can you shorten a shaft on a maxxum tr. motor

I just got a used Minn Kota Maxxum trolling motor. The shaft is to long can you buy a replacement shorter shaft.

[QUOTE=steemer1;398137]I just got a used Minn Kota Maxxum trolling motor. The shaft is to long can you buy a replacement shorter shaft.[/QUOTE]

If you're CAREFUL, you can shorten it yourself.

I did on an older Minn Kota.........

Note: I did this with the motor deployed...like I was fishin. BE CAREFUL, and unplug it.

Basically here are the details:

1. Loosen up the cables using the screw on the back of the foot control. Make it real loose.

2. Take the 4 screws out of the cover on the motor.

3. Take the cover off, and carefully remove the gear and the cable drive. Not too hard to do if your good with this stuff.

4. Support the motor and shaft somehow.........I put a couple bricks under it......you don't want it slipping during the next step.

5. Loosen the bearing on the bottom of the motor housing. This is where the bottom of the motor turns on the shaft. It has 2 hex screws on it.

6. With that loose, you can push the shaft up a little. Once you do that, you should get some room to unhook the power cable in the top of the motor.

7. There is an aluminum drive gear in the top of the shaft. This is held on with 4 screws, I think. REMOVE the screws, remove the gear.

8. With all that unhooked you can now take the shaft completely out of the motor.

9. Once out, you can use a hacksaw to cut the shaft.

10. Redrill some holes, put the shaft back in, and put it all back together........which is MUCH, MUCH harder than taking the **** thing apart. :) :)


THAT should do it.......

WARNING.........WARNING..........WARNING.........WARNING..........

Only do this if your GOOD with mechanical stuff. putting the **** gears back in and getting it all working again is not too hard, but takes some time.

I CRACKED the top end of the shaft of my motor and had to do this EXACT thing to fix it...........I cut about 1 inch off the top of the shaft using the process above.

Later,

Geo

I just talked to Minn Kota out of Minn. and they gave me a rough est. of $75 to do this I just have to ship it to them.

It really isn't too bad if you're "handy".

I did it without every knowing WHAT I was getting into.........if I had to do it again.....I would to save 75 bucks :) :)

its just a tube! cut it off