Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

Status
Not open for further replies.

scginn1

Recruit
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
5
Alarm is sounding intermittently about every two to three seconds or so. The motor is a 2001 Johnson J50PSIG. It was runnig fine the last time that I used it approx. 3 months ago, It seems like it has good water pressure coming out of water tube and it has no oil tank as I have to mix the gas and oil in the tank when I fill it up, it has plenty of smoke so I know there is oil in the gas tank. I have a drum to let it run in while at home and after about 5 minutes of running the alarm starts, Any help would be greatly appreciated, Just tell me where to start, Thanks
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

A 50hp engine running in a barrel for 5 minutes..... that water could get pretty hot, shouldn't be hot enough to cause that problem, but it's a thought.

I wonder if you would have that same problem if using a flushette or if in the water.

Are you using the VRO pump still but only as a fuel pump? If so, has the oil line been plugged, the VRO electrical system unplugged?
 

scginn1

Recruit
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
5
Re: Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

Hey Joe, Thanks for the quick reply, I will check with the flushette tomorrow, but I felt the water as it came out of the "peehole" and it was not very warm coming out, it was a little warm but not hot. I can also put my hand on the head while it is running and the alarm is going off and it does not feel that hot to me.

Joe you lost me on using the vro as a fuel pump, I talked to the guy that i bought the boat from 3 years ago and he said that it never had an oil tank and that the gas and oil was always mixed, if you can explain to me what to look for i will do it, thanks

All of the vro stuff should be the same as before as for as electrically, just a thought could cleaning the motor area with wd-40 be causing this? It may make me sound like a knucklehead but that is all that i have done besides change the tilt/trim
 

scginn1

Recruit
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
5
Re: Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

Just a thought, in checking other posts isn't an overheating alarm a constant buzzing / beeping and some other problem the intermittent alarm?
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

Just a thought, in checking other posts isn't an overheating alarm a constant buzzing / beeping and some other problem the intermittent alarm?

Here are the various alarm sounds:
(VRO Horn Warnings)
(J. Reeves)

NOTE: I retired around 1991/92. Possibly some of the later V4 engines and others may also incorporate a fuel vacuum switch that would enable a fuel restriction warning to sound as mentioned below, an unknown factor to myself.

1 - A steady constant beep = Overheating - The V/6 engines, possibly some others, have a fuel restriction warning which is also a steady constant beep.

2 - A beep every 20 or 40 seconds = oil level has dropped to 1/4 tank. (Late model engine = Every 40 seconds)

3 - A beep every other second = VRO failure, air leak in oil line, oil restriction, (anything that would result in a lack of oil being supplied to the engine).

NOTE - If the warning horn is the black plastic (overpriced) three wire type horn, the warning horn should beep once when the ignition key is turned to the ON position. If it does not, it is either faulty or someone has disconnected it (a stupid move!). At any rate, if it does not beep which indicates that the horn is non functional, find out why and do not run the engine until the problem is corrected.

-----------------------

Now.... Trace the incoming fuel hose to the fuel pump which is attached to the engine. A "VRO" (variable ratio oil) fuel/oil pump would be a fairly large black plastic item which would more than fill the palm of your hand. A regular fuel pump is of course a rather compact item. The VRO pump would have wiring extending from the smaller end of it to a rubber electrical plug.

-------------------------

In converting a VRO equipped engine back to a premix fuel/oil engine, and to keep using the VRO but strictly as a fuel pump only, the following is the proper procedure.

(VRO Pump Conversion To Straight Fuel Pump)
(J. Reeves)

You can convert the VRO pump into a straight fuel pump, eliminating the oil tank and VRO pump warning system, but retain the overheat warning setup (and fuel restriction warning if so equipped) by doing the following:

1 - Cut and plug the oil line at the engine so that the oil side of the VRO pump will not draw air into its system. Trace the wires from the back of the VRO to its rubber plug (electrical plug) and disconnect it.

2 - Trace the two wires from the oil tank to the engine, disconnect those two wires, then remove them and the oil tank.

3 - Mix the 50/1 oil in the proper amount with whatever quantity fuel you have. Disconnect the fuel line at the engine. Pump the fuel primer bulb until fuel exits that hose with the tint of whatever oil you used. Reconnect the fuel hose.

That's it. If you want to test the heat warning system to ease your mind, have the key in the on position, then ground out the tan heat sensor wire that you'll find protruding from the cylinder head. The warning horn should sound off.
 

scginn1

Recruit
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
5
Re: Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

Joe, that is great information, I will check everything that you mentioned tomorrow as I am working night shift. but it sounds like maybe the vro causing some problems.

I did some more testing today. Okay, I hooked up the flushette and turned the key on, I got one beep as I turned the key to the on position, I started the motor and and it ran as usual for about 3 or 4 minutes and then it started to alarm about every other second or so.

I turned the engine off and then restarted, it waited another 2-3 minutes before the alarm came on again at this time I put the motor in gear and it continued to beep but as I rev'd up the engine the beep started getting faster, the more you rev the faster the beep.

This is just some more info that may be useful for troubleshooting, I will check the rest tomorrow, by the way at no time during my testing did the motor get hot or was ever in any danger of doing damage. Thanks so much for your help, if this brings any other things to light let me know tonight and i will also check that tomorrow.
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

Sounds like, even though you're using premix, that the VRO is still there (which is okay) BUT the wiring from it is still plugged in.
 

scginn1

Recruit
Joined
May 16, 2010
Messages
5
Re: Need Help Please.. Alarm on 01 Johnson 50HP

Joe, you were right on the money, SOMEHOW the wires from the VRO were connected, maybe I re-connected them while I was cleaning the Engine, Who Knows, Anyway thanks for your help, it was so greatly appreciated, took the boat out this weekend and no problems,
 

techmechanic

Recruit
Joined
May 20, 2020
Messages
3
All, I have a 50hp Johnson Year 2000 that was having intermittent as well as constant alarms. I finally solve the problem. I replaced the OEM spark plug wires which are a stab through type plug connector with Kawasaki screw in plug connectors and wires from the tractor implement. The intermittent and constant alarm sound stopped. Somehow the poor connection in the OEM plug wires was causing the overheat alarm to sound. I don't know why it worked but want to share after I spent a ton of time going through the fuel system, temp sensor etc. as suggested which I am glad I did anyway because it improved my overall engine performance but please do yourself a favor and check your plug wires it may solve your headache is it did mine.
 

techmechanic

Recruit
Joined
May 20, 2020
Messages
3
All, I have a 50hp Johnson Year 2000 that was having intermittent as well as constant alarms. I finally solve the problem. I replaced the OEM spark plug wires which are a stab through type plug connector with Kawasaki screw in plug connectors and wires from the tractor implement.
 

flyingscott

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
8,229
I am guessing the op has his motor fixed by now because he hasn't been here in 7 yrs,
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top