1985 90hp alarm went off....questions

ricohman

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Messages
1,631
1985 90hp with working updated VRO.
I haven't used the boat for a few weeks and my son and I went fishing today. I put the boat in the water and primed the fuel and started it up. As we idled away from the very busy launch the alarm started beeping. I had to go at a slow speed for a bit to clear the launch, maybe 15 seconds at idle before shutting it down. I inspected the oil tank which was 3/4 tank but the bulb was kind of deflated. I didn't even know there was a bulb on the oil line. I gave it a few pumps and started the motor. No more alarm and it ran great for the rest of the day with no trouble.
I have a couple of questions.
Would those few seconds of alarm going off and me running at idle have damaged the motor? I really had little choice I guess.
And should I be priming the oil tank bulb when I prime the fuel tank bulb?
Thanks.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
20,826
You don't have to prime the oil bulb every time. Only when you do some work or ect on the VRO. You didn't hurt anything by idling the motor. In fact you could idle it all day just running on straight gas and it wouldn't hurt it.
 

ricohman

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 30, 2011
Messages
1,631
You don't have to prime the oil bulb every time. Only when you do some work or ect on the VRO. You didn't hurt anything by idling the motor. In fact you could idle it all day just running on straight gas and it wouldn't hurt it.


That's good to know.
When I was using the boat nearly every day it was not a problem. I will give it a pump or two if its sits for a week or two from now on.
 
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