Hello all.... I have a 2000 Checkmate with a 7.4 MPI coupled to a Bravo one. I recently blew my drive and bought a new one and replaced it myself... I also replaced all of the bellows, the gimbal bearing and the shift cable. When I put her back in the water she ran great!!! I kept a close watch and noticed a little too much water in the bildge so I pulled the drive again and found water in the drive shaft bellows. I did have a hell of a time with the ring that retains the end of the bellows into the bell housing but it seems to be in there tight. I ran a hose to check the seal at the gimbal housing and all seems to be good. Does the drive just seat into the bell housing and should be sealed up or am I missing a gasket here. The book does not show one and there was none on the old one. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

Brian

Brian did you use the proper tool to install the ring? The drive seals against the bellows and if the ring isn't installed as intended it will leak.
Jim

I think that is my problem... I do all my own work and until now its all been inside the boat. This was the first time that I pulled the drive... I learned a lot but also busted a nut getting it all back together. I had a hell of a time with that ring and also bent it up a bit installing it. I will bet that the drive did not seal to it properly and caused the leak. I had the boat in the water for maybe 10 hours max... do you think I need to replace the Gimbal again? I am going to change that ring and try it one more time. Thanks for the reply Jim.

B

Just as important as the ring is how the bellows is seated in the bell housing. A properly installed bellows will seat against the "nose" of the driveshaft housing. I installed my first one too deep in the bellhousing and ended up with water intrusion. As far as the gimbal ring, turn it by hand and feel for any roughness. If it feels ok, grease it and turn the bearing at the same time and look at the grease that is coming out of the bearing. If that grease has a normal color, then you are done. If it is brown and rusty looking but turns smooth, pump grease until fresh grease is coming out of the bearing. If it is rough at all, new bearing.

Rene

Thanks Rene....

It looks to me like there is only one place for the end of that bellows to sit. There is a groove in the end of the bellows and also a lip on the bell housing. Doesn't the bellows sit right in that groove? Also, should I be using bellows adhesive there? The book did not say to put it there so I did not. I am pretty sure once I get a new sleeve and install properly that I should be good. Hopefully I am back on the water tomorrow as it is going to be really nice here... not much time left this year. Thanks again for the help guys...

B

Brian, merc calls that ring a sleave # 86814. they have a tool, cup driver made of delan or nylon to install the sleave # 91-43577.
Like Rene said it is possible to locate too deep. The flange rests on the second groove from the end of the bellows. Lubricate with water and drive in sleave.
Jim

Thanks Jim... Yes I now know about that tool and have it to use to install the new sleeve. Should I be using any adhesive there or just that sleeve is enough to make it water tight... and am I correct in the placement of the bellows on that lip on the bell housing? The groove on the outter end of the bellows seems to fit right in there.

Thanks again man...

B

Brian , flange to second groove from aft end. the first groove does not ride on anything it becomes a squish zone of sorts. Does not call for adhesive.
Jim

Jim... just to be clear... I was reffering to the groove that is on the outside of the bellows... doesnt that groove sit on the lip that is on the inner edge of the bell housing? If not I had installed comletely wrong.

Brian, It is hard to see when it half installed, if you bend over the aft edge do you see 2 grooves? the second groove is slightly deeper than the first.The bellows had a fwd top mark on it. the #86840a05. Don't know how it could be all wrong. It may be difficult to pull it into position typically I push it all the way in before I install the pivot pins. I would think you are close. I hope so.
Jim