Add oil to gas with a working VROII pump 1985 Johnson 90hp

[ricohman]

I ran my boat with its 1985 90HP Johnson all last year without trouble. The alarm for the pump did go off a couple times but it always quits after a second or two and the motor has run great. I just started it up today for the first time this year and again that alarm went off after it had run for a minute or two. But as usual, it quits after a second or two. Not even enough time to get to the back of the boat and have a look. The pump was replaced a few years ago with the VRO2 pump. The previous owner said it has always done this. I can use it for a month and then out of the blue "BEEEEEP". Quits the beeping right away.
I would like to add some mix to the gas in case this pump is not working right. The usual 50-1. I have read the VRO is pretty lean with the oil at certain rpms.
Will I foul the plugs doing this?

 

[Fed]

BEEEEEP is a temperature alarm.
BEEPBEEPBEEP is a no oil flow alarm.
BEEP BEEP BEEP is a low oil alarm.

 

[ricohman]

BEEEEEP is a temperature alarm.
BEEPBEEPBEEP is a no oil flow alarm.
BEEP BEEP BEEP is a low oil alarm.

I believe its the "beep beep beep"
The tank is nearly full though.

 

[flyingscott]

If it is a beep every 20-30 second that is a low oil alarm. I mix amsoil 100-1 pre-mix at 80-1 when I have a vro alrm. The tank sensor could be bad.
A beep every 1or 2 seconds is no flow
Every 20-30 seconds is low oil
A solid beep is overheat

 

[ricohman]

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If it is a beep every 20-30 second that is a low oil alarm. I mix amsoil 100-1 pre-mix at 80-1 when I have a vro alrm. The tank sensor could be bad.
A beep every 1or 2 seconds is no flow
Every 20-30 seconds is low oil
A solid beep is overheat

Sounds like a flow alarm. I am going to add some oil to be safe.

 

[Fed]

Oil flow alarm is rapid beeping like machine gun fire that raises & falls in frequency with the rpms.

 

[ricohman]

Oil flow alarm is rapid beeping like machine gun fire that raises & falls in frequency with the rpms.

It is nothing like that. Just a beep every 2 seconds or so. I could make it do that by increasing the idle with the start lever for a few seconds today. But it seems to stop as soon as it starts.
Thanks guys. I'm learning what these beeps mean.

 

[ricohman]

I thought I would add an update to this thread.
My son and I went fishing today and after we slowed down when we reached out spot the alarm started beeping. On the way back it beeped again every once in a while. I then noticed the bulb on the oil line was flat. When we stopped it would slowly fill somewhat and we could continue to the dock slowly.
When we got home I pulled the oil tank and removed the pickup tube/sending unit.
The screen was plugged with crap that must be in the tank. Greasy bits of sludge.
I put it back together after cleaning it out and the bulb now pumps up firm. I started up the motor on the muffs a few times and it runs like a top. Seems a bit more smokey at idle but there was no wind tonight.
I am going to flush the tank after I use up some of the oil. And give the screen another cleaning at the same time.

 

[racerone]

VRO is touted as " automatic "---But it is up to the owner to maintain that extra system on a motor !

 

[flyingscott]

I thought I would add an update to this thread.
My son and I went fishing today and after we slowed down when we reached out spot the alarm started beeping. On the way back it beeped again every once in a while. I then noticed the bulb on the oil line was flat. When we stopped it would slowly fill somewhat and we could continue to the dock slowly.
When we got home I pulled the oil tank and removed the pickup tube/sending unit.
The screen was plugged with crap that must be in the tank. Greasy bits of sludge.
I put it back together after cleaning it out and the bulb now pumps up firm. I started up the motor on the muffs a few times and it runs like a top. Seems a bit more smokey at idle but there was no wind tonight.
I am going to flush the tank after I use up some of the oil. And give the screen another cleaning at the same time.

You have to now the oil line and re-prime the pump only run it on pre-mix until that is done.

 

[ricohman]

You have to now the oil line and re-prime the pump only run it on pre-mix until that is done.

Hmmm.
Hope I didn't damage it while running on the muffs. Certainly seems to be getting oil though. But I guess there could be some air near the pickup.
I will remove the line at the pump and pump a liter through. The line is long and if there is any air it will take some fluid to move it through.

 

[cfauvel]

Please empty the oil into a container, clean out the tank....(that nasty jelly stuff will clog the pickup as you have seen), refill the tank using some kind of filter for the oil , and fill it with a known quantity....Clean the pickup filter or buy new one.

test the Low-oil circuit whilst you have the pickup out...(assumes horn works)

• turn key switch to ON
• push the float pin from the bottom of the pick up UP, horn should not sound.
• remove pressure from the float pin at the bottom of the pick, the metal disc attached to the pin, should fall down and make contact on the contacts' points and horn should blow.
• Turn key switch to off

If it doesn't sound the horn then dunk the oil pick up and float assembly in a cup of CLR for a few hours and re-test.
If still not working use a multimeter in continuity mode, to see if when the disc is touching the contacts, that you have continuity between the two posts....if not then keep trying CLR or 600 grit sand paper on the underside of the disc, until the meter read continuity, then re-test

If STILL not sounding, but passed continuity test, then you have something wrong with the wires....unplug the oil tank's two wire plug, and at the plug on the engine side put a jumper wire between the two posts to simulate a ground...with the key in ON the horn should sound....if not then the wires from the engine harness to the horn is bad, if it DOES sound then the wires from the plug to the pickup are bad somewhere..



prime the oil line to the VRO, once you've done that.

then monitor the gas used and the oil used. and get back with us with the resulting ratio...

very hard for the oil -piston in the VRO to NOT pump oil, UNLESS you have a kink in the line, air in the line, or jelly at the pick up.

Glad you saw the collapsed oil primer bulb...


As stated by Jake below might be the way to go depending on the tests results.

 

[jakedaawg]

If you were my customer you would be getting a new oil tank and line. It appears the alarm you were getting was in fact the "No Oil" alarm as evidenced by the collapsed priming bulb.

 

[flyingscott]

yes get a new tank assembly.