Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

[Blake0912]

I have a 1987 Johnson with the VRO still hooked up, I like having the oil injection but lately Ive been real nervous about the oil side of the VRO cutting out and toasting my motor. I'm not sure how old the VRO pump is, plus when I prime the bulb a slight bit of gas will leak out from the top of the pump from where there is a small raised section. So I was thinking about just forking out the $400 for a new pump to ease my mind. Does this sound like a good idea or should I just wait for the pump to fail before replacing?

PS- I have checked the warning system by grounding the tan wire coming from the head to the block and the warning horn system does work.

 

[boobie]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

Why not just disconnect the oil side of of vro and mix your fuel 50:1. At least you know you'll be getting oil.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

I've been tossing that idea around in my head also, would converting this motor to pre mix after it running on a VRO for 25 years hurt anything?

 

[boobie]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

No.......... At least you'll have piece of mind.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

This may be a dumb question but having a fuel/water separator would not affect the mixed oil/gas by filtering the oil out of the gas would it?

 

[boobie]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

Again, No.........Best thing you could install.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

Thank you for the info , after reading much more about it online I am going to convert to pre mix I believe it will be the best thing for this old motor. Any tips on how to get the gas out of my tank( its a 90 gal under the deck tank, i just cant pull it out and drain it) I'm not sure exatly sure how much gas is in there( should be less than 20 gals). I want to be sure I pre mix the first batch correctly.

 

[w2much]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

My point of view only. You have an older engine, what happens when the fuel side goes bad? rebuild? or buy a fuel only pump for about $300. I just installed a new VRO because I too like the oil injection. You may be able to find one NOS for a reasonable price as they are not big sellers for the price and many persons pre mix to avoid the cost of buying a new one. I pre mixed for a few months and went back to the VRO.

 

[daselbee]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

It will smoke more at start up and idle if you get rid of the VRO oil mixing function.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

I agree about the point that I may have to buy a new fuel pump anyway. And the smoke does not bother me I've ran pre mixed motors before my VRO engine still smokes like a beast when you first fire it up anyway. The cheapest VRO I found was about 350 the cost of a new pump does not bother me , it beats paying 2500 for a rebuild any day. But converting will basically be free and I'll be sure there is oil flowing threw the motor , I'm still not 100 percent sure what I'm going to do yet.

On another note my other engines a 92 merc and 01 Yamaha still have there original oil pumps and I never think twice I don't get why the VRO makes me so nervous , guess I read and heard to much about them failing.

 

[boobie]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

If you're using premix fuel with the vro as a fuel pump only, if it takes a dump you can buy kits to repair the fuel side only. They are a lot cheaper than a new vro.

 

[Fed]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

Just another point of view but I'd test the no-oil alarm by running on a portable tank of premix & disconnecting the oil line going into the VRO. After proving the alarm is operational re-prime the VRO & carry on.

 

[lastchance32]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

I may be the only one that feels this way but I'd keep the VRO. Until this year I had a GT200 that was an 89 model, no telling how many hours were on that motor. I never once worried about the VRO pump failing. I would do like Fred said and confirm that the alarm does indeed work, then not worry about it. I think VRO gets an undeserved bad reputation. There are likely more motors that have not had trouble than ones that do. I could be wrong, but after 23 years of faithful Variable Ratio Oiling I'd say that's pretty good. I don't like to have to fool around measuring oil and keeping track of the fuel, just pull up to the pump and go.

 

[nwcove]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

with all do respect....pre-mixing 100 gallons of fuel is no more difficult than pre-mixing 1 gallon. oil injection is wonderful , until a sensor fails , then things get expensive. jmo

 

[w2much]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

You are prudent to worry about your old pump. Your pump has not failed you and it is 15 years old. I would replace it now anyway.Good for another 15 or more.

 

[Fed]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

So far the OP's got 25 years out of the pump you suggest changing at 15 years... too funny.

 

[Blake0912]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

Thank you all for your input , I'm not sure the age of my current pump I'm just going to assume its original.
I still can't decide what I want to do if I do stay with the VRO it will be replaced before next season, at very least I will get a rebuild kit for the fuel side and convert to pre mix. But since it's leaking a bit on the top of the VRO when I prime up the bulb something has to be done.
I want this old thirsty girl to give me a few more good seasons , I love watching my neighbor and his four stroke getting pulled in while my old Johnson is still purring along.

 

[w2much]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

So far the OP's got 25 years out of the pump you suggest changing at 15 years... too funny.

Jus sayin ...for the price of a new motor or the price of a VRO, I would replace at this time.

 

[w2much]

Re: Replaceing the VRO on a 225 Johnson

Look at Craigslist San Diego, dealer on Boats has new VRO for $250. Not sure of your part #. Good Luck.