Long Shaft or Short Shaft and other Service Manual Considerations

My continuing quest for the best manual for working on a 1996 Evinrude 15 HP 2-Cycle engine that has no model number i.d. plate...using the shaft measurement technique of measuring from the top of the clamp bracket to the bottom of the anti-cavitation plate, I measure exactly 17 inches (the transom of the associated boat also measures 17 inches). Available manual model numbers seem to identify only a "short shaft = 15 inches" or a "long shaft = 20 inches".

Part one of this post...is 17 inches a known shaft length? And further, for purposes of servicing/repairing the top end of this engine, do I even care which (shaft length) manual I order?

Part two of this post...this engine is installed on a boat as remote steering, remote electric start. I see manuals that address electric start, 15 or 20 inch shaft and also one that is titled "Remote Electric, 20 inch shaft". Would this be considered to be a remote electric engine?

Thanks for any/all replies...Jake Miller

Re: Long Shaft or Short Shaft and other Service Manual Considerations

If you measure from the bottom of the clamp to the top of the cavitation plate, you should have 15 inches. If the transom measures 17", the motor is to short. 15" is considered a "short shaft" motor, 20" is considered a "long shaft" motor. Yes, it's a "remote electric start", meaning there is a key switch at the helm.

Re: Long Shaft or Short Shaft and other Service Manual Considerations

measure from underside of the bracket where it would actually be hanging on the transom...there can be variation but I believe up to 17 1/4" is a shoft shaft.
servicing the top, lower unit, etc. same
Advise going to marineengine.com and find your year..hp...and the 2 stroke models...compare your setup to those diagrams as far as the remote electric start goes. I wouldn't think that it being a long shaft would matter as far as the remote start goes.

Re: Long Shaft or Short Shaft and other Service Manual Considerations

OK...with all of the help that you guys have provided to my several posts, I finally feel like I know what kind of an engine that I have here and now I feel good about ordering a service manual and getting started on this engine.

Thanks again all...Jake Miller