175 HP Fast Strike 1993 Johnson Lower Swap

Hey all,

I just had my lower unit go out on my J175GLETG and I purchased another lower unit but it is from a 1997 150HP Johnson. First thing I noticed is my original prop won’t fit. The thrust washer is smaller than my 175hp rated prop. Is the solution just getting a prop that will fit the smaller thrust washer? Will this unit be compatible at all or should I be looking to sell? The shifter and drive shaft look compatible but I’m worried that he water pump, gears, etc won’t be enough to handle the 175. Hopefully I’m wrong, any help would be great.

Tight Lines,

PH

Are you sure it is a 150? there should be no difference between the two, same same. Now if it is from V-4 that will be different.

Well I’m not 100% sure. This is the “new 150” lower I bought. The top looks different than my 175 lower but that’s about it. The thrust bushing is smaller than the one I pulled off my 175 too. Any place on the lower to check and see?
. Attachment 461268Attachment 461269

And I guess I should rephrase. My prop from the 175 “fits” on the splines but the 150 lower has a piece of plastic going around the outside of the baring carrier where the prop meets the thrust bushing. That is what is causing the prop to not set correctly. Is that okay to remove? Probably not?Attachment 461270

That plastic ring is a weed ring for a smaller barrell prop and just snaps into place. You can remove it and use the thrust washer that was with your original prop.

Oh okay, that makes sense. So say this is a V4 lower unit, what issues come with running a V6 motor and a V4 lower? I dont believe the gear ratios are the same but I havent seen any evidence of that being a real issue.

Big difference in gear ratios the V-6 is 1.86:1 and the V-4 is 2:1 you'll over rev the 175.

Actually, the person I bought it from said it came off a V6. I guess I'll remove the weed ring and see what happens! haha

You can always bring it by Riverside Marine in Old Hickory and they can confirm.

You probably got an early '91 gearcase that has the 1 3/16" propshaft , where your 175 is 1 1/4" diameter. The thrust washers are different. Get the thrust washer for the earlier propshaft and you should be O.K.

You probably got an early '91 gearcase that has the 1 3/16" propshaft , where your 175 is 1 1/4" diameter. The thrust washers are different. Get the thrust washer for the earlier propshaft and you should be O.K.

Eddie or Champ will correct me if I'm wrong....I think the prop hub splines are different between the v-4 and v-6 case....if your prop splines fit the new case it should be a v-6....

You are correct sir !! A V-4 prop will not interchange with the V-6 propshaft. He's seeing 2 different diameter propshafts which require 2 different size thrust washers more than likely.

I have 2 thrust washers from a 1991 fast strike lower. Have to see part numbers but if they work, you can have em.

One is #0126402 and ran a Raker with it,,,,,,,I do know they make one for a 3 and a 4 blade. The other I have is in the barn. My motor was a 1991 175GLEIS.

I guess just need to figure out which lower you have and go from there...

I got to lower installed and out slid on no problem. The only issue I am running into is getting the shift rod to line up with the linkage bracket. (Probably not the correct term but picture for reference.) Any tips? Should I have used my original shift rod instead of the one on the new lower unit I installed?Attachment 461362

I just might if I give up on trying to get this dang shift rod to connect. Good guys up there tho!

Shift rod height is 21 1/4" measured from the deck of the lower to the center of the shift rod eye in neutral. No need to remove the shift rod pin to install/remove gear case. Shift motor to forward,disconnect the metal shift linkage bar from the plastic linkage then pull the hitch pin and push the metal shift rod linkage towards the engine it will come free.

Yea I didn’t have a problem getting the lower off. It’s installing the new lower on and it seems like the shift rod won’t screw down far enough to allow me to link it while the shifter in reverse.