I have a 1989 Johnson 110hp w/ VRO. I have dumped way too much money into this already so I am hoping for a cheaper fix(highly unlikely I know). When I got the boat the motor wasn't running. Since then I have replaced the fuel lines, oil lines, fuel pickup, fuel filter, oil tank, plugs, wires, power pack, rebuilt carbs, checked compression, checked vro pump, new prop, new battery, new water pump, new controls and lines. After the last repair it was running great out of water on muffs. Last week I put it in the water for the first time this year. Started up fine and ran great. After two or three laps around the lake at WOT I felt it starting to lose power. I put it in nuetral and it stayed running like normal. Throttled up in nuetral and it was fine. The issue came as soon as I shifted in either forward or reverse it died. I tried to shift at a slightly higher rpm to make sure there was not an adjustment error when I installed new controls and cables but still nothing. I am trying to get my hands on a timing light and a peak voltage meter just to eliminate some obvious answers. The previous owner did a number on this motor and obviously didn't have a clue(or a manual). I am not an outboard mechanic so I am trying to avoid making the same mistake he did. This is my last attempt to get this motor running right before it has a for sale sign or ends up at the bottom. Any suggestions would help.
