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.
Guanxix
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.
$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.
Can't comment on cost, but surprised given age and hours on boat. Any insight as to why needed from the mechanic?
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
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
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
just do everything possible while in there
added parts but save haul out and "do it again" labor later
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.
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.
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.
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.
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