1985 VRO disconnect?

Kevin W

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2006
Messages
256
I am bringing a 1985 70hp VRO back from sleeping.
I was planning on disconnecting the VRO and running premix.
Any reasons why i should not?
FYI: 1985 VRO's did not have warning buzzers to let you know it was out of oil. so if it stops working i will have a nice chunk for the recycle bin.

i was also planning the typical carb kits, Water pump, lower end oil, fuel lines...
 

dakotarmx

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
May 22, 2006
Messages
82
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

unhook it kevin i have a 1987 70 hp i unhooked the vro works fine and i like to no im safe .
 

seahorse5

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jan 24, 2002
Messages
4,698
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

A 22 year old "VRO" was not built for the alcohol and other chemicals in todays fuels, either were the gaskets inside the carburetors.

The carbs have to be rebuilt using factory kits, the fuel lines inspected for sponginess or brittleness, and the VRO replace with a new unit or a regular fuel pump.

If you do install the new VRO, the oil tank may need cleaning out, a different filter, and the vinyl hoses replaced.
 

Kevin W

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2006
Messages
256
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

Is there an different pump that could replace the VRO pump?
I was figuring maybe a different year pump might be the answer?
Any ideas?
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

You can hook up a standard pump from a 1983 model 70 HP. Cost only about $50.00: That's what I did on my 91' 70 HP and it works fine....Fuel Pump Part # 438559 and a little replumbing....
 

Kevin W

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2006
Messages
256
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

Ok Now i am a little confused?
The VRO has 3 wires coming out of it!
The motor is most definately a 1985.
Did johnson update some of the 1985s with an alarm?
if so...should i keep it functional?
I am still thinking of retiring the VRO ans running premix.
 

84CJ7

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 13, 2005
Messages
41
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

There is the old VRO that yours would have come with and the new VRO2 which looks basically identical and is designed to handle the alcohol much better, it also is much more reliable in general. I believe the VRO2's had the top plastic hose fitting colored brown but I forget. If you have a VRO2 then its already been replaced and you might as well leave it.

As was stated use an 83 model as your guide, the dealer can print you an exploded diagram showing what you need. Some stuff like the plastic fuel manifold will change but you can use a mess of plastic T's and L's and hoses to make one.
 

VADER8674

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
107
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

i have a 85 70 hp rude vro is gone and i feel much safer for it it seems to run much smoother on premix than it ever did on vro just do it lol
 

Kevin W

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2006
Messages
256
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

84CJ7 said:
There is the old VRO that yours would have come with and the new VRO2 which looks basically identical and is designed to handle the alcohol much better, it also is much more reliable in general. I believe the VRO2's had the top plastic hose fitting colored brown but I forget. If you have a VRO2 then its already been replaced and you might as well leave it.

As was stated use an 83 model as your guide, the dealer can print you an exploded diagram showing what you need. Some stuff like the plastic fuel manifold will change but you can use a mess of plastic T's and L's and hoses to make one.

I was in my local Johnson dealer buying parts and hoses to replace all my hoses and i started talking to the owner
His reccomendation is premix at 100/1 and run the VRO.
at idol it still will have a mixture of 75/1 area and at wot it will be richer than normal but more oil will not harm the engine.
the only side effect that he said may happen is i may need to decarb a little more.

After checking into it more it appears to be a newer VRO2 pump with the brown elbow on top.

the only thing i am curious about is Where is the alarm buzzer?
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

The alarm itself is located in the remote control unit.
 

MELSNER

Cadet
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
21
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

rickdb1boat said:
You can hook up a standard pump from a 1983 model 70 HP. Cost only about $50.00: That's what I did on my 91' 70 HP and it works fine....Fuel Pump Part # 438559 and a little replumbing....

Alright now you are talking...
Sounds cheaper to replace with standard pump than to mess around rebuilding VRO pump which elimantes it as possible problem altogeather, what kind of replumbing are we talking about? Is new 438559 pump redesigned with ethanol in mind ?
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

Remove VRO pump and wiring. Remove pulse limiter from the crankcase and replace with brass nipple. Hook up pulse fitting on the new pump to the brass nipple. Hook up incoming fuel line to pump inlet. Hook up supply line to carbs. Pretty basic... Looks like this:

Fuelpump77.jpg
 

Kevin W

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 18, 2006
Messages
256
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

Well i decided to connect the VRO2
i tested all the alarms and they work.
i started out with premix just in case and i fogged for mosquitos for a while.
from what i here the fuel side usually fails before the oil side so if it does i will most likely switch to a regular pump and premix.
 

tiller7104

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Dec 23, 2005
Messages
352
Re: 1985 VRO disconnect?

Hey I unhooked my VRO and it is all a piece of mind.....I have had VRO's work fine for 12 years but I always had that feeling in the back of my mind.... of what !! With the lack of waning buzzer and or light you can't go wrong....just be diligant about your premixing !!!
 
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