Just got some news from the mechanic....not good...

[bassinRX]

Greetings... here is my info. 1998 Johnson 150 faststrike J150GLECD

Well, I took my boat to the local shop to diagnose an electrical problem I thought I was having (idled fine, but feels like 3 cylinders are shutting down as soon as it gets on plane and just goes back to idle, wouldn't rev past 2500 in gear). I thought it was the SLOW system kicking in and a bad Power Pack. So I took it in rather than throw parts at it.

This afternoon I gave them a call and I get the news that number 4 cylinder has 75 PSI and the starboard bank is all around 105. The other two cylinders on the port bank are 90 and 95. He also tells me that the VRO pump is bad. I know it was pumping oil last time I ran it (last weekend when the problem came). So maybe it is just weak?

Anyway, their recomendation was to repower it. That would be nice, but I am in no situation (student) to do that. What would yall do? Eliminate/replace VRO? I still dont know if the PP is bad or not. They said I have spark, but don't know if they load tested it.

[ChampioNman]

There is a fully dressed PH for sale in the motor parts forum for $1,400.00 You will have to go to VA to get it but it is cheaper than a rebuild. The guy that has it is a certified tech. VRO wouldn't cause one cylinder to go down.

[bassinRX]

Thanks again for the quick response as always championman! I was kinda wondering why only one cylinder would be down. I sent you an IM also.

I did forget to mention that there was also a "ticking" coming from the motor that I mentioned to the tech. He wrote it off as the VRO going bad....

[ChampioNman]

Have your mechanic check the reeds for #4.

[SEAHORSE]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bassinRX &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I did forget to mention that there was also a "ticking" coming from the motor that I mentioned to the tech. He wrote it off as the VRO going bad....</td></tr></table>

The "VRO" usually gets a bad rap for things it doesn't do. Is the ticking in the VRO pump or from the engine? If it's from the engine, then chances are it is not a "VRO" problem.

This link might shed some light on how the "VRO" works and the myths a lot of people believe about it.

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

[bassinRX]

Thanks seahorse... last time I listened to the ticking it did not seem like it was coming from the VRO... more from under the timing cover/flywheel/stator area.

Championman, I'm gonna ask them about the reeds when I pick up the boat tomorrow. Thanks.

[ChampioNman]

[juanjuice]

hey champ i can give him a good deal on a rebuild yea if the vro went out alot more than one cylinder would have been bad

[ChampioNman]

Thanks Juan,
He's bringing it Sunday for a once over.

[dhagemei]

1200.00 for whole motor, help pay for gas. will demo, and then you can sell off everything else you dont need and pay for the trip. David, va. 703-517-2626.

[ChampioNman]

Sent him to your block right off the bat. If the prognosis is bad he will need an adapter cable for the conversion.

[dhagemei]

Thank you.