Starter Pinion Shaft

I was wondering if anyone has ever come across this problem. I'm rebuilding a D311 pinion and clutch using parts from two different assemblies. After waiting for a new lock for the latch stop that was backordered I install the pinion and sleeve but when I went to try and latch it. I couldn't push it far enough with my hand to get it to latch. After doing some checking I found that the return spring was compressing all of the way until it was bottomed out before latching. I remember when disassembling one of them had a broken spring so I assumed I had a shaft that I left part of a broken spring in. I then used a long drill bit to see what was in the bottom but it turned out it was solid in the bottom of the hole. The shaft drills pretty easy so I'm drilling the 5/8" bore to the same length as my other shaft. The pictures compare the same spring in both shafts and there is about an 1 1/2" difference. I looked at several different engine and machine parts books but they all show the same spring part number. Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

I haven't but my parts catalog for 5U13237-up lists three different shaft part #s so that may be where your difference is