Should I eliminate my VRO

[briansgi]

Guys, I have a 1987 Ranger 373 with it's original 1987 Johnson GT-150 and it still has the original VRO. Is it a good idea to disable the VRO before it causes major problems such as my motor locking up? I don't use the boat enough to make mixing oil/gas a hassle so I'm fine with doing that. I hear a lot of horror stories with these VRO systems and thought it might be wise to disconnect it.

If that makes sense, anyone know exactly what needs to be done to disconnect it? It's a Johnson 150STL - s/n 7497186.

Thanks!

[briansgi]

Did a google search, it looks pretty simple. Can someone confirm it's this easy:


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(VRO Pump Conversion To Straight Fuel Pump)
(J. Reeves)

You can convert the VRO pump into a straight fuel pump, eliminating the oil tank and VRO pump warning system, but retain the overheat warning setup by doing the following:

1 - Cut and plug the oil line at the engine so that the oil side of the VRO pump will not draw air into its system. Trace the wires from the back of the VRO to its rubber plug (electrical plug) and disconnect it.

2 - Trace the two wires from the oil tank to the engine, disconnect those two wires, then remove them and the oil tank.

3 - Mix the 50/1 oil in the proper amount with whatever quanity fuel you have. Disconnect the fuel line at the engine. Pump the fuel primer bulb until fuel exits that hose with the tint of whatever oil you used. Reconnect the fuel hose.

That's it. If you want to test the heat warning system to ease your mind, have the key in the on position, then ground out the tan heat sensor wire that you'll find protruding from the cylinder head. The warning horn should sound off.
********************

[ChampioNman]

Pretty much it. BUT mix your gas and oil first and run the motor for a while with the VRO still connected to make sure you are getting pre-mix in to the motor, Mix at a 50:1 ratio 1 pint to six gallons of gas. Make sure you also put a fitting over the oil intake side of the pump to prevent air coming in to the system.

[briansgi]

Thanks for the input! BTW, my owners manual calls for TC-W oil, is TC-W3 oil a compatible replacement?

[t-bone]

Yes, back when you're motor was built TC-W3 oils were not around yet.

[torew]

Brian, after what I have been told you will get diaphragm failure after a short time, as the oil side of the pump is not loaded by oil. The correct way to do it is to discard the complete VRO-unit and install a standard fuel pump on the crankhouse.

I haven't done any of them (I bought the standard pump to do the job, but the motor was stolen before I got to replace it) so I cannot say first-hand what is correct or not.

[briansgi]

Anyone else care to chime in here? I don't want to disconnect the oil line if it's going to ruin the remainder of the fuel pump. This is the first I've heard of this.

[Bassmeister]

If ChampionMan says it'll work that way........It will......

[briansgi]

Ok, thanks guys for the feedback, it will be disconnected shortly!!

[ChampioNman]

Ignore him! If he can supply data on complete motor lock downs then he needs to post them up. It is totally up to you, that being said you need to verify your alarm system is up to snuff. I will challenge anyother o/b manufacture to show me their superior oiling system on a carbed motor vs the OMC/BRP.

[F-23 Stealth225]

Ok so whoever you are you may remove a Post that I post up but Reguardless I have REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE with the VRO pumps Failing I had a 140 Horse Johnson on my first boat that Locked up because of the VRO Pump quit working and by the time the Buzzer started going off guess freakin what.... It was TOO LATE and It scoured 2 cylinders on that motor and the motor had to be rebuilt and those 2 cylinders Bored out and Sleeved. I know 4 or 5 other men in my area of Tennessee that have gone thru this SAME ordeal so whether you like it or not or like what I post here I am telling this man the TRUTH and have been down this road before.My last 91 WRH Faststrike and now my 2003 225HO on my Moodcraft did not and do not have the VRO Oil injection and my old Faststrike Never gave me any Problems and is still running Strong to this day and my newer 225 Dont have it and never will. I Refuse to take a chance on the Oil injection tearing up and locking up my Outboard because I was to lazy to Mix my own oil and used their Oil injection.Ignore me if you want or Have the Supermods remove this post if you wish but the Truth is the Truth whether people want to hear it or not.

[Lockjaw]

If you are worried about it, replce the pump with a new one.

Having had a motor I had to premix, let me just say its a PITA. What I always managed to do is fill it up to full of gas, and then try to get oil in there. MESSY!!!!

My last 2 have the Oil Injection on them and I use it. They use less oil that way. Just so you know.

[SEAHORSE]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by F-23 Stealth225 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

...the VRO Pump quit working

.... It was TOO LATE and It scoured 2 cylinders on that motor and the motor had to be rebuilt and those 2 cylinders Bored out and Sleeved.
</TD></TR></TABLE>


Sorry to say but you were suckered in by an uneducated "mechanic" if he told you that a bad VRO took out those 2 cylinders.

Read the following article on the myths of the VRO and you will know more than that "mechanic" did.

http://continuouswave.com/whal....html

[F-23 Stealth225]

Sorry Im No sucker and Nobody "Uneducated" has ever touched My Outboard.Believe what you want its your opinion and they are like A$$holes everyones got one.

[BassOrBlast]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by F-23 Stealth225 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sorry Im No sucker and Nobody "Uneducated" has ever touched My Outboard.Believe what you want its your opinion and they are like A$$holes everyones got one.</TD></TR></TABLE>


That settles it then! I checked and I do indeed have an arsehole--- I just cannot, however, speak from mine.

[torew]

Well, if the VRO pump breaks because it looses the loading on the oil side, it is not worse than replacing it with the non-VRO, part no. 5007422. No harm in trying.

[BESman]

In defense of the VRO, my '88 Johnson 110hp still has it's original oiler and (knock on wood) has never given a minute's trouble. I guess i need to test the warning horn just to make sure it does still work.

I would also have to agree with Seahorse's link on how the VRO/OMS works. You only have one line coming out of the VRO pump that supplies fuel/oil mix to ALL the carbs. I don't think that the fuel mix chooses one carb over another. So, if a VRO failed, it would ruin all cylinders, not just certain ones.

I say if it bothers you that much, disconnect it, if not, keep it running, you should use less oil than with pre-mixing.

My .02.

[GhostComanche]

Jeff, Way to make a grand entrance and start winning over friends here on the BBC.....................ChampionMan and SeaHorse both have tons and tons of knowledge to share and both know their J/E stuff prolly better than anyone in the country...................it would really pay to play nice and take the advice that these gentleman have to offer. ...............................Roger

[BfloSmallies]

Although its hard for some of us to admit that we are uneducated when it comes to OB's, the fact is most of us are, that is why we rely on the experts in this forum. If you take the time to read the post by Seahorse, you will see that most failures that mechanics relate to VRO's are in fact myths by uneducated mechanics and boat ramp gossip. I am sure that there have been tenfold the amount of engine failures due to human error in pre-mixing vs. using the VRO.
Since I am relatively uneducated when it comes to outboards, I will keep my VRO connected and rely on the Engineers at E/J and the experts on this forum.

[2ndCajun]

I have a '93 Johnsn 175 with the VRO still working. What type of warning would you have if it ever was failing?