The. Hose for the exhaust bellows is attached to the drive but not the transom of the boat. We just noticed this. Apparently we have been driving it like this but haven't had any problems. The boat is kept on a lift. Does it hurt any thing to drive it like this?? We had trouble re attaching the bellows. Thnx.
1997 alpha drive question
- Thread starter MarkMuck
- Start date
The drive you are looking could have an "exhaust tube" instead of an "exhaust bellows" and either is an acceptable part. Guys here often suggest replacing the bellows with the tube. Our '96 Alpha One (full name Alpha One Gen Two) has the Bellows but if it failed I'd probably install a Tube.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 775
- Messages
- 1,222
J-D is on it, to answer your question, you can run with the exhaust bellows torn or missing. If these are the original bellows and the exhaust is torn the it is probably time to replace them all. I would at least give a good inspection - just takes a few min to pull the drive - so you know what you have. You don't what the u-joint or shift cable bellows leaking.
I don't know if the Tube was ever OEM, so having one (used boat?) might indicate the bellows have been changed. As Bill said, Exhaust Bellows isn't critical. Drive Bellows leaks damage the U-Joints, Input Shaft Yoke and Seal, and Gimbal Bearing. They don't let all that much water into the Boat. According to BoatUS, Shift Bellows are a major cause of I/O boats sinking at the dock. Water enters the boat in a steady pencil-sized stream. It also lets water into the Lower Shift Cable. This causes balky shifting AND the Shift Interrupt Switch on Alpha One's to operate when it isn't designed to. When that happens the engine quits.
Changing Bellows? ALSO change the Trim Indicator/Trim Limit Sender/Switch Kit! Another $70 or so, but little to no additional labor.
Changing Bellows? ALSO change the Trim Indicator/Trim Limit Sender/Switch Kit! Another $70 or so, but little to no additional labor.