Cost to replace bellows on 2007 260 Dancer

[Guanxix]

My mechanic says the bellows on my 2007 260 Dancer need to be replaced. I have 180 hours (80 hours in fresh water/100 hours in salt). I have never been through this before. Is this the average life of the bellows? What are the usual costs to replace? Appreciate the advice of experts. Thanks. Looking forward to spring boating.

 

[Big Island Lifer]

My drive and shift bellows were $500 including haul out.




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[magstang1]

I hope you tipped that guy, because $500 is a phenomenal deal.

$8-1200 per drive is standard around me.

Usually it's bellows, shift cable, trim limit and sender, water pump impeller, fluid change and gimbal bearing all as a package. Once you're in there it's better to just do it all at one time if its even remotely questionable. If you don't need it, you don't need it. But I would go in with the anticipation of doing everything and counting myself lucky for the things that I don't end up replacing.

 

[rcmafgny]

My mechanic says the bellows on my 2007 260 Dancer need to be replaced. I have 180 hours (80 hours in fresh water/100 hours in salt). I have never been through this before. Is this the average life of the bellows? What are the usual costs to replace? Appreciate the advice of experts. Thanks. Looking forward to spring boating.

Can't comment on cost, but surprised given age and hours on boat. Any insight as to why needed from the mechanic?

 

[Henry Boyd]

Bellows life is a function of time as well as hours. Also keeping the drive up in the trailer position when not being used can kink them as well. 3-5 years is a good range.

B-III bellows run about $ 200 - $ 300 for parts (low end DIY, high end boatyard markup) and 3-4 hours labor. However, the drive has to come off and this becomes a good time to inspect and/or replace other stuff like the water pick up hose and check u-joint, and gimbal bearing etc. The water pump for a BIII is on the engine, so no need to service with a bellows job, unlike the Alpha drive that has the pump built into the drive. Trim sensors can also be replaced with the drive in place. Influencing things is also whether it is a trailer, or dry stack boat, or whether it is a wet slip for the season. With a wet slip boat there is a tendency to aggressively PM while the drive is off to avoid mid-season haul out expense, so a bellows job can get a lot of add-ons.

Henry

 

[moparlvr4406]

as to the above add ons
just do everything possible while in there
added parts but save haul out and "do it again" labor later

 

[Guanxix]

Can't comment on cost, but surprised given age and hours on boat. Any insight as to why needed from the mechanic?

I have my suspisions about mechanics motives. I leave the drive in the down position in the slip, dry stack in winter and boat is in water from May - October. The boat is 5 years old, so based on feedback, this seems to be about the lifespan of bellows, correct?

 

[jason78]

I have my suspisions about mechanics motives. I leave the drive in the down position in the slip, dry stack in winter and boat is in water from May - October. The boat is 5 years old, so based on feedback, this seems to be about the lifespan of bellows, correct?

5 Years is always what I have been told. The risk is if one of the Bellows goes out you can start taking on water. I believe the one of most concern for water leakage is the shift cable bellow, as I recall. Is is just preventative maintenance, like RAW water impellers.

 

[Dave S]

I had mine changed at 5 years just as a precaution. They still looked OK but you just never know if they might crack or spring a leak leading to more costly repairs.

The cost to replace all three bellows (and change the outdrive fluid) was about $900. Not cheap for sure but part of the cost of boating.

 

[susanandlance]

The Bravo transom service kit (which include all new bellows, gaskets and new gimbal bearing and all new hose clamps) run 180 for a bravo drive, 130 for alphas....

 

[KP49]

I replaced my bellows when I did my leaking swivel shaft seal and it was around 5 years old. It didnt 'look' bad and I tried to tear it off the boat to see if it would rip, it probably would have lasted a couple more years. Like yours mine was in the salt for a couple years and fresh the rest.

The shift cable bellows clamp rusted away and the shift cable bellows was starting to crack in the seams, that would have failed first I think.

The water inlet hose looked fine inside and out, but the hole in the transom plate was corroding from the salt and the hose was almost closed up.

Gimbal bearing was rough and making some noise, engine alignment was pretty far off as well. Trim sender was flaky, just put a rebuid kit in, wires were fine.

Lower shift cable ddnt look to good and since I had it off I replaced that as well.

Gear lube monitor hose was also cracked/seeping.

All on a 2007 with 200 hours on it, cant give you a labor cost since I did it all myself (parts were only a few hundred), but just letting you know that there is more than just the bellows that needs replacing in 5 years.

 

[susanandlance]

I replaced my bellows when I did my leaking swivel shaft seal and it was around 5 years old. It didnt 'look' bad and I tried to tear it off the boat to see if it would rip, it probably would have lasted a couple more years. Like yours mine was in the salt for a couple years and fresh the rest.

The shift cable bellows clamp rusted away and the shift cable bellows was starting to crack in the seams, that would have failed first I think.

The water inlet hose looked fine inside and out, but the hole in the transom plate was corroding from the salt and the hose was almost closed up.

Gimbal bearing was rough and making some noise, engine alignment was pretty far off as well. Trim sender was flaky, just put a rebuid kit in, wires were fine.

Lower shift cable ddnt look to good and since I had it off I replaced that as well.

Gear lube monitor hose was also cracked/seeping.

All on a 2007 with 200 hours on it, cant give you a labor cost since I did it all myself (parts were only a few hundred), but just letting you know that there is more than just the bellows that needs replacing in 5 years.

When I bought my 280, I did all the above (my self because I have the tools) and now shes good to go for several yrs., I insist on perfection.....period!!! :grin:

 

[NautiBuoy]

I just had the bellows replaced on both of my sterndrives and it cost $1100 each.