I bought this part as I screwed up my encoder when installing the light kit (damn super glue!). I put it on as is but marked the length of the other shaft onto the new shaft with a sharpie. It stuck out entirely too far for my tastes - about 1/4"! I took a dremel cut off wheel and cut it shorter and it looks much better to me. Mind you, I just did the install and cut within the last 2 hours...