Johnson V4 120hp VRO Down for the Count 10 feet off shore.

[oregonboatnewb]

So Just a couple months ago, i got myself a 1989 17ft SeaSwirl, with a 1989 Johnson Evinrude 120 V4 VRO... I had the boat fully tested/inspected, and test drove it, everything went flawless... I put the boat in last month just to mess around, again no issues...

So yesterday i get my brothers and there GF all on the Boat... put it in, tie it up, it starts right up... We unhook from shore, and i start to give it some gas... Immediately i can tell something is wrong, its bogging down hard, and no power, just alittle more then a forward idle...

I pop the cover off, and Gas is FLOWING Out of the bottom of what looks to be the bottom of the Carb or Fuel pump (Bottom of piece with red on/off switch, was THROWING gas out) We are in deep trouble, cause the paddles were doing not much good against the current of the river... we floated down about a mile, before someone towed us back to the docks... the boat i tried to turn over a few times, it would start, then die if i gave it any gas at all... and i was amazed it started at all, the way it was throwing out..

I called a local marine shop, they think its the Fuel pump Diaphragm... apparently anything pre 1990 isn't ethanol safe... and it felt the wrath !

I'm going tomorrow to get it checked out, but ontop of this, can you guys think of anything else that i should replace, while i got the thing on land, that would fail in such a monster way as this fuel pump seems to have, due to the ethanol.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Johnson V4 120hp VRO Down for the Count 10 feet off shore.

that item is the primer.
Primer Solenoid
the primer replaced the old choke butterflies in the carborators, pushing in the key activates it, like the old choke plates, but injects fuel directly into the intake.
The red handle is used when your battery is dead, and you have to rope start. You move the handle 180 degrees.
Normal operating position is with the handle back over the body of the solenoid, like in the picture below.

you probably have a cracked fuel hose, or primer. replace all fuel lines from tank to carbs and primer, with alcohol resistant lines.

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Johnson V4 120hp VRO Down for the Count 10 feet off shore.

I took the boat to a friend who owns pro marina here in oregon... he took a look at it, and it was actually one of the Carbs that was massively over flooding... and dripping from the carb case, down to the piece i took the pictures of... One of the carbs floats must be stuck, cause when i go to prime it, i just flows out the carb... He shop wants to rebuild all 4, just to be safe, and make sure it doesn't happen on the water... the parts kits are around 100 for all 4... and they said it will take abour 3 hours at 85.00 an hour to fix...

a friend of mine is a yamaha mechanic... but has only worked on yama dirt bikes... are these boat motors much different ? or is a carb, a carb, a carb ? I left the boat at the shop, cause it has a few other things i'm having done...

What do you guys think ?

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Johnson V4 120hp VRO Down for the Count 10 feet off shore.

My humble opinion, is that since the motor is new to you, I'd get it done up correctly at the marina for the 400 bucks. This way you will be guaranteed (hopefully) that it is done right and you'll know what the motor sounds like and performs like when the carbs are clean and synched properly. This way you'll know if something goes wrong in the future and get it looked at promptly.

 

[oregonboatnewb]

Re: Johnson V4 120hp VRO Down for the Count 10 feet off shore.

Yeah, i left the Boat at the marine, he said he will take care of me best he can... Should be done Today or tomorrow, after this experience, kicker bracket is going on, and i'm taking my 15 johnson as back up LOL