Re: johnson 15hp 2 stroke price?
would that motor be a pain to convert to short if i decided to go that route? i assumed it was factory ES because of the particular location of the start button on that motor. course then again i trusted it being a short shaft becuase the seller said so.
Somewhat a pain, yes. The easiest way is to have a complete lower unit with driveshaft, water tube, and shiftrod for the short version. On a 1999, that's not going to be too easy to find, unless you find someone who wants to go the other way and you can swap.
I wouldn't stress over it at this point. Wait until you find out if it's a short shaft. Most sellers know the difference, and it's immediately obvious when looking at the outboard. It either has the 5" extension or it does not.
Heck, this could have been a swap in the dealership where it was sold originally. Someone came in with the cash for an electric start short shaft and all they had in stock was a long shaft rope start. The mechanic in the back could do the swap pretty quickly, and the parts may have been on hand.
Go measure it. From where the transom mount rests on the transom to the anti-ventilation plate will be between 15-16" for a short shaft. If it's over 19", then it's a long shaft.
Also, the short shaft will have a simple smooth line from the top of the engine to the lower unit. The long shaft has a 5" piece between the two.