225 VRO -Air ???

[fission]

My 225 runs great at higher rpm (2000 and up )but sounds like an old JD 2 cyl at idle and 1200 when idleing out of harbor, now the last 2 trips out, when I go to wot it will just lays there for 5-10 secs. ( I tried to pump fuel buld but by the time I got there the rpm's were already coming up) but after that 5-10 sec delay it comes up and runs fine. I have checked all fuel connections, hose clamps, everything I could think of that would cause it to suck air, any ideas ??? Does it sound like air in fuel line problem ??? 2 problems related ?? Ant ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanx

 

[Vitamin Sea]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

I'm having the same problem out of my 95 200 oceanrunner actually i think its getting a little worse ,because its getting harder to start for the first time but after warms it starts fine last but not leaste it seems to be running a lot richer (smokes more than usual)and I know these motors smoke somewhat as I have seen most of them do at the docks . Fission sounds like we may have similair problems does your VRo have oil build up around it." and is this signs of a problems? or maybe carbs clog ,maybe one or two ,let me know if you get anywhere on this, and I'll do the same<br />Greg

 

[kameika]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

Wow. I'm pleased to see other 225 owners are having the same kinds of trouble as I am..<br /><br />I just solved a similar problem. <br /><br />'Seems this time of year brings out VRO-related issues.<br /><br />A few of the boys one this web site coached me.. Allow me to convey my findings..<br /><br />Check all of your clamps for tight-ness. Supplement the nylon circle clamp with a thin nylon tie wrap.<br /><br />What happened to me is as follows (hours of work figuring this out) - Run your engine on a hot day, the engine compartment gets quite hot. <br /><br />This heats everything, including your two-stroke oil in the oil line. The heating causes expansion.<br /><br />Allow the engine to cool, and the oil will contract, sucking-in air from any loose-fitting clamps. Now you have a bubble.<br /><br />In my case, the bubble was big enough to set off alarms in the VRO sensor. A smaller bubble will simply cause frothing, which will lead the VRO to over-inject oil (I am told.)<br /><br />Getting the bubble out is a b*tch. I pulled-off the clamp to the VRO, and loosened the oil line.. Next, pump the oil bulb until oil is nearly overflowing. -- carefully re-insert onto the VRO without the clamp -- and keep pumping the bulb until a hint of oil at the seam (interface) between hose and VRO nipple. When satisfied, clamp-down. <br /><br />After a short while, the last of the air is pressed through the pump normally; and smoking subsides. <br /><br />I hope this helps you. It did for me. (This was 8+ hours of checking and cursing before I figured all of this out... Much help from a few guys on this web site.)<br /><br />Ken

 

[Makoguy]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

Hey Guys<br />I'm new to the forums and I find the info here great!<br />I have a 2000 johnson 225 with 210 hrs. on it and just last week the horn and No Oil light came on just outside the harbor (man is that horn loud!!) after checking all the the oil lines and the tank I ended up replacing the VRO pump. The horn would come on after about 40-60 sec. after startup and when shut down and restarted the light would go out but come back on about the same time. All the pumping and bleeding of the oil lines did not help. I ran premix for a few gals to see if it was a air in the system, same thing.<br />The new pump did the trick. Maybe Aug is VRO month!!<br /><br />Later,<br /><br />Tom

 

[kameika]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

Makoguy,<br /><br />After the alarm sounded, you killed the engine and restarted, right?<br /><br />Did the alarm immediately begin sounding again? ..Or did it wait another 40-60 seconds before starting again?<br /><br />Similar problem for me--I'd get about 2-3 minutes of silence, then alarm. I turn the key to "off", and restart the engine.. 2-3 minutes later, the alarm begins again.<br /><br />Tell me more about the problem you had..<br /><br />Ken

 

[Makoguy]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

Ken,<br />The motor was fine all summer although I did not use it much (6 hrs) but I used it last weekend and all was fine.<br />I went down on fri. to gas up. I started it up let it warm up <br />3 min. and went for a ride as soon as I gave it some gas<br />the horn went off and the No Oil light came on so I killed the motor gave everthing a quick look and restarted the motor and the system check went fine so I started back to my slip and the horn went off every 2 -3 min. It was a shot ride back and I was getting normal smoke and that two stroke smell.<br /><br />I hooked up a 6 gal can of pre mix just to be sure. Than looking at my manual I started to check all my hose conections and pulled the filter from the tank it was fine, then I pulled the hose from the pump and gave it a good priming into a cup, good flow but the horn went off every time after about the same amount of time. <br /><br />Sooo I went to my dealer armed with this Info and he said most likely there was a bad sensor in the pump itself and replacment was my only option and sure nuff that did it $270 later I'm done.<br /><br />I think I was getting oil flow the whole time becuse it was smoking alot on the pre mix but you never know.<br /><br />Tom

 

[kameika]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

Got it. That seems consistent with a failed sensor in the VRO pump--but not a bad VRO pump itself.<br /><br />Gosh, I had nearly the same story; except that when I bled the oil line and pumped out the air with the bulb, the problem has apparently been solved.<br /><br />I was ready to fork-over $270 as well. <br /><br />The other odd thing: I had seven aboard when the problem started--at midnight. When the alarm sounded, you'd be shocked how quickly everyone sobered-up.. <br /><br />What seems to be pretty universal, though: These VRO pumps tend not to fail. What does cause problems, however, are the sensors. These tend to get fooled/break, however. <br /><br />From the marine parts store: "The four-wire (post 1994, me thinks) pumps very seldom fail."<br /><br />Thank you again.<br />Ken

 

[fission]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

sounds like most of you were having problems with air in the oil side of the system, mine seemed to be on the gas side. I rebuilt all carbs, replaced gas line and clamps and sealed all fittings, I think I cured it.

 

[Reel Appeal]

Re: 225 VRO -Air ???

Lately my '96 225 has been smoking so much it was stalling out at idle.I'm talkin like fogging oil burn-off,oil slick,that bad...I noticed raw oil in the fuel line when I disconnected.Anyway,today I checked all my clamps and hooked up a portable tank with straight gas.Same result,no difference.I decided to do the VRO dis-connect(oil side) in the manual and mix 50:1.I feel doing this is less problematic then trying to have a "perfect" fuel system for the VRO pump to work correctly.Keeping it simple makes it more dependable.Only thing left is to disable the "NO OIL" warning that came on...<br />Has anyone tryed to do the fuel restriction test for the VRO? Hook up a vacuum guage before the fuel pump on a T fitting,start motor and run in FORWARD gear at Wide Open Throttle. If I tried this I would be getting some looks at my dock,lol.IMHO,this test can only be done(safely)with the motor off the boat in a test tank with a test wheel(prop).