Mercruiser Alpha drive - is water coming out near bellows normal?

Discussion in 'Sterndrives' started by Ryan Shultz, Sep 9, 2023.

  1. Ryan Shultz
    Joined: Sep 2023
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    Location: Spencer Ohio

    Ryan Shultz New Member

    I found what I think may be a good deal on a 1988 Chris’s craft 230 amerosport with. 350 5.7 mercrusier alpha 1. I haven’t owned a boat in a while. My question to the experts is the water while on muffs is coming out of the area behind the drive where the bellows are is this normal? If not normal how big of a problem is it? I have a video is only 5 seconds but too large to upload. Thanks in advanced.
     
  2. Ike
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Ike Senior Member

    No not normal. Should be coming out of the center of the prop.
     
  3. Ryan Shultz
    Joined: Sep 2023
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    Location: Spencer Ohio

    Ryan Shultz New Member

    That’s what I thought. Could just be a cracked exhaust bellow? or something serious could be wrong also?
     
  4. fallguy
    Joined: Dec 2016
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    fallguy Senior Member

    I dunno. I've seen water exiting there before..I'd call it normal.

     
  5. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    Are you referring to the two holes on the sides of the bottom?
     
  6. Ike
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    Ike Senior Member

    That was my thought, but then I don't have an Alpha. I have an earlier model. But even in that video it doesn't look right.
     
  7. Ike
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Ike Senior Member

    I looked at a few videos on Youtube of the Alpha 1 drive. Most of them do show a water discharge port at the bottom front (next to the transom) with water streaming out. see .
    None of them show water coming out of the bellows like yours except one video and they show a big hole in the bellows for the shift cable.
     

  8. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    gonzo Senior Member

    The pre-Alpha drives would only connect the exhaust rubber pipe when the drive is down. It is not a bellows connected at both ends like the newer models. The rubber gets old and cracks or deforms and may not fit properly. There is no problem except for it being noisier.
     
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