1989 johnson vro 140

fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Hi please advise!
owned for 1 year and had tons of trouble last spring till i discovered fuel line gas/air leaks (thank you marine doctor!)

-fogged in fall and drained fuel tank on boat
-disconnected vro last week and filled tank with 90 liters gas mixed 50:1 and 1 can 'sea foam'
-after priming bulb will run for 20-40 secs then miss and stall,prime with bulb,repeat....
-fogging oil is now burned off but motor will not remain running
-have removed gas line at vro and checked fuel fow and bulb ...seems ok
-sparkers were cleaned and look ok (but wet)
-if I continue to pump bulb motor will stay running

do I need a fuel pump or carbs cleaned. how do i check?

all input appreciated

Dennis in Kitchener On
 
C

chadgore

Recruit
Joined
Mar 21, 2011
Messages
4
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

just give it to me. i need a newer engin for my boat.lol
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

how much would I have to pay and where would you like it delivered?
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

I called the marina that charged me $700 to repair the engine last year and gave it back to me running 6/10. This year they say they are merc specialists and suggest I call someone 1.5 hours away! So I called this johnson specialist and he says in his experience disconnecting the vro oil side will cause my problems. ???? He also says I have now ruined the vro pump.

I have read over and over again that the fuel side of the vro will operate as a fuel pump and allow me to run premix.... that I can block the oil line and disconnect the warning horn wires. What is your experience/opinion?
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

Thank you for your response. Exactly what I had read here and in other forums. Also is exactly what I did. Now it may be that I am ready to rock and roll except I have some mysterious gnome leaking air into my gas line somewhere.... or perhaps the high tension lead i just discovered broken (have had the cover off and on a million times and at least 6 on the lake on saturday ... caught the wire with the cover clamp clip and am hoping that it was broken before ..... in which case I will replace and start the motor and life will be beauty again) is the source of all my woes. Personally I think my life would be better without the experts like the $700 pro mentioned in the thread above that was supposed to be the answer to my problems last year. And I have to wonder about the new 'expert' he has referred me to who says the solution is to buy a new vro unit from him for $470 (a clairvoyant diagnosis reached after approx 30 seconds with me on the phone). Other possibility that suggests itself is a rebuild required on the fuel side of my vro. Personally I trust the opinions and experience of the readers of this forum a great deal more :)
 
emoney

emoney

Commander
Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Messages
2,551
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

Yeah, just because they operate a shop, doesn't make them "experts". Not saying they're all bad, because that's not the case, but there's enough stinky fish to make the water smell. If nothing else, being capable of recognizing your problem, in a general sense, puts you quite a bit further ahead of the curve than the majority of boaters. Investing in a good OEM Service Manual will be your best decision.

I wonder how the guys from last year forgot everything they knew when it came to collecting your $700? Sheesh, some people. Good luck.
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

yup, got the manual. Of course "how to disconnect the VRO" is not a listed topic. For sure won't be putting my faith in the experts at Massels anymore tho. Intend to become a regular contributor here instead :)
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

Thank You Supreme Mariner for posting the link to vro instructions again. I have followed the instructions to the letter. If the fuel pump referred to by the link you supplied

"if it is not you can go to the fuel pump only. remove the VRO, and it's wiring. on the port side of your motor you will find 3 bosses, 2 bolt holes, and center on with a plug in it. remove plug, install this.
http://www.iboats.com/Fuel-Pump-for-...view_id.174141
connect you incoming line and out line, plug the pulse line under the carb.

is an option I might consider it. Unfortunately the link appears to be obsolete. Do you have a recommendation. part number or some kind of reference to the pump referrenced?

Much Appreciated
Supreme Swabby
 
J

johnson89

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
244
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

I had a 1989 but 90hp,so the same age an my VRO was wore out(fuel side ),it looked good but after I took it apart an got a real good look at the rubber parts on the inside they were full of holes an small cracks.I bought a new NON VRO pump for 48.00 an have been using it for a year now.I have a post with pic's on this site....This might be your problem,if you can keep the motor running by pumping the bulb the carb.s sounds like they are ok just not getting gas from the pump,a leak,air leak,or weak.
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

thank you johnson. I just replaced the broken spark plug wire and ran it again. same story except this time I got an alarm just before it stalled. Starboard cylinders were so hot i had to wrap the plugs in a towel to hold them, port side plugs were warm but not hot. Maybe I have a thermostat acting up now too. checked the coolant discharge and it was only warm.
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

today I swapped out the primer bulb and fuel filter. Timing has been retarded 1.5 degrees (because of backfiring) and butterflies on carbs are all properly seated. It now runs much better without apparent pops and/or any backfires.
I took a video which is now posted on utube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA3-lHgsnO4

Although the engine seems to run well with the changes to timing and carb settings it still stalls after exhausting the gas in the float bowls. I can refill with approx 15 pumps of the primer bulb and repeat the run.

It has now become impossible to avoid confrontation with the fuel pump.

Starboard heads were warm after the video was shot while port heads were still reasonably cool. I wonder if the motor would run this well without good ignition on all cyls? I am also going to repeat the run and check float bowls afterwards to confirm all four carbs are being starved for fuel.

feel like I am making some progress

ran again and checked float bowls afterwards., all four had only 1 tblspn of 50:1 mix in bowl
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

almost done my fuel pump install and ready for a water test. The recommended fuel pump did not have a location for the vacuum pulse line. This required a 'fabrication' to allow the flex pulse line to activate the pump. Seems to work now. Just want to check the timing and go fishing (for a change).
 
fshrgy99

fshrgy99

Seaman
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
69
Re: 1989 johnson vro 140

Feels sooo good to finally have the motor working. Now that the salmon are heading upstream I am finally ready to go fishing :/
Top speed 37 MPH at WOT on a 1989 lund baron 2100.

For future readers. The fuel part pump number above does work. However I had to fabricate a mounting plate with a fitting for the pulse line using elbows and clamps as the pump is deigned to bolt directly onto the motor housing. I will leave 'well enough' alone for now. If I need to replace the fuel pump in the future I will use 438559 which is a 'three fitting' pump with one for the pulse line. Apparently some motors had castings that included a direct bolt on position for the 556 fuel pump to the motor. Could not find any such thing on my 1989 140 hp so I had to get creative. Works but is much more cluttered. The 438559 looks like it would be a direct replacement.
 
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