1980 70 HP Johnson

[da_ardvark]

Hi all great forum

I'm new to boat ownership. I grew up with boats in my family but never owned one. Earlier this month, I bought a 1973 Glastron V156 with a 1980 70 HP outboard. After changing out the ignition switch (the seller couldn't find the key) and lubing the cylinders with some oil/gas mix, the engine fired right up on muffs. I took it out twice and the thing boggs down at WOT. Now I've read enough to know this could be a dirty carb, fuel filter, fuel pump etc etc.

My question is more about my fuel pump. I have a service manual for the engine I got during purchase. The photo in the manual looks nothing like the fuel pump on the engine. The one on my engine has 6-7 torx fasterners (this seems weird for a 1980 vintage engine as I didn't think torx were widely used at that time) My fuel pume also lacks the round fuel filter housing that is removed with a single flat screwdriver.

So to my question. What the heck kind of fuel pump is on this engine??

If it would be helpful I can try and borrow a digital cam and post some pics.

Thanks in advance.

Denny

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Yes please post a pic so we can see what you're looking at, lol. Have you taken it apart?

 

[da_ardvark]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

I have not taken it appart yet because I want to be sure exactly what to expect when I do. I'll try and get pics this evening and post them in the morning (I have stinking dial up at home )

Thanks

Denny

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

The correct pump for your engine is OMC part number 438559. But I would first clean the carbs thouroughly, as if one cylinder is not getting fuel, then it's not getting oil either. Also make sure to use fresh fuel...

 

[guy74]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Sounds like you are describing a VRO fuel pump. I also have a '73 V156, mine has an 1988 60hp Johnson. It sounds like you are describing the pump on my VRO engine.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Probably right, do u premix your fuel??

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Are you absolutely sure your motor is a 1980 model year? VRO oil/fuel pumps came out in 1984... Please post your model number...
- Scott

 

[da_ardvark]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Humm,

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I am premixing the oil into the fuel at a 50:1 ratio

I'll get all possible numbers off the engine tonight. I'm almost positive it's a 1980 but who knows (certainly not me )

Could someone have retrofitted a VRO pump onto the 1980 powerhead?

I'll get answers to your questions. I'm going to get some seafoam tonight as well.

Thanks

Denny

 

[da_ardvark]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

I was doing some searching on the web at work, and I found this pic. This looks very similar. I'll know more tonight

 

[guy74]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

The VRO was disconnected on mine when I got it, so I premix 50:1, but the whole VRO pump is still in there for now. There is a small inline filter on mine, it's hard to see, it is located below the VRO pump in the inlet fuel line.

 

[da_ardvark]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

:redface:

Ok, I'm officially embarassed. I assumed that because my manuals I got with the boat and engine, that I had a 1980 70 HP. After following the advice here my engine is now 5 years younger in the span of just 2 hours

The model # is J70ELCO, and if my information is correct the word "introduces" is used to date the motor. This makes mine a 1985 vintage.

Also to make matters even more embarassing, while taking photos of the engine tonight, I take one of the rear of the engine cowling, and I see thru the view finder "70 VRO"

Ok so I have a 1985 VRO engine but as you'll see tomorrow (I took some pics) it appears to my untrained eye that the thing has been modified. there is a "fuel?" line that has a bolt inserted into the free end.

Now I have even more pressing questions. I am mixing fuel 50:1, am I possible still doing damage to the engine?

Is there an advantage to using the VRO? And if so what would I need to put it back to normal.

And finally, is the fuel filter still in that unit? In one of the pics I'll post tomorrow, you can see a plastic screen/filter.

Thanks so much for all your help everyone. I have only had the boat for 15 days and have already learned a bunch about boats. All from generous folks like yourselves who are willing to freely share knowledge. I hope to someday have enough knowledge to continue this fine tradition.

Love Denny

 

[guy74]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Mine has a bullet stuck in the old oil line to keep the pump from sucking air. Thats part of disabling the VRO and using premix. I bought a used regular fuel pump for mine that I'm gonna rebuild and istall when I can spare the boat for a couple days.

 

[da_ardvark]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Ok so here are the pics although I think my mystery has been solved

Can someone try and explain to me why this would have been disabled? Was the technology at the time not reliable?

Should I put the VRO back into working order?

Thanks

Denny

 

[guy74]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

I wouldn't, I don't think the warning system was very good with that generation of VRO systems. Probably why they got a bad reputation. I also wouldn't want to have an oiltank in the boat either. Not a bad job to premix if you are using 6 gallon portable tanks, (1 pint oil to 6 gallons gas)

 

[guy74]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Are you sure you have a 1973 V156, some things I see in your pictures seem to point to a 75 or 76 model, unless someone has done some modifications to it. What is the hull Id number?

 

[da_ardvark]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Hull number is GLA12385M73K

That dates it to 1973 I think.

What do you see that makes you think it's modified?

Thanks

Denny

 

[guy74]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

All of the ones I have seen in salvage yards have the steering cable anchored into the side of the splashwell like my 1973 did. Yours doesn't have the fitting in the side of the splashwell. Also the lid on the front storage has the later kind of latch. I guess it could be a very late 73 model. I didn't think any of them came out with a tilt tube anchored steering. My cousin's 1981 GX 150 still used the splashwell anchored cable.

 

[guy74]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

Here is some info on your boat
HIN: GLA12385M73K
Model Year: 1973
Certification Year: 1973 (June)
Manufacturer: GLASTRON BOATS
Not your manufacturer? Click here.
Manufacturer City/State: LITTLE FALLS MN
Guess I was wrong.

 

[twc357]

Re: 1980 70 HP Johnson

I have a question also my model # on Engine is J70elco can someone please tell me what yr it is ? lol cant find it anywhere and also someone tried to hot wire the ignition switch when it didnt even ned a key now all the wires are off and i have looked at book after book and diagrahms cant get it straight the ignition has 5 terminals and are lettered A,M,B,M,S in a circle with red/purple wire, black/yellow wire. 2 black , 1 white, 1 purple and 1 purple white. I know this is alot just thought I would give it a shot . Thanks for any help at all.