'83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

[julius44]

I have an '83 Evinrude 50 hp. VRO. I've only had the boat for a yr. I put in a new impeller and still sometimes an alarm is sounding from my steering lever compartment. I would like to plug the VRO oil sending unit and mix the gas myself. I can't get an answer from any boat mechanic. Can I just plug the oil line or do I need a kit to convert it?? ANY help on this topic would greatly help, THANKS!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Welcome to the forum!

1st of all, if that is a VRO it has to be a 1985 or newer.
If it is a VRO there is an electric cable with plug coming off the pump. That will have to be disconnected. Then the oil line from the tank will have to be plugged so that it will not suck air. That's about it as far as I've learned.

 

[175se]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

get the model number off the stern bracket, that helps everyone define how to help you with your question better.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

What is the audible alarm that you are hearing?

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

What is the audible alarm that you are hearing?

It has loud beeps coming from the shifter box. Lasts 10-30 seconds then goes off. It happens when I first start up the motor to warm up after launching...

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

get the model number off the stern bracket, that helps everyone define how to help you with your question better.

Model #: E50 BELCDE Thanks for your help! Mechanic that worked on it told me it was an '83? So that's what I was going off of...

 

[bonz_d]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

that comes up as a 1986 50hp.
is that beep one solid sound. right now having trouble finding the codes in my manual, worked last night and been up 17hrs.

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Thanks for replying and the info about the yr.. It's a steady beep, beep, beep... I pulled the boat out yesterday and fired it up again. Now the beeping lasts up to 5 min. after I start it up and sitting at idle. If I raise the idle/throttle, the beeps are closer together.. Shuts off after 3-5 min. or so. No overheating, etc...

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

That's the sound it was making last fall. Fired it up again yesterday. Now it lasts up to 5 min. after starting. If I raise the throttle, the beeps are closer together. There's no overheating as I put in a new impeller last fall.. Very annoying sound.....

 

[racerone]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Mix gas and oil at 50:1 untill you have this figured out.-----The intermittant beep may be an indication that VRO is not working properly.----Hopefully no damage has been done to precision internal parts !

 

[bonz_d]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

This is from a 1987 50hp manual.

1/2 second on, 1/2 second off repeating is "no oil" alarm
1/2 second on every twenty seconds is, "low oil" alarm
continuous tone is over heat

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Thanks! Could it be from the sensor going bad? Research I've done states that those VRO oil pumps rarely go out?? I have a new impeller that I put in last fall, so it pumps water immediately, no overheat that I can feel/see... Is there a way to check and see if the oil pump is working properly?? Thanks again...

 

[racerone]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Are there any wires coming off the VRO fuel pump ??---The VRO pump is surprisingly easy to take apart for inspection.---On an 86 motor ( if pump is original ) that would be a good idea.---Just my opinion though.

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

If I mixed the gas at 50-1, will the alarm keep sounding or do you think it will go off, and is that the best way to find out? Thanks again..

 

[bonz_d]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

julius44 there are 6+ pages in the service manual on service and trouble shooting the VRO pump.

Once again there is an electical cable with a plug coming from the pump. That sends a signal to the alarm horn. You can unplug that cable but then you also need to plug the oil line from the oil tank coming into the engine.

Has the oil line from the tank been disconnected from the engine or been run empty? This will also set off the alarm. If this is the case per the manual the hose and pump need to be reprimed until all air has been removed and the tank is again pumping oil.

Below the VRO pump and towards the rear there is a clear sight tube that should allow you to see oil flowing from the pump.

 

[racerone]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Mixing the gas and oil will not change the way the alarm works in any way.---The alarm is triggered by whether the VRO mixing pump is working properly!---You need to take the time to see how all this works before you damage the motor.

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Thanks! I will have to check that out. I'll try to find a diagram to see exactly where the "VRO pump" is. Any suggestions where I can find out that information? I'm not a mechanic by any means..

 

[julius44]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Thanks! I will look at that... Oil tank, (since I've had it has always had oil in it. It sat for 5 yrs. before that. I had the impeller changed last fall. And when I went to pick up the boat/motor, it was running fine with no alarm. The alarm just happened a couple times after that when I first started the engine in the water sitting idling warming up. It went off as soon as I put it in gear and started moving. Then the alarm was on longer the other day when I fired it up for the first time this spring. Thanks for all the info, I'll look into the things you've suggested.....

 

[bonz_d]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Looking from the front it will be on the right hand side next to the carbs.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: '83 Evinrude 50 hp VRO

Your water pump change will have nothing to do with this alarm.

Mix your fuel 50:1 just as you would with a premix. Disable the VRO oil pump as I discribed above. Then either run it with premix or have the VRO repaired.

As you have admitted to not being a mechanic I would suggest taking it to one. Running these engines w/o oil will destroy them in a hurry!