1987 225 Johnson VRO pump

[Blake0912]

I have a 1987 Johnson with the VRO pump still connected , I've ran this boat for about 6 months with no issues and it's still runnin great but I'm constantly worried about the VRO pump quitting on me. Is there are kind of preventative maintenance I can do to the pump for some peace of mind?

Also when I turn my key I don't get a beep from the pump like I do on my merc. Do the older Johnson's not have an alarm that will go off when you start the motor to let you know the oil injection is working?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1987 225 Johnson VRO pump

That initial "beep" when you turn the key on isn't to tell you that the oil injection (VRO system) is working... it's to tell you that the warning horn is operational. Since you are not getting that short warning beep when you turn the key on, do the following to make sure that the horn is indeed working.

Engine NOT running but have the key turned to the RUN position. Now, find one of the TAN wires protruding from the cylinder heads, and ground it to the powerhead. This completes the electrical circuit for the warning horn and the horn should sound steady when you ground that wire.

If the horn does not sound, find out why as that is the only warning you'll receive if you have.... a overheating problem, the VRO quits pumping oil, a fuel restriction, or the oil tank runs low on oil.

Let us know what you find.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: 1987 225 Johnson VRO pump

So I will need to strip and expose some of the wire in order to do this correct?

 

[Blake0912]

Re: 1987 225 Johnson VRO pump

Disregard my last post. I striped back and exposed some wire and grounded it to the block and long steady horn sound went off. What should I check next?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1987 225 Johnson VRO pump

Check the horn.....

There should be a purple wire leading from the "A" (accesssory) terminal of the ignition switch to the slide on terminal of the horn that is furthermost away from the horn's built in black ground wire. This supplies voltage to the horn when the key is in the RUN or START position. It is important that the purple wire is connected to the proper slide on terminal.

The TAN wire must be connected to the horn's slide on terminal that is closest to that black ground wire.

Check that the horn's built in black wire is not broken, frayed, corroded, whatever, and that it is grounded securely.

If all of the above is as it should be and the horn still does not beep when you turn the key on, the circuitry within that electronic (not electric) horn is faulty, in which case, you can either purchase a new one of those overpriced plastic components or do the following.

Splice into the TAN wire at the horn and run that wire to either one of the contacts of a two contact push button or a momentary toggle switch and another wire from the remaining button or switch contact to a ground. Engaging the button or switch would make the horn sound and assure you that the horn is operational. But still occasionally check the horn's operation as you did recently... grounding that TAN wire at the engine.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: 1987 225 Johnson VRO pump

Where would the horn be located , I looked under the consoul and did not see one also there is no wire coming from the ignition all I see is a tan wire. The ignition is built into the gear shift.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1987 225 Johnson VRO pump

Test the horn again and follow the beeping. Find the beeping, you found the horn.