Long shaft to short shaft

[mrbell83]

Hey guys, I am looking at buying a 1977 15hp Evinrude and it is a long shaft, but I need a short shaft, someone told me that this isn't hard to convert. How true is this / how hard is this to do?<br /><br />Thanks,

 

[OBJ]

Re: Long shaft to short shaft

Not hard Chris. You'll need a short drive shaft and shift rod. The water tube can be shortened to fit. Look around for a used driveshaft and shift rod....like ebay.<br /><br />If you get the stuff, you'll need to drain the lower unit before installing the shift rod. And you'll need to reset the shift rod height.<br /><br />Whole job souldn't take any more than 45 minutes....if that.

 

[mrbell83]

Re: Long shaft to short shaft

As far as shortening the shift tube and the shift rod height, how do I do that?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Long shaft to short shaft

If the brass shift connector is the long (5") connector, you simply need to replace it with the shorter brass connector. But if the present brass connector IS the short one, the following would be proper.<br /><br />Cut exactly 5" from the shift rod. Hold the cut off section against the top portion of the remaining shift rod to obtain the location where to file a shift bolt retaining groove. Use a proper size rat tail file for the groove.<br /><br />Note that the groove only needs to exist where the bolt will be located. The groove does not need to be filed all the way around the rod.<br /><br />Of course, file the top edges of the shortened shift rod so that it enters the brass shift connector easily.<br /><br />The shift tube.... you may be lucky and find there is simply a 5" tube extension installed, in which case, slide it off. If no extension exists, you'll need a minature tube cutter (available at any automotive parts type store etc) to shorten it exactly 5".

 

[mrbell83]

Re: Long shaft to short shaft

Thanks everyone for the info. it seems easy enough so I guess I will go for it ( buying it I mean)<br /><br />Thanks again,

 

[Solittle]

Re: Long shaft to short shaft

Chris - Before you do the above give it a run as is. YOu may decide to run the long shaft. I run a long shaft 9.9 on my 12'er & it runs fine that way. Sure it would probably perform better but - - - - -

 

[mrbell83]

Re: Long shaft to short shaft

Well I know that I have a 15" transom so I would prefer to have it right, it doesn't seem that hard to do anyway, sounds like a good weekend project...