Johno 110 vro 1989ish

[big moose]

Hey there learned ausfish colleagues,
Just took delivery of my new old boat a 1989 coxcraft rum-runner Quite appropriate 4 a delinquent rum pig like me it has a 110 johno on the back which has had the vro disconnected and runs premix, was told this is common on early johno's due pump reliability probs. Appreciate any advise on possible replacement pumps or mods to get it back to reliable oil injection

Thanks big moose

[Brumby]

Hi big moose, am in similar boat, discussed with mechanic who said don't bother. If I understood him right it has something to do with the gears that drive the oil pump being a bit suspect. I decided to take his advice and have gotten used to premixing again. I guess if it worries me that much I'll be better off trading up to a more modern motor.

[Noelm]

most VRO systems do NOT give trouble, it all comes from people who do not understand the system or are just paranoid and from the "old school" if it is disconnected but all still there it can be setup again, but if most bits were removed it may be easier/cheaper to just mix your own.

[big moose]

Thanks Brumby and Noel haven't even looked if any of the gear has been removed yet just curious about whether the info was good or duff
regds bm

[newchum]

i have to agree with Noelm in that most people dont understand the vro system . i was one of the people convinced to remove my vro and replace it with premix. but after some chat with BM i put it back on, and this was a 1986 evenrude, it has not missed a beat in the last 50 hrs that is has run. there are no gears in the oil pump it works from crankcase pressure and electrical control and the only thing i do now is carry some oil for peace of mind. the reason for first changing it was the no oil to the motor was alarm was on constantly, found a pin hole in the oil line from the reservoir that was sucking air and had deprimed the oil line.

[Noelm]

right on "newchum" thats what I was trying to get across, and there is no gears on an OMC system, when you consider how many are out there in use, they give very little trouble, the big drama is, if they do give trouble and the user does not head the warning alarm it is a major problem, but most DO give more than enough warning that something has gone "tits up"

[FNQCairns]

Big Moose there is an upgrade VRO that you will be able to buy all the bit's for over the counter or from a more modern engine at the wreckers. The early ones did have a few problems so they were updated or disconnected, the later VRO II (I think) was better but the memory remains for many, warrented or not.

I bought a Yam engine not long ago which has had the injection removed due to it failing, one thing for sure premix is only as reliable as the person doing the mixing and maintenace, same for oil injection, screens need cleaning and the system needs flushing also they are not a look at once every 5 years system, they need to be kept in tip top order.

Really it's up to you, I know I will stay premix on this engine as I cannot justify the cost of purchase and refitting the injection, if reftting amounted to known better reliability I might, but it don't think it does.


cheers fnq

[big moose]

Thanks all. I think I have enough info now and you have more or less confirmed my own feelings on injection, I will source the upgrade bits and refit the vro

many thanks bm

[Splash]

I too have the 1989 OMC with original VRO still attahced.

What alarm should be heard upon low/no oil?

How to inpsect system for leaks (oil and air)?

Splash

[mromanis]

Hi Spalsh (again)
I too have a 110 VRO johnson, though a bit earlier in vintage, rebuilt 18 months ago by the dealer I bought it from.
The alarm sounds from the throttle control (a small piezo device) and has two tones. One is a "peeeeeeeeedle...................peeeeeeeeeedl e" sound that I believe is an over heating sound. This can sound when idling and the thermostat is slow to open.
The second is a more urgent "peedle...peedle...peedle" sound which is low oil flow from the resevoir.
I have only heard the first sound, and been told what the second one sounds like.
Later generations of these VRO motors had warning lights on the RPM gauge.