time for bellows

[bigcrunch]

Hello fellow Sea Ray owners,

Time to replace the bellows on my Alpha 1 gen 1's Sierra or SEI\Sterndrive.cc kits? I'd like them to last longer than the other imports I have.
Also do the water pumps what brand again?

many thanks and have a nice Fall weather day,,

 

[Dieseljeff]

IMHO, I would look for Mercury or QuickSilver replacements.
Probably easier to find QuickSilver online.

Jeff

 

[BlewByYou88]

I recently got into it with my local MM about Merc Transom Seal kits vs. Sierra Seal Kits ( Kit contained U joint bellows, exhaust bellows, water hose, Oil hose, Gimbal bearing and shifter bellows.) MM claims that mercs stuff is so superior, but what I found was everything was from the same manufacture, but the bellows in the sierra kit. Only one company makes he gimbal bearing and that's SKF. IMO, I wouldn't waste my money on the merc stuff. As for impeller, Quicksilver/MERC = Same thing different wrapper.

 

[BlewByYou88]

BTW: Best way to make bellows last, keep drive in the down position so they aren't strained and tear over time.

 

[MancaveII]

If a qualified merc shop uses merc products and there's an issue, Mercury can help in many cases to resolve...Sierra, not so much

 

[Woody]

BTW: Best way to make bellows last, keep drive in the down position so they aren't strained and tear over time.

The keep it down advice is good as long as it's not misunderstood....definitely do it for long term storage and such but otherwise really not to important. Something I do believe can help with bellows longevity is treating them with a product like 303 aerospace protectant when they're on the hard for long storage periods.

 

[Henry Boyd]

The keep it down advice is good as long as it's not misunderstood....definitely do it for long term storage and such but otherwise really not to important. Something I do believe can help with bellows longevity is treating them with a product like 303 aerospace protectant when they're on the hard for long storage periods.

A couple of thoughts; we have leave our boat with the drive up when it is on its mooring. Low tide can be too low depending on moon phase to keep the drive down and not drag. I haven't noticed any accelerated deterioration. But I do keep an eye on them. I also have been more pro active in replacing them when servicing. Given a choice the drive would stay down, but that is not possible. The point being if you have to raise the drive, or store it with the drive up its not the end of the world.

303 sounds like a great tip. I've used it for years on our zodiacs.

Henry


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[alwhite00]

Speaking of bellows, Guy I work with has a 88 Seville cuddy with a 4.3/alpha and uses it about 5 times a year at most. I have been asking him for years if he has changed the bellows and he said they are fine, boat is stored inside, yada,yada,yada - Well he took it out this summer and the boat was taking on water and wouldn't you know it, After only 26 years the bellows need to be replaced. he got a quote for a grand or something so now he is selling it. Doh!!!

 

[scoflaw]

my original bellows look like new, maybe I'll change them at the 25 year mark

 

[bigcrunch]

I took a look at a quicksilver kit half of the bags had made in china on it. May not be a significant issue since everything has that on it now a days including the keyboard I am using to type this msg with. Since my boat is now at my shop I store it with drives down.

 

[dvx216]

After dealing with Sierra on a new defective fuel pump I purchased from them the difference in cost between them and OEM is not worth it. By the way if you are planning on doing the job yourself invest in a exhaust tube expander or make one this makes the job ten time easier. You will find all the tools you need at merCstuff.com