1987 johnson 175 lower unit

[jimmyebay]

Got myself a 1987 johnson 175. Model is j175tl175cua. Believe that's model. Hard to read label. Anyways, been metal in lower unit. Pulled off and reverse gear. Forward gear missing teeth and starting to fail in a bad way. I don't have the special tools to set new gears properly. Any tricks to rebuilding with new gears without special tools to set em up properly?! Looking for a decent price rebuilt lower unit. Anyone know where to look?! Also, they have different gear ratios?! What other models fit this gas pig? Ha. Rebuilt motor last year. Now this. Kinda kicking myself for dumping money in it like a have but what ya do?! Been interesting run!! Thanks!

 

[fhhuber]

Search for "SEI Johnson outboard lower end"... got mine for $725 for the one that fits 1990 Johnson 150. (VS about $1500 for the cheapest rebuilt Johnson I could find. Or almost as much for parts to rebuild it myself.)

This is a Chinese built "not quite copy" One difference is the prop shaft is heavier and harder.

You'll need your drive shaft , which is all kinds of entertaining to remove from your lower end... It uses the type that snaps in place, not with the lower roll pin (which caused me to hunt a new shaft the correct length) 89/90 they were changing over on the 150 so some had the roll pin and some didn't. Not sure which your 87 will have I think the roll pin was just for a couple of years.

 

[jimmyebay]

My shaft is actually part of unit. The pinion hear bolts to shaft. The later ones have the shaft removable from what I'd seen

 

[jimmyebay]

What are my odds of buying a gear set and using original shims and assembling and working out ok?!

 

[fhhuber]

Not sure...

My lower end was totally toast.Bent shaft then it got run that way for a while before I got the boat. The local boat repair place said it would cost $2500 to fix the old one (quoted the same $1500 parts list that I had come up with on my own) or just use it till it totally failed and he'd set me up with a good aftermarket lower end cheaper.

Its got a slightly annoying break-in schedule... limited RPM and oil changes with first oil change at 10 hr. (I'm not there yet)

Note... (I may have said it wrong)
prop shaft , horizontal and the prop bolts on.
Drive shaft, vertical and connects power head to the lower end. This is the one that is "entertaining" to get out...

Just peeked... some versions have a stub drive shaft installed in the lower end then you just need the section that clips on and is easy to deal with.
all kinds of minor variations. Make sure you get the right one.

 

[jimmyebay]

I'll do little more digging! Appreciate the time and info. There's about 12 inches of ice on water right now. So got little bit of time.

 

[emdsapmgr]

The forward gear and pinion set (435020) is just over $ 300. No point in your trying to shim this yourself unless you are a lower unit expert. Leave it to an experienced Tech.