TRS drive water leak through bellows
 

I have a TRS drive and discovered I have water leaking through the bellows. When I raise my outdrives to the full trailer position a small trickle of water comes through the inner transom assembly. When I lower my outdrives all the way down the water stops. It looks like this has been happening for a while and I just discovered it. The boat sits on a boat lift most of the time. This only seems to happen when I raise the outdrives all the way for example going to the beach for the afternoon. If I run the boat with the outdrives in the down position no water leaks. My questions Is:
Can I wait till the end of summer to fix this or is this something that must be fixed immediately.

Thanks

On both drives it does this or just one?

Sounds like a you have a minor tear, bellows aren't that hard to change. A lot easier than trying to get all the water out of the bilge when the minor leak becomes a major leak....

Get it fixed! Have you checked your gear lube for water? Once water gets past the bellows it can get into your drive. Also, your gimbal bearing can be damaged from the water.

X2 I had the same thing on a Donzi hornet 3, 330 with BW and TRS, the trickle, then a torrent when the drive was up, takes about an hour to change it, and most of that is set up time for the bellows adhesive, the TRS being so big, it's easy to get you hands in and clean stuff up...when i did mine i noticed surface rust on the U-joints, the shafts were greased well enough that they were protetcted, it's a good time to grease your u joints and squish out any water that got into them...and if you have the trickle, chances are your u-joints have been in the water...

Your gimbal bearing is probably living on borrowed time if you have been getting water leaking into the bellows.

I would take care of it now as well. One day of down time is worth it. Check all the bearings while you are in there. You don't want all those parts rusting up. Plus that small leak can turn into a larger one.

I have a similar problem on my 311 with TRS and 72C's. My question is is there an actual gimbal bearing or is it an output bearing on the transmission. I'm trying to look up parts and I'm not sure if part # 30-36418 is the right bearing. In the fall when I pulled the drives I reached in and spun the first bearing I felt and its on its noisy but I want to be sure I buy the right one. I just assumed it was a gimbal bearing because its in about the same spot as a Bravo.
Thanks

The bearing you are referring to is in the tailstock assembly that is bolted on the end of the transmission. I believe the part is 30-32537T. As the others said, if the bellows are leaking, fix it fast as that bearing is probably already toast.

Thanks yea I knew it was bad in the fall and put it on my spring list. Can I pull this bearing with a slide hammer like I would for a Bravo gimbal or is **** going to fall out when I pull it. I think I read there is a snap ring too but I'm not home to take a better look.
Thanks

I have a leak in my bellow also. I also have a tranny slipping. When I pulled the engine and transmission the tranny was FULL of water. I think mine was leaking past the bearing and the seals some how and filling up my transmission. I pressure tested my tranny cooler and had no leaks. Getting ready to tear down the tranny and will be in need of parts.

I've never replaced it in the boat, but I'm fairly certain you can. There is a snap ring, but once removed the bearing isn't hard to pull out.

there is two bearings one gimble and one tailstock outer yo[u can do in the boat but if the inner bearing is bad I believe the motor has to come out well thats how I had to do it..maybe im wrong.

Is the bellow replacement covered in the TRS manual? Want to make sure we do it correctly. Definately would like some instructions instead of just guessing on what needs to be done.

There is no gimble bearing in a TRS drive.
Yes bellows replacement is covered in the TRS service manual #5. Do you have this manual?

thanks, yes i found the pdf.

I ran into a similar problem with mine this weekend. Hauled out and noticed a small oil leak in the driveway...Found a hole in my bellows:eek: The rubber felt very spongie and I was convinced I puked a drive...I was relieved when 3qts of clean green fluid drained out. Pulled the drive and the bellows was full of water/tranny fluid. Drained my tranny and it had some water in it but only pulled out 2 qts (merctrans). I suspect I have been leaking ATF out the real seal and that compromised the bellows...and the water in the tranny got sucked in on the last boat ride....I might have caught it in time to save the tranny...It wasen't slipping yet. I still need to pressure test the cooler to be sure. Debateing pulling the engine to change rear seal.

If your sure there was tranny fluid in the bellows than you really should change the rear seal. That seal is NLA from Merc but you can get them elsewhere cheap. I think their about 8 bucks. I have a couple of them. If you need the seal number let me know.