Converted my motor from short shaft to long shaft and tested her out yesterday.
Was previously considering a jack plate but I bought a short shaft parts motor. The
I'm more than happy to help anyone looking to do that work (to this motor, I'm not familiar w/ others). I thought it was pretty easy to do and I'm no mechanic (although I am a gunsmith so maybe it isn't for everybody).
Basically, I dropped the lower, took out the leg extension, swapped shafts, removed the water tube extension, and cut the shift linkage 5" (also had to regrind the linkage notch). The shaft w/ the gears on it has to be lifted out of the gear case far enough to create clearance for removing the linkage. If it wasn't for that the job wouldn't be much harder than changing the impeller.
The shift linkage from the short shaft parts motor was as long as the one on my long shaft motor. I think the parts motor is a year or two newer, and they added an access panel on the leg for disconnecting the linkage (the '57 disconnects where the lower unit meets the leg).
Reconnecting the linkage (on the '57) is the hardest part of the whole deal - I used a couple of bolts that are longer than the originals to hold the lower unit about an inch away from the leg so that I could get everything lined up. Then, with the lower half of the linkage held all the way up w/ needle nose I moved the shift lever down until the upper linkage aligned with the detent on the lower linkage. There is a bolt that goes through the upper linkage and rides in the detent on the lower linkage. I had to grind a slot in the bolt head so that I could use a screwdriver because I couldn't get a nut driver back out of the gap between the leg and lower unit if everything was in the right position. Hope that made sense and helps somebody.
The change in the angle of the boat (16' arkansas traveler aluminum V) when planed out is dramatic, as is the improvement in fuel economy. The motor has 4 trim positions. I was using 2 (if lowest is 1) and now I'm using 3. The motor is also much easier to steer (tiller).
I'm going to have to get all the proper info and then look for some help with a prop change because it is undoubtedly over rpm at full throttle and the hole shot is so strong that I'm scared for the transom (for now I'm very careful w/ acceleration). I am very excited to see what kind of speed I'll get.
I also reversed the clutch dog and replaced the forward gear. Doesn't jump out of gear anymore (it used to at about 3/4 throttle).
What a great weekend!
Was previously considering a jack plate but I bought a short shaft parts motor. The
I'm more than happy to help anyone looking to do that work (to this motor, I'm not familiar w/ others). I thought it was pretty easy to do and I'm no mechanic (although I am a gunsmith so maybe it isn't for everybody).
Basically, I dropped the lower, took out the leg extension, swapped shafts, removed the water tube extension, and cut the shift linkage 5" (also had to regrind the linkage notch). The shaft w/ the gears on it has to be lifted out of the gear case far enough to create clearance for removing the linkage. If it wasn't for that the job wouldn't be much harder than changing the impeller.
The shift linkage from the short shaft parts motor was as long as the one on my long shaft motor. I think the parts motor is a year or two newer, and they added an access panel on the leg for disconnecting the linkage (the '57 disconnects where the lower unit meets the leg).
Reconnecting the linkage (on the '57) is the hardest part of the whole deal - I used a couple of bolts that are longer than the originals to hold the lower unit about an inch away from the leg so that I could get everything lined up. Then, with the lower half of the linkage held all the way up w/ needle nose I moved the shift lever down until the upper linkage aligned with the detent on the lower linkage. There is a bolt that goes through the upper linkage and rides in the detent on the lower linkage. I had to grind a slot in the bolt head so that I could use a screwdriver because I couldn't get a nut driver back out of the gap between the leg and lower unit if everything was in the right position. Hope that made sense and helps somebody.
The change in the angle of the boat (16' arkansas traveler aluminum V) when planed out is dramatic, as is the improvement in fuel economy. The motor has 4 trim positions. I was using 2 (if lowest is 1) and now I'm using 3. The motor is also much easier to steer (tiller).
I'm going to have to get all the proper info and then look for some help with a prop change because it is undoubtedly over rpm at full throttle and the hole shot is so strong that I'm scared for the transom (for now I'm very careful w/ acceleration). I am very excited to see what kind of speed I'll get.
I also reversed the clutch dog and replaced the forward gear. Doesn't jump out of gear anymore (it used to at about 3/4 throttle).
What a great weekend!