Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

[alden135]

Johnson 120TLES

Symptom: Starts ok. Give throttle to get up on plane and engine dies after using what was in carb bowls. Bulb goes soft. Pump up bulb firm and repeat above all day long if I wanted to.

I had no one to keep squeezing bulb while running so I couldn't try that trick. Held in fuel primer but that didn't help.

What I tried already: I switched to remote tank to eliminate anti-siphon valve and fuel restrictions in boat fuel system. No change. I also removed, cleaned and re-installed the pulse limiter. No change. The fuel lines are in great shape and I replaced all the clamps with OEM type. I also eliminated the oil injection and used the proper plug.

I think it's the VRO2 pump. I have it here in my hand. Is it rebuildable, or should I get the fuel only pump for $175 at the dealer?

Thanks yet again,

Alden


BTW Maine is a real crappy state to try and find Johnson parts while on vacation:|

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Suit yourself. Nothing wrong with fuel only pump and pre-mix. But why not put a new VRO unit on and not deal with the pre-mix situation.

 

[alden135]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Question: When you blow into the pulse inlet (air)fitting on the vro pump should the pump cycle back and forth pretty easily? Mine seems to be sticky.

 

[alden135]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Anyone have service bullitin 2237?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

One thing about it, whether you get the VRO or the VRO replacement, it will come with a new pulse limiter. I don't know what the service bulletin refers to...I think it takes a bit to move the diaphram in the pump back and forth...

 

[alden135]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Thanks for the replies. Can anyone verify my VRO suspicions?

 

[alden135]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

I just disassembled the pump to inspect it. I can't find anything out of whack other than the piston seems to be sticky in it's cylinder. Maybe that's it? The piston o-ring seems fine.

 

[red boat]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Have the carbs been cleaned???

 

[funpilot]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Is the inlet and outlet on the fuel bulb correct?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Thanks for the replies. Can anyone verify my VRO suspicions?

I'm not sure what you want verified. If you mean can the pump be the problem, then yes, it can be. Was the pulse line good and tight at the engine and the pump? Have you tried running it on the water and while it's bogging down, have someone pump the bulb to see if it picks up? Try removing the fuel to carb output line, put it in a jar and run the engine at idle. See if gas pulses out of the line. Put a fuel pressure gauge inline between the pump and the carbs to see what pressure the pump is putting out. Until you do one or all of these tests, it's hard to say what the problem might be...
And yes, the pump can be rebuilt if nessesary....

http://www.maxrules.com/fixomcvro.html ] VRO rebuild parts [/url] 436095 + 435921

Also, have you read this article?

http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/VRO.html ] VRO[/url]

 

[ezeke]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

While you are checking out the parts at Bill Kelley's Mastertech site, you might want his troubleshooting chart:

http://www.maxrules.com/graphics/vropics/VROflowchart.JPG

 

[alden135]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Thanks for the links and such. I bought the air motor, fuel piston kits and updated pulse limiter today. I'll give rebuilding this thing a shot.

Alden

 

[alden135]

Re: Johnson VRO problems? No boat all vacation Grrrr

Update:

After sourceing the rebuild kits and installing them, I pressure tested the pump and found a crack in the air motor housing-oh well.

Bought the fuel only pump so hopefully thats it.