Need Help! Warning Horn trouble

[tommy15e]

Dear Fellow Checkmater's,

I have an 1987 Johnson 175HP VRO and the first time I used it last year after I bought it, took off from the dock and the warning horn started to sound in quick pulses and the engine would continue to die. This was in September so I garaged it and wanted to take it to the shop but the next time they can get me in is July 30th..yeah right! I pulled it out today and filled a tub full of water and it cranked right up. After running for a few moments, it would start to die. I then re-primed the bulb and it started right up again but the same thing; if I would squeeze the bulb the engine would continue to run. At this point I had not heard the horn. I then used the fast idle lever and the horn started to go off in quick bursts and would not stop until it stalled. There is good water flow coming from the engine. Any ideas??

Thanks, Tom

[Chris]

I'm more of a Merc guy...

The VRO's were oil injected weren't they?

Did you check the oil injection?

-Chris

[tommy15e]

Chris,

There is an oil tank under the seat with a bulb on it and I tried squeezing it but its solid. What should I check for?

Tom

[Chris]

Ok, well it's safe to assume it has oil injection and that it hasn't been disconnected if the tank is still there.

Basically, the oil in that tank gets injected into the engine with the gas to lubricate it. So if the oil runs low, the engine will be in trouble and the horn goes off to alert you.

So you want to make sure the oil tank has oil in it.

If it's full, then pull the cowl off and have a look at the tank on the motor and see if it's full of oil.

<edit> I just checked using google and I'm not sure that they'll be an on-board oil tank as you have a OMC.

One thing you may want to do if you're going to try running your engine for troubleshooting, is to run premix "just in case".

You could use a portable tank for the troubleshooting process with the premix.

I found this webpage that has some VRO diagnostic info on it.

http://www.boatpartstore.com/tips.asp



-Chris

[tommy15e]

Chris,

Thanks so much for the info and the link! The oil tank is full and I checked the small bubble under the cowl and it has oil in it. Also, the motor was smoking as if it was burning oil. When the motor was getting ready to die I would give the primer bulb a few shots and it would perk right up. In my book it states that a warning horn will sound if there is a restricted fuel supply. Maybe I should change the fuel pump, bulb, and connecting unit.

Tom

[2springers26]

sounds like your VRO pump...... comon issue on OMC's.... Kurt

[tommy15e]

Kurt,

One of the guys at Scream and Fly seems to think it is fuel. I checked the mini-bulb under the cowling and it has oil in it, also the engines smokes as a two stroke does at start-up. It only runs about two minutes until shutting down unless I squeeze the bulb. I think I will try replacing the fuel pump. Also, I have to figure out how to re-jet the carbs for 4000' altitude.

Thanks, Tom

[Chris]

On the site I gave you the link to, I think they have a test you can do to see if the pump is sucking oil.

I did a bit of reading and it sounds like there is a diaphram that sometimes goes bad and causes issues.

From what I read, a steady beep is an overheat condition and a pulsing beep is related to a oiling issue.

So from how you described the beeping, it would sound like you have a VRO issue and not a cooling issue.