I had the old NON LEAKING bellows replaced on my boat when I had the engines reinstalled a couple years ago. Preventative maintenance bit me in the a$$. One leaked and so I hired a marine mechanic to replace it along with the now trashed bearing. The same one leaked again but I have been ghosted by that guy so I'm going to try it myself. I do not have any of the special tools however I have seen several posts that said using liquid soap they simply pushed that outer ring in place with their hands or using a 2x6 to pound it in so this is my hope \ plan at this point. I do have a question about the 2nd ring and where does it go? I have attached a pic of the new bellows (Thank you Marc @ BAM) and see 2 rings on it. I don't have a great picture but it looks like mine are just installed to where the rubber flange just clears the outside of the drive? After you get the front glued and clamped you pull the other end through to the 2nd ring? So the bellows sticks out past the drive more than mine are now? The guy had a hellofatime getting the last one installed even with the proper tools. He didn't use liquid soap or anything for that matter. He ended up removing some of the rubber from the bellows with a razor until he was able to get the ring installed. Hindsight, I am sure this is why it's leaking. Did he have it positioned incorrectly and that's why it wouldn't go together? Removing this drive was a real challenge too. The drive got stuck on that ring. Corrosion I think because it was leaking. I checked the drive for alignment and it seems perfect. Anyway, after I finally got the drive removed I noticed that the ring was a little crooked and I know it wasn't installed that way. Do you guys ever put anti-seize on that ring?
Thanks for your help.





This last pic is the port side which doesn't leak and to me looks the same as the stbd.

I found a 4"ish diameter x 1" thick piece of plastic that was threaded in the middle with 3/4" npt i threaded a pipe into that i use to install that outer ring. I found it all at my local hardware store. Using a 2x6 sounds like a nightmare to me.

Trimming on a bellow is pure hack.
So be glad he ghosted you.
He probably didn't have it in the groove all the way.

Splurge and get the alignment tool, bearing, seal, and the bellow sleeve driver.
Engine Alignment Tool, Gimbal Bearing Install Tool, Seal Bellow Tool Set, Hinge Pin, Bellow Retainer Ring Installer for Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen 2, Blackhawk U-Joints Bellows SX, OMC Cobra

This seller is great. He has many different auctions with great prices and high quality.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/28328826996...UAAOSwA29Y4pBt

You said you checked engine alignment. Did your alignment tool not come with and adaptor to seat the bellows ring?

I borrowed the alignment tool from a friend.

It has been a while since I have done one, does not Bellows Adhesive go in the groove highlighted by the yellow in post #3? I know a lot of people make the mistake of seating the bellows between the groove in yellow highlight.

Ayuh,...... Way back when Merc 1st came out with the metal locking ring, I was taught to grab a can of Quicksilver Power Tune,....
Spray the inside of the bellows, slip the ring into place by hand, hold it a minute,.....
The power tune evaporates, 'n the bellows is locked into place,.....
Power tune also works Great for installing any tight fitting rubber parts,.....
Once fought a rubber exhaust coupler that appeared to be too small to fit over the down-pipe on a boat, even checked part #s, 'n bought another one, thinking is was just plain the wrong one,... still would Not go on,.....
Shot it with power tune, 'n Boom,.... On, in-place it seconds,... slapped the clamps on, 'n never looked back,....
Tight fitting rubber bushings, same deal, push 'em in, by hand,.....

carb cleaner works great for this also

[QUOTE=Bondo;4925832]Ayuh,...... Way back when Merc 1st came out with the metal locking ring, I was taught to grab a can of Quicksilver Power Tune,....
Spray the inside of the bellows, slip the ring into place by hand, hold it a minute,.....
The power tune evaporates, 'n the bellows is locked into place,.....

BONDO, Youdaman!!! I have been putting this project off till last because it was an unbelievable pain in the a$$ to get that ring inserted as mentioned before. I bought a can of the Quicksilver Power Tune and was able to push the ring into place BY HAND as advertised. I had way more trouble getting the old bellows out and the new one into position.
Turns out the reason the other bellows leaked is because he didn't tighten the hose clamp. I put the socket on the clamp and was able to turn it easily by hand.
As always, thanks to everyone for the help and guidance.