Changing long shaft to short shaft on outboard

[jbinbi]

I have a 4hp Merc 2 stroke, but long shaft. A short shaft on the dink would be much better. I love this engine and would like to continue to use it, but need to a short shaft.

Can a Merc dealer make this change? Do able at all, and if so reasonable cost? Thanks.

[rwidman]

I suspect a dealer could make the change but I don't know what you would consider "reasonable". You would probably be better off selling your motorand buying one with the correct shaft length.

Or, you might find an identical motor that has been junked and just swap the lower unit.

[Sailmonkey]

Some engines use a spacer to increase the shaft length. I don't know if yours is one. If it is it can be a painless process.

However for others the cost of parts is prohibitive.

[jbinbi]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Some engines use a spacer to increase the shaft length. I don't know if yours is one. If it is it can be a painless process.

However for others the cost of parts is prohibitive.

Sorry, finally got to the boat to get a picture of it. Is this with a spacer?

[thomm225]

That looks like just the standard 20" long shaft outboard but it's hard to tell from your picture.

I have the 5 hp with 25" extra long shaft which has the 5" spacer. You can see the bolts.

Here's a link to a picture of the spacer in an extension kit for a 50 hp. It's basically the same as the one on my 5 hp

https://www.marineengine.com/parts/m...092a20-bigfoot

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by jbinbi

Sorry, finally got to the boat to get a picture of it. Is this with a spacer?

I don't believe you've got a spacer......so you're essentially left with a 20" leg and the only real way you could change it would be to find a donor or spend the roughly $530 for the parts to swap over (not counting gaskets or other rubber parts that may need to be replaced as well).

[Terra Nova]

Sell it and buy what you need.

[rwidman]

I guess somebody has to say it:

Call a Merc servicing dealer and ask them what the cost would be.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by rwidman

I guess somebody has to say it:

Call a Merc servicing dealer and ask them what the cost would be.

Or go online and put together a parts list like I did......it's not difficult, but takes maybe 30 minutes to be thorough.

[Cheechako]

Some have a spacer and some have a longer lower unit. Not sure about yours. Can you just make your dink transom a bit higher?

[Colin A]

You can look up the parts on several sites.
This is a good one but not the cheapest
Crowley Marine: OEM Boat Parts & Assemblies
see what the parts look like some it's easy some it's not. You may be better off buying another motor, or looking for a short shaft version of your motor and swapping power heads.

Edit took a look (guessing your engine is a late 90's) looks like you would need a new housing and new shaft about $500 in parts alone. My guess would be around $800 for a shop to do it.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Colin A

You can look up the parts on several sites.
This is a good one but not the cheapest
Crowley Marine: OEM Boat Parts & Assemblies
see what the parts look like some it's easy some it's not. You may be better off buying another motor, or looking for a short shaft version of your motor and swapping power heads.

Edit took a look (guessing your engine is a late 90's) looks like you would need a new housing and new shaft about $500 in parts alone. My guess would be around $800 for a shop to do it.

Roughly the same price I came up with for parts using the same age assumption.

[Cheechako]

That looks like the same little Merc I have. Reliable as heck. Always starts on one or two pulls. (OK, 3 if it sat all winter!)

[jbinbi]

That's my issue. The motor is 10+ years old. Knock wood before I write this, it always starts. Works like a champ. Last 2 stroke they made. I am not going to put 600+ into a 10 year old motor, also I would probably get a 6 hp instead, but I was hoping there was a simple solution to this. I was thinking of getting some wood to attach to the transom to get the motor up 4 more inches, but that is kind of a kludge.

[Cheechako]

Maybe a 1/4" aluminum tie plate and more wood to raise it up. I wonder what the smallest sliding up/down outboard bracket they make is?