Drive shaft concerns

The drive shaft is quite loose on the gearbox end. It is held in place by the retaining ring but still not a firm union. I tried the other end and it is not as loose but still not tight. There is no sign of wear to either splines. I've been told this common across a number of models. If this was a drive or prop shaft in my industry it would be replaced immediately. What are your thoughts and experience?

Replace it if you are not comfortable with it. You have to ride it. All I can say.
My sidecar rig I ride local so I wont have to tow it far when ujoint goes.

I’ve never seen a small spline yoke or shaft strip out. There were a couple of instances many years ago of the end of the output shaft of the gearbox shearing off! I think they were 8V’s though which don’t have a driveline cush apart from the bonding in the shaft itself. Also it only occurred on very few machines which would make me think a bad batch of hardening.

Really without seeing it for myself I’d be leery of offering an opinion.