70 VRO idle issue when cold

Hello all experts, some good advice needed here...

'86 Johnson 70 vro has some problems when cold:
- Starts well for being that old piece.
- Dies instantly when putting into gear! Needs excessively long warm up on slightly higher idle (about 2 minutes or so) before it can be set to normal idle and get going somewhere.

- When warm the idle is ok (slighly higher compared to cold engine) and the engine does not stall.
- Runs well on any throttle level except for that cold idle.

- Spark plugs have been renewed by an authorized service partner, so I think they're ok.

Any ideas on what to check/do to get the cold idle a bit stronger???


A little worried about the vro-unit also - being that old. Should I try to purchase a new replacement? Where do I get i cheapest? I've done some engine work with smaller engines so I think I could do the replacement myselfrolleyes


Thanks in advance!

Re: 70 VRO idle issue when cold

there are 2 good threads on the vro in the faq forum. as for the idle sitiuation. i would clean and rebuild the carbs, get the idle rpms, set 600-750 in gear, in the water.

Re: 70 VRO idle issue when cold

Well, the problem persists now also when warm.

Dies after a while and after that veeery hard to fire up again.
My first guess is the fuel pump or plain and simple dirt in the carbs...

Can the fuel pump be so that it cannot produce enough preassure when engine is on low rpm's but still work fine on high rpm's???

Propably have to put that pump+carbs to pieces