Johnson VRO 60HP Question

[Tom Ford]

I bought a used Johnson 60 VRO (1985) outboard nearly 2 years ago. I use
it to push an 18' Angler center console. I recently spent $300 having
the VRO pump replaced (wouldn't start, lots of white smoke, all oil, no
gas). The question is:

Does anyone else have a Johnson VRO outboard and how long can expect
this new pump (mixes the gas and oil) to last?

[Matthew Burton]

I used to have a 1986 VRO Johnson which I used on a 15' Boston Whaler. After
about the 2nd year (we used it a lot for skiing and fishing) the pump went
out. After reveiwing the cost of the pump versus all the problems OMC was
having at that time with them, I decided to mix my fuel 50:1 and just run
with it. I really don't trust the pumps from that day when they first tried
them, I knew several people who burned up their motors due to lack of oil.

Sorry I don't have a better opinion.
Matthew

Tom Ford wrote in message <34CD086F...@erols.com>...

[Marcus G Bell]

Matthew Burton (mbu...@mobile.gulf.net) wrote:

> I used to have a 1986 VRO Johnson which I used on a 15' Boston
> Whaler. After about the 2nd year (we used it a lot for skiing and
> fishing) the pump went out. After reveiwing the cost of the pump
> versus all the problems OMC was having at that time with them, I
> decided to mix my fuel 50:1 and just run with it. I really don't
> trust the pumps from that day when they first tried them, I knew
> several people who burned up their motors due to lack of oil.

Just to clarify, this was an earlier version of the VRO pump.
Improvements have been made since then, and a new replacement pump
would reflect these inprovements. As long as a real new pump was used,
not one pulled from one of those mid-'80s motors, it should be pretty
reliable.

--
--
Marcus. ( be...@mail.med.upenn.edu )

[FISHLBI]

I have a 1986 Johnson VRO 50 HP how do you know if the pump is going, also does
anyone know the value of the motor and how much does the motor cost to rebuild?

[Pig3916871]

i have a 93 115 johnson and a 97 johnson 70 and had never had any trouble with
eathe one and i like both of them the 70 smoke more than the 115 but i would
not take nothing for them if i couldn't get another one

[da...@cris.com]

>I bought a used Johnson 60 VRO (1985) outboard nearly 2 years ago. I use
>it to push an 18' Angler center console. I recently spent $300 having
>the VRO pump replaced (wouldn't start, lots of white smoke, all oil, no
>gas). The question is:
>
>Does anyone else have a Johnson VRO outboard and how long can expect
>this new pump (mixes the gas and oil) to last?
>

Got one right here Tom but nothing bad to report. Its only a '91. No
problem so far. The 60 is supposed to be damn reliable.
da...@cris.com

[CLind10107]

>>Does anyone else have a Johnson VRO outboard and how long can expect
>>this new pump (mixes the gas and oil) to last?

>Got one right here Tom but nothing bad to report. Its only a '91. No
>problem so far. The 60 is supposed to be damn reliable.
>da...@cris.com

I have a friend who has a VRO motor. 40 H.P. Johnson. In trying to figure out
why it didn't have any power the VRO pump came under suspect for leaking air.
The motor idled great. It had no power yet you could pump the ball by hand and
get it to run fairly well. Anyway, the mechanic said VRO pumps lasted about ten
years. He had rebuilt a lot of outboards due to bad VRO pumps. In these the oil
side had gone bad and run the motor without enough oil. these were '84 - '88
models.

Yours being an '85 probably did good at 13 years and you were lucky the gas
side went out..

That is my only knowledge of VRO pumps. Just paraphrasing the mechanic.

You may want to consider that item preventive maintenance and have it checked
every 6 or 7 years

[Carl G. Craver]

RBoyer7443 wrote in message
<199805070111...@ladder01.news.aol.com>...
>get rid of that pump and mix your own fuel oil 50:1 disconnect the line
coming
>from the tank and disconnect the purple wire at the alarm under the dash
and
>you will never have to worry that the pump is not working and you will know
>that your powerhead is getting the proper lubrication!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry
you
>spent all that dough on an unreliable pump!
>
>rob boyer
>the boat shop
>lake anna virgina
>rboye...@aol.com

By all means, Don't follow this advice.

Disconnecting the VRO is ok, but it needs to be performed properly.

You disconnect the oil line at the motor right under where the fuel plugs
into the front. Cap the fitting with a rubber cap and clamp.
To disconnect the alarm you unplug the the alarm wire coming from the pump.
It will be a black Amphinal connector with a grey, black, brown, and (if the
dealer updated you to the 4 wire pump) violet wires.
You can remove the oil bottle if you like. Don't forget to disconnect the
wires and insulate them.

Now, let me explain my harshness. If you disconnect the warning horn at the
dash or in the control box you wil be left without an overheat warning
system.

Don't feel bad about spending that money on a new VRO though. The new
generation of VRO's are very reliable.
If you ever have any doubts that the VRO may not be working simply mix
enough oil in your gas for a 50:1 mix and keep running untill you can get it
checked out.

Hope this helps
Carl G. Craver
Evinru...@msn.com

[RBoyer7443]

[Jmach031]

I have an 85' 120hp Evinrude VRO no problems with pump.
Dave