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Review on Quicksilver 74639Q02 Shift Cable Bellows by Nick Andep

Revainrating 5 out of 5

You NEED an OEM for this part, even if it costs a little more.

That tough little rubber boot and stainless steel hose clamp feels overpriced. until you see what it takes to install them properly and how abysmal some of the aftermarket versions are. I bought an aftermarket kit a few years ago. The boot itself was paper thin and the stainless steel yoke wasn't entirely stainless - the strap was stainless steel, but the worm gear wasn't. (All stainless steel hose clamps are marked "All Stainless Steel". Clamps with some stainless steel parts are simply marked "Stainless Steel". Confirm with a magnet if unsure. 316 stainless steel is not magnetic.) Large Strain when the ride goes up and down and lives below the waterline regardless of the drive's position, I just wouldn't use a cheap aftermarket kit. Sorry I can't name a cheap aftermarket one because I bought it from e Bay as part of the "Complete Transom Reseal Kit". The seller repackaged all parts in an unmarked box, so I don't know who actually did it. In the end I threw away all the clamps and most of the rubber parts from that kit and bought genuine parts. Then there was the problem of installation. No quick fix! The boat is lifted out of the water, the lead leg is snapped off, the shift cable must come fully out through the transom and housing bell (requires a special sleeve), then a new cable and boot are threaded and installed behind the transom, (by pushing the cord!) Then you screw the fitting into the fuselage bells before installing the bellows so it doesn't coil up like a rubber band. Then it is a matter of sealing the bellows, which is now very inaccessible, and adjusting the shift cable so that the ignition interruption works correctly. This is a job you won't want to do very often, so don't skimp on the price of this quality kit.

Pros
  • Flexible Bellows Bellows for MerCruiser actuators with shifter cables
Cons
  • Some bugs