Hello,<br /> I posted this message alittle while back and I guess no one had seen it. So I'll give it a shot again. My verticle shaft in the lower geracase splines striped on a 1975 hi-profile electric shift. So I got a used shaft and new bearings. The shim tool says that I don't need a shim (not letting me slide a feuler guage under the shiming tool, except for a .001 and the smallest shim is a .003). Is this ok to not have a shim? And what should the resistance of turning the shaft be with the pinion gear on, the retaining plate bolted down and the swivel bearing not over the shaft. Should it turn freely without any oil in the gearcase, and the pinion gear turning the clutches on the prop shaft? This is without a shim without any looseness in the bearings of the shaft. When I did put a .003 shim in, the shaft turned with lots of resistance and I could feel the bearing roll hard on the races. Is this normal? I would appreciate it if anyone has rebuilt one of these things before and could help. I am very stumped and I wan't to do it right and not put anymore $ into it. 