Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

mike64

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
1,042
Looking for a LU replacement for my '72 65HP Evinrude. I found a LU on auction, great starting bid, no bids yet, says it's tested-- no leaks and the shift works great.

The ad says it's for '69-'72, AND 40-75HP (14 splines on driveshaft). Now, I know the LUs in the electric shift motors are interchangeable between the years, but I'm not so sure about the HP. Are they really interchangeble with no problems in that range of horsepower, or should I try to find a LU specifically for my HP motor?
 

1946Zephyr

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
5,556
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

I think the 50hp of that year may be the lowest horsepower that will interchange. Don't quote me on that. I don't believe the 40hp is the same.
 

mike64

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
1,042
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

Thanks for the quick reply!

Here's another question then-- if the seller is wrong, and 50HP is the cutoff for interchangeablility, what would I ask the seller to find out if it is the correct LU for a 65HP? It looks like the correct LU from the pic, at least.
 

rayodunne

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 21, 2006
Messages
224
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

EBAY Item number: 270541528118
This lower unit will work.
 

rayodunne

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 21, 2006
Messages
224
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

The 40 did not have through prop exhaust.
 

phipps

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 20, 2008
Messages
385
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

Mike,

I have a 71 Johnson 60hp for sale. The LU appears to shift fine. I've checked the oil and it looks fine, but I've not pressure tested it. I have it listed locally for $125.

I am in Sidney, OH.



Gary
 

mike64

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
1,042
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

Mike,

I have a 71 Johnson 60hp for sale. The LU appears to shift fine. I've checked the oil and it looks fine, but I've not pressure tested it. I have it listed locally for $125.

I am in Sidney, OH.



Gary

Hmmm...very interesting Gary! I'll pm you on that. (EDIT) PM sent.
 

jay_merrill

Vice Admiral
Joined
Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

No they are not. To my knowledge, there was never a 40hp OMC motor that used hydro-electric shift. There were many that used a different electric shift system, as did many other pin drive OMC motors.

There were also no 70 - 75 hp motors that used hyro-electric shift systems. Many of the thru-the-prop models in this hp range used hydro-mechanical gearboxes, though.

You have to be very careful of EBay sellers, when it comes to knowing what they are selling. Many are just sloppy about the way they sell items and many are just ignorant of what they have, because they are not outboard specialists and sell whatever they can get their hands on at garage sales, etc.



???
 

1946Zephyr

Vice Admiral
Joined
Oct 21, 2008
Messages
5,556
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

No they are not. To my knowledge, there was never a 40hp OMC motor that used hydro-electric shift. There were many that used a different electric shift system, as did many other pin drive OMC motors.

There were also no 70 - 75 hp motors that used hyro-electric shift systems. Many of the thru-the-prop models in this hp range used hydro-mechanical gearboxes, though.

You have to be very careful of EBay sellers, when it comes to knowing what they are selling. Many are just sloppy about the way they sell items and many are just ignorant of what they have, because they are not outboard specialists and sell whatever they can get their hands on at garage sales, etc.



???

I totally agree. When I was going through the Ebay listings to find a lower unit last week, I found a lot of incorrect info on the listings. The buyer has to know what he's doing before they buy on Ebay. Luckily though, I bought a nice rebuildable lower unit, for my old 5 1/2 for 60 bucks.:D:D

Some of the older 40's from the 60's did have an electric shift lower unit, but I can't recall a Hydro-electric shift either. The electric shift on the older 40's was a totally different animal.
 

mike64

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
1,042
Re: Are J/E Electric Shift Lower Units interchangeable from 40-75HP?

The LU I found is definitely an electric shift-- in the ad I posted the link to in my previous post, you can see the wire, and the lack of mechanical shift rod.

So let me try the question this way-- if the LU IS an electric shift, is it guaranteed to fit my motor, since the range of Hydroelectic shift years (68-72) and HP (50-65) is so narrow?
 
Top