1990 70 hp Johnson VRO??

[texas_whaler]

I just purchased a Whaler with the above motor and I seem to be having some problems..It takes a bit to get it started and smokes real bad!! I have to start it and idle it real high and then gun it once I put it in gear...Now, it runs great at high speeds but when I look back at my wake I see smoke bubbles surfacing the top of the water from my propulsion..It bubbles up about15-20 feet from the back of the boat..Does this have something to do with my lower unit oil?? The guy that I bought it from says that he still mixes his oil and the VRO pump is working.. He said a mechanic told him this was ok to do as he has replaced the power head and didn't want to have to do this again...I am just running straight gas now and the oil level in the reservoir is dropping so that seems fine...My plugs get oily real fast..I have replaced those twice already..How do I adjust my mixture on this motor?? Thanks for reading!!

 

[Peter.Kn]

Re: 1990 70 hp Johnson VRO??

I have a 1990 90 hp Johnson VRO and a local mechanic told me it was ok to add 1-2% (extra oil directly in the gas to avoid the engine from breaking if the VRO stop working). I believe these machines are known for unstable (at least at start-up) idling. I had it adjusted by a mechanic and now it works fine. <br /><br />rgds,<br />from Sweden

 

[clanton]

Re: 1990 70 hp Johnson VRO??

The first thing I would do is check the compression,and spark. Compression and spark ok, verify that all service bulletins have been complyed with. Search this site for the bulletins. Check the plastic roller on the carb linkage, the clear plastic sleeve is probley missing. Clean the carbs when you install the jet kit listed in the service bulletin. If the VRO pump is 4 wire pump, check pump flow.

 

[texas_whaler]

Re: 1990 70 hp Johnson VRO??

Thanks so much for the help!! I will do all of this...Any idea about the smoke bubbles?? Does this sound like a lower unit issue?? How do you change the lower unit oil properly?? Also, what would be the proper shop repair manual for this motor?? Thanks again!!!