96 Fast Strike 175 gear case size

[ddakota]

I have a 96 Fast Strike J175GLEDB with a 4 1/4" gear case. Do all of these model motors have this smaller gear cae or do some have a 4 3/4"?

I am trying to buy a new prop. I have tried 2 props that the prop selection charts said would fit, but they did not, they were both for a larger gear case, a 4 3/4". I cannot find anything that indicates my motor should not have the 4 3/4" gear case. Yes, its all stock original on the motor, no changes. I cant find anything on line that states the gear case size for my motor.

One suggestion was to get a prop for a 125 Mercury that has a 4 1/4 gear case. While the smaller size is what I need, will the hub work?

 

[OutOfControl]

Re: 96 Fast Strike 175 gear case size

ddakota, do you have a 20" or 25" version?
The BRP parts site shows different gearcase part numbers based on the motor length.
OutOfControl

 

[ddakota]

Re: 96 Fast Strike 175 gear case size

its a 20". I'm going to take it to a local prop shop and find out what is going on. We had this motor on a 19' Skeeter bass boat and with a 13-3/8 x 26"" Shooter prop it would run 60+ mph. We took it off the Skeeter and put it on a 20' flats boat to fish South Texas flats. That same prop only turns 4600 rpm on this hull. Need to re-prop and buying on-line has not worked.

Seemed like a simple process, but as usual, things are not what they seem.

 

[ddakota]

Re: 96 Fast Strike 175 gear case size

We figured it out, when in doubt, talk to a pro. Mike Hood said he had run into something similar once. The gear case had an insert installed for running smaller hub props. It appeared to be metal and part of the gear case, but once we pried the prongs back with a screw driver, it popped out. It was a plastic housing that clipped in behind the vanes of the gear case. It was designed to funnel exhaust gases into the hub and prevent blow by. Once that was removed, standard V6 prop fits perfect. The gear case is a "M" it has a 4-5/8" OD, but the insert cut down the ID ofvthe gear case to about 4" or so, that is why the standard V6 prop would not fit.

Apparently Johnson made this adapter years ago just for the purpose of running smaller hub diameter, high pitch props. I dont remember ever installing it, it either came from the factory with it, or when we had it in the shop years ago while propping it out, they did.

I'll try to post a photo of it.....