Out of action

Well guys, it looks like I am going to be off the water for a while. My outboard decided that running is no longer it’s number one priority.

So here’s what happened…

While getting on plane the motor began to lose power, eventually dying out completely. Once the ball on the fuel line was pumped, it would fire back up and be fine for a bit. However, it would eventually die again. Sometimes it would get me to the next spot, sometimes it would die sooner.

Being that its 9 years old, I assumed that the ball had gone bad, so I replaced the whole fuel hose.

The next time out, it got me to the first spot just fine, but after that it started up again with the same old business, plus a fun new addition – the “no oil” alarm started sounding :. Great . I had to limp back to the ramp with my trolling motor, ruining a good day of fishing.

Anyways, I’m bringing it in tomorrow to get checked out. I just thought I’d take any bets on what the heck is wrong with the thing.

BTW, its a year 2000 90 hp Johnson 2 Stroke.

I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that this one won’t hurt the wallet too badly… though I’m sure it will.

To everyone with boats that work – have fun on the water.

-Al

I had a 2001 50 hp johnson 2 stroke with those same problems turned out to be the oil pump. Cost 300 dollars for the part and I put it on myself. Machanic said it would of been about 80 dollars labor to put it on.

Same thing happened to me last year on my 30 hp yamaha. Ran good most of the day then while making a run it lost all power, then the alarm started whistling. If I let it sit 10 min it would get me another 100 yards. Took it in, it was the oil sending unit. Cost $300.00. Good luck with your repair.

My partner is going through this right now, it may be worse then a sending unit for you.

My buddies 20 year old oil line failed on his 90 Merc, (dry rot/brittle) and the engine was running without proper lubrication. Thus it would heat up and begin to bog, due to heating/rubbing metal components. Easy find, the oil was pumping into the case. He was told there was scoring, but the engine is runable as is. A rebuild was suggested at 1800-2400 dollars, which seems very steep!

Keep an eye on it and try to avoid more costly repairs.

If it is your oil pump, talk to a mechanic if you can go gas-oil mix right in your tank, that is what I did with my 96 evinrude 50hp after going thru the 3rd VRO oil pump-it actually came from the factory bad. If you can go straight gas-oil mix you’ll never have an oil pump problem ever again.

Well I guess I am going to get rid of that VRO in mine and start mixing, sounds like less of a headache from what I am hearing, those VRO’s sound far less than dependable!

The motors are good, sound and darn near bulletproof-once you get rid of the VRO. Go gas-oil mix and thing might last forever.

I talked to the mechanics again, they stated, just disconnect the plug that runs from the oil tank to the motor, disconnect that oil line and plug it, then just mix your oil and gas, is this all there really is to it?

Quote:

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I talked to the mechanics again, they stated, just disconnect the plug that runs from the oil tank to the motor, disconnect that oil line and plug it, then just mix your oil and gas, is this all there really is to it?

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you may have to disconnect the “no oil alarm”

I was told that once you start mixing the oil with gas that the alarm should remedy itself.

Well, I dropped it off in the morning and had it back by the afternoon. Just in time to slip out for a little fishing before dark.

And the problem… the VRO pump! Which is funny because this is the THIRD time that the thing has been replaced.

Only difference is that the first two times the motor just ran really rough and smoky instead of doing this bogging/no oil business.

Regardless, getting the thing fixed was darn expensive. It better last for a long time.

I’m kind of doubtful that it will though. According to the guy at the shop, the VRO pump design has been modified 8 times! Geez! How many times does it take to get it right??

If this happens again I am definitely going to just start adding oil to the tank.

-Al

Al,
According to what I have read and been told by a handful of dealer mechanics, mind you these are Johnson mechanics, the most surefire way is to just dump the VRO and mix it. The one thing i have been told is that the VRO pump might not work and I will have to replace the fuel pump with a different type of pump.

You are soooooo lucky you did not burn up your motor.
Heck, sometimes the oil alarm does not even go off when the pump goes bad.
My boat guy makes a ton of money during the winter buying wrecked VRO motors, rebuilds them and then sells them as gas-oil mix motors.