No Brainer, mmmmmmmmm lets see, you've got all the real hard work done.
Their is evidence that that U-Joint may be questionable, Preventive
maintenence is always a smart strategy especially with watercraft. Taking
the wife or loved ones out on it are ya? what do you think you should do?
BTW, DO NOT install an automotive U-Joint.

"Joe Blizzard" wrote in message
...
I've begun the bellows replacement on my Merc 165 / R-drive. This unit has
low hours, but it's 27 years old and doesn't appear to have had much
maintenance before I got it two years ago. I'm pretty sure this is the
first
time the drive has been off since it was put on in 1977. Anyway, when I
got
the drive off, I found an ounce or two of watery grease (or maybe it was
greasy water) in the bottom of the u-joint bellows and the u-joint yokes
have some surface rust on them. Should I be concerned about the condition
of
the joints? The u-joints move freely, the seals are intact, and I didn't
have any symptoms like noise or vibration.

"megabite" wrote
Preventive maintenence is always a
smart strategy especially with watercraft.

You're probably right that a prudent man would replace anything that's
remotely questionable, but there's a point of diminishing returns to
consider. Everything in my propulsion system is questionable to a certain
degree, if you know what I mean. I don't want to bother with the expense and
hassle of replacing a part that's likely to last as long as the rest of the
unit.

Taking the wife or loved ones out on it are ya?

Yes, but on the river where I operate I can't get more than about 100 yards
from shore and I seldom get more than a few miles from home. A mechanical
breakdown for me would be a nuisance, but very unlikely to become life
threatening.