Shift Cable Bellows Kit 74639A2 74639 31659 18-2753-2 89080 for Mercruiser Alpha One R MR Bravo 1 2 3 Stern Drive — Australia Local Warehouse
Shift Cable Bellows Kit 74639A2 74639 31659 18-2753-2 89080 for Mercruiser Alpha One R MR Bravo 1 2 3 Stern Drive — Australia Local Warehouse
Product Overview
Shift cable bellows kit, a transom assembly part for MerCruiser Alpha One Gen.II, R, MR, Alpha One and Bravo 1, 2 and 3 stern drives. It replaces MerCruiser 74639A2, 74639, 74639B and 31659 and crosses to Sierra 18-2753-2 and GLM 89080, and each kit is 1 x bellows with 1 x stainless clamp. Shipped from our Australia local warehouse.
The shift cable bellows is the small convoluted boot on the gimbal housing that the shift cable slides through. It is a service item, not a lifetime part, and it is the one that splits first because it flexes every time the drive is turned. These are MerCruiser parts, the sterndrive line built by Mercury Marine.
A split shift bellows lets water into the bell housing, which takes out the gimbal bearing, the shift cable and eventually the coupler. If yours is cracked, perished or weeping, replace it with the U joint and exhaust bellows while the drive is already off.
Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | New / New with tags |
| Type | Stern drive shift cable bellows kit |
| Application | MerCruiser Alpha, R, MR, Alpha One, Bravo stern drives |
| Kit Contents | 1 x bellows, 1 x stainless clamp |
| Position | Gimbal housing, shift cable opening |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
OEM Cross Reference
| Brand | Part Numbers |
|---|---|
| MerCruiser | 74639A2, 74639, 74639Q02 |
| MerCruiser | 74639B, 74639B1, 74639B2 |
| MerCruiser | 31659 |
| Sierra | 18-2753-2, 18-2753 |
| GLM | 89080 |
Compatible Engines
The Alpha One Gen.II takes this boot from 1990, the R and MR and early Alpha One from 1983 to 1991, the Bravo range from 1988 to 1998, the Bravo XR to 2009 and the Bravo X in 1998 and 2013. Read the transom plate rather than the engine year, because the drive is often newer than the motor behind it.
| Drive Model | Years |
|---|---|
| Alpha One Gen.II | 1990 to 1998 and up |
| R, MR, Alpha One | 1983 to 1991 |
| Bravo One, Two, Three | 1988 to 1998 |
| Bravo XR One, Three | 1998 to 2009 |
| Bravo X One, Two, Three | 1998, 2013 |
| Integrated Transom | 1998 to 2009 |
What's Included
| Component | Reference | Qty |
|---|---|---|
| Shift cable bellows | 74639A2 profile, convoluted boot | 1 |
| Stainless steel clamp | For the bellows ends | 1 |
Three Bellows on the Transom
| Bellows | What Runs Through It | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Shift cable bellows, this kit | The shift cable | 74639A2 |
| U joint bellows | The drive shaft | A larger boot, separate part |
| Exhaust bellows | Exhaust gases | Often replaced with the U joint bellows |
| Older single boot drives | Everything in one | Different transom assembly entirely |
| Bravo drives | Same three boots | Same shift bellows as the Alpha |
| Integrated transom | Same layout, later casting | Same shift bellows |
Water in the Bell Housing
| What You Find | Where It Came From | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Water in the bellows | Split shift or U joint bellows | Renew both while the drive is off |
| Rust on the gimbal bearing | Long standing water ingress | Renew the bearing with the bellows |
| Shift cable stiff or seized | Water down the cable sheath | Renew the cable and the bellows |
| Milky gear lube | Water past the input shaft seal | Pressure test the drive after refitting |
| Water only after a hard turn | Bellows flexing open at full lock | Renew it, do not glue it |
| Clean housing, no water | No leak yet | Check the boot for cracks each season |
Salt Water in Australia
| How the Boat Is Used | Effect on the Bellows | What To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Salt water, trailer boat | Rubber perishes in UV and salt | Check the boot each season |
| Long runs with the drive trimmed | Boot flexes continuously | Renew at the first crack |
| Boat left in the water | Marine growth around the transom | Clean and inspect the boot at each haul out |
| Tropical north, high UV | Rubber hardens faster | Inspect every six months |
| Drive removed for service | The cheap moment to renew it | Fit a new boot while it is apart |
| Boat stored dry over winter | Rubber dries and cracks | Check before the season starts |
Fitting Notes
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Check the number on the old bellows, 74639A2 is the shift cable bellows, not the exhaust or U joint boot |
| 2 | Check the drive model on the transom plate, the years above are a guide only |
| 3 | Check the shift cable while the boot is off, a stiff cable will split the new bellows |
| 4 | Check the gimbal bearing and U joints for rust, water in the housing means they are already gone |
| 5 | Clean the bell housing groove and fit the bellows square, no twists |
| 6 | Fit the stainless clamp from the kit, and the other end clamp to the transom plate |
| 7 | Pressure test the drive before refilling with gear lube |
| 8 | Cycle the steering lock to lock and check the boot does not fold on itself |
Condition & Warranty
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Condition | New / New with tags |
| Warranty | Standard |
| Packaging | Sealed retail packaging |
Shipping from Australia
| Destination | Warehouse | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Australia local warehouse | Domestic delivery, no import duty |
| New Zealand | Australia local warehouse | Short transit, customs may apply |
| Pacific islands | Australia local warehouse | Tracked shipping available |
Before You Buy
- Check the number on the old bellows, 74639A2 is the shift cable bellows, not the exhaust or U joint boot
- Check the drive model against the list, the years are a guide only
- Check the shift cable itself, a stiff cable splits a new bellows
- Check the gimbal bearing and U joints for rust while the drive is off
- This is the bellows and one stainless clamp, the U joint and exhaust bellows are separate
- Pressure test the drive before refilling it
- 30-Day Easy Returns
- Ships from our Australia local warehouse
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