Converting a long shaft 1991 Evinrude E40TLESR to short shaft and tiller controls

[DougsMessyGarage]

A buddy of mine just bought a well loved pontoon that has a decent running 1991 Evinrude 40hp (E40TLESR). This motor has remote controls and is a long shaft.

Since my buddy is wanting a new four-stroke outboard for this boat, he has offered me the Evinrude at a reasonable price. Is it possible to easily convert this motor over to short shaft? It appears to be a bolt in spacer but not sure if the main shaft, water tube, and shift linkage are easily shortened or not.

Next, looking at tillers that are available on eBay, is there an age range and horsepower range that would be a functional donor for the tiller handle assembly?

Finally, as a sanity check, is this conversion even worth the effort on a 1991 40hp Evinrude? Looking to put this on a 16 foot Lund.

Thanks

 

[racerone]

A few questions.---Is it TESR or TLESR ?------Are you sure you need a short shaft on a 16' Lund ?----Are you sure it has a 5" spacer?-----Your location ?

 

[DougsMessyGarage]

A few questions.---Is it TESR or TLESR ?------Are you sure you need a short shaft on a 16' Lund ?----Are you sure it has a 5" spacer?-----Your location ?

Oops, my mistake, you are correct, it is a TLESR. My location is in NW Ontario, Canada but the boat came out of northern Minnesota.

I just re-checked the pic my buddy sent me and I do not see the 5" spacer so the motor may already be a short shaft. I was basing my question on the description he gave me and that the motor is on a toon. It would certainly simplify things if I do not need to worry about shortening things up.

 

[flyingscott]

That motor would not have normally come with a 5 in spacer for a 20" shaft. Center section would have been cast as a 20".

 

[racerone]

Are you sure you need a short shaft on a 16' Lund ??

 

[saltchuckmatt]

I have a 16 ft Lund. 40 should be over the HP for that hull I would think....mine would be.

I have a thirty and it's all I need and then some. Send us pictures.

You would need a short shaft driveshaft and a shift shaft. Then you typically cut the water tube down 5 inches.

A parts motor would be the best in this situation.

 

[racerone]

There is no water tube on that motor.

 

[saltchuckmatt]

Even more fun....best to just buy a new to you motor.

Measure transom and report back

 

[DougsMessyGarage]

The boat and the motor will be in close proximity later today so I will see how they compare.

 

[DougsMessyGarage]

Well darn. I finally got a good look at the 40 hp that came on my buddy's pontoon. It is a long shaft but does not have the 5" extension setup like earlier OMC motors and there is no obvious provision for adding a tiller handle to it. Yes my Lund 16' needs a short shaft. I think I will look elsewhere for a better candidate.

Thank you to all who replied.

 

[racerone]

Short shaft in 40 / 50 / 60 HP motors is not very common.----Those 3 cylinder 35 HP are more common in short shaft.---And they do have the 5"spacer when leaving factory as long shaft..

 

[tphoyt]

those 35’s from the 80’s are great motors and will last for ever if looked after.

 

[racerone]

The 3 cylinder 25 / 35 was marketed from 95 to 2001 I believe .---Long shaft had a 5" spacer.------The 2 cylinder 30 / 35 was made for many years.----The 2 cylinder 35 did not leave the factory for all years , with a 5" spacer as far as I know.