Can anyone tell me the difference between a #4 speedmaster drive and a #5.. Also a little background on what cresent drive means.

Thanks in advance!

To the best of my knowledge . The #5 is the same "X" dimension as the "4" except that the "5" has larger gears and shafts and takes more HP.
RLT

i though the ssm5 drive had the very long skeg and the bullet was higher resulting in your prop (raised x-dim) being higher?

The diff is,
The actual measurement from input shaft to prop shaft on a #4 to #5 is the same. The only external difference is the length of the lower housing. The internal components are alot stronger in a #5 SSM versus A #4 SSM. If you want more info give me a jingle I will let you talk to the first man to build a SSM for Carl Kiekahfer. He works for us

are the parts in a big shaft 4 and small shaft 4 the same besides the prop shaft or are the big shaft drives stronger than the small shaft ones

The only thing that makes the large shaft #4 any stronger than
a small shaft #4 is the propshaft everything else internally the same.

Can you tell me the size difference of the external length of the lower housing. For ex: length of the #4 and #5.

Im going out to look at a boat this weekend That was to have #5"s on it, But I am hearing rumors that the drives were swithced over to #4's and I have no clue what to look for.

Your help is really appreciated!!
Thank you!!
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The diff is,
The actual measurement from input shaft to prop shaft on a #4 to #5 is the same. The only external difference is the length of the lower housing. The internal components are alot stronger in a #5 SSM versus A #4 SSM. If you want more info give me a jingle I will let you talk to the first man to build a SSM for Carl Kiekahfer. He works for us

Not sure about the housing differance, but the hole for the tilt pin is 1" on a #5, 7/8 on a #4, but of course it is possible it has been drilled out.

I guess as a last resort you could always jot down the serial numbers of the the drive/gear case and look them up in a overhaul manual.

ttt