Johnson 85 or 86 VRO gauges and nasty alarm

[barron67]

Hello!<br /><br />We have a Johnson 85 or 86 VRO 60HP on our pontoon. Last year we replaced the oil pump b/c of the nasty alarm going off and some fuel leakage on the water when we would start up. Solved the fuel leak problem not sporadic alarm. For our maiden voyage this year- alarm started going off when going slow with prop up. (actually had one day with no alarm) I read in postings to shake the reserve b/c float sensor might be getting stuck- do you mean shake the oil tank? After the alarm started going off - we pulled the accessory plug and then when we put it back IN the alarm stopped, then all the gauges went dead with boat still running I noticed fuel smell/slight smoke at this time. We kept going slow and then decided to try turning off and resetting. Big Mistake! No power - no nothing (only radio worked). (thank God for kind neighbors and cell phones) I had noticed earlier and end of last year that the tilt was shorting out a little as well as gauges. Do you think the alarm is the oil alarm or overheat alarm and do you think it's related to the gauges wiring. What should I ask the repairman who is coming tomorrow to do in order to help our chances of a fun summer with little or no boat trouble nightmares. (it is so hard to get someone to come out - takes so long, that I want to make sure all bases are covered)<br /><br />Thanks in Advance,<br /><br />Tori

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Johnson 85 or 86 VRO gauges and nasty alarm

Tori.... It sounds like it would be a good idea to have the wiring of that rig checked over by an experienced technician.<br /><br />You don't say what type alarm you're getting. The alarms are:<br /><br />Beep every other second = VRO failure, oil restriction, air in oil line, out of oil.<br /><br />Beep every 20 seconds = Oil in tank has dropped to the 1/4 level.<br /><br />Beep constant and steady = Overheating.

 

[barron67]

Re: Johnson 85 or 86 VRO gauges and nasty alarm

Hi Joe,<br /><br />Thanks for your reply. The alarm is steady, but the temp gauge has never showed overheating - that is when it was working. I guess we assumed it was the oil pressure alarm last year because it would go off constant and steady sometimes when you would just first start it up or after not too long on it. How could we tell why it is going off? (as you probably guessed, we are not mechanics, but willing to learn!)<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Tori<br />p.s. when i talked to the guy who is coming over tomorrow to look at it (the boat doctor He said it sounds like the spader - any thoughts on that?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Johnson 85 or 86 VRO gauges and nasty alarm

Hi Tory....<br /><br />Just an opinion here.....I would look at the engine wiring harness, the cable going forware and the control box wiring. A steady tone indicates overheat on your engine. Or, the horn is bad or shorting. I am not familiar with the term "spader" so I cannot help ya' there. With the way your gages come and go, some form of wiring short or other problem comes first to mind. Check your engine harness for any wires that may be bare from abrasion or melted insulation. You may also "jiggle" the harness with the engine running to see if the alarm will come and go or if the gages "come and go". Sometimes, right where the harness enters the engine, wires will break and make/break contact as the engine is tilted. The wiring in the control box can be checked by opening the box and just taking a good look. Very tight space in there and I have seen more than once wires pinched or have the insulation rubbed through from the close quarters. Hope we have helped a little. Good Luck@

 

[barron67]

Re: Johnson 85 or 86 VRO gauges and nasty alarm

Hi OBJ,<br /><br />Thanks for the suggestions! We will try looking at the wiring harness and control box and post back any interesting results.<br /><br />Tori