Reply To: Length of driveshaft. 1958 Evinrude 10 horsepower.

[William Jatzek]

Don wrote:

Billy

Are you sure it is the original gearcase??  Early models used pinion that was keyed to the driveshaft, later models used a pinion that was splined to the driveshaft.  Your 1958 came with a keyed pinion, but perhaps the gearcase was changed using the splined pinion.  These two driveshafts are slightly different in length.

Not 100% sure. The gearcase has the same exact color paint as the lower leg. The extension piece between lower unit and leg of outboard was definitely added at a later date. I am going to remove lower unit and take out the driveshaft extension but before I do I am going to note how much the driveshaft sticks up where the engine fastens at the top spline. Then I am going to remove driveshaft from lower unit. It’s the only way to know for sure. I was not aware that there 2 ways the driveshaft may go in lower unit pinion. Keyed or splined.