ends around where the most left engine mount is) is where its seeping in through where it goes through the transom to the outdrive.
Does that tell you anything more?

3.0tks.jpg
 
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