If you turn the drive fully to one side with the drive lowered to the normal
running position you will see the drive shaft bellows on the top. Under
that is the exhaust bellows or tube depending on which you have. On one
side is a much smaller bellows that contains the shift shaft. You can
examine the drive shaft bellows to some extent from the side by tirning the
drive full one way and then the other. The exhaust tube or belloows can not
leak into the boat, but the shift cable one can. It is easier to check the
drive shaft bellows by pulling the drive from the gymbal. There is a
specific procedure for removing the drive. You should get a service manual
for mercs as there are a lot of detailed procedures that you need to follow
if you work on it. There are several different brands and all of them are
ok. Check your local boat store or the internet. Replacing the bellows is
a chore.

"gatt" wrote in message
...

I have a small amount of water (gallon every five minutes when not on
step,
no leak when stepped) coming in somewhere in the middle of my outdrive. I
can't see exactly where...it doesn't appear to be around the outer gasket.

Manual says to check the U-joint bellows but doesn't say where that is.
Anybody have any ideas?


-c