1989 Johnson 110

[fortyfreak9]

I am having a fuel delivery issue and I am not sure what it is. I am thinking its either fuel pump, primer bulb, fuel filter or I was getting a vapor lock with a gummed up gas tank breather. I am looking on this website and I do not see a fuel pump, just a kit. Mine has the VRO oil injected pump, how do I find a new pump...? What is happening is I pump the bulb to get it going, then when I get WOT and get on plane the RPM's drop until it dies. I am not sure if the motor is just using the fuel from the bulb to the engine and the bulb is restricting the fuel from the tank? Please help.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

Sounds like the engine is running off the fuel that you pumped into the carb bowls than dying when it runs out. If you can pump it in with the bulb with no problem than I doub't there is any obstruction. Is your fuel tank vented properly? Is your fuel filter in good shape (not clogged)? If those are ok, than I suggest you rebuild your fuel pump, not buy a new one, they are very easy to do and allot cheaper to rebuild than buy new. I would also suggest getting rid of the VRO and mixing your own fuel (personal opinion).

Art

 

[fortyfreak9]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

If I drive at lower RPM and putt across the lake it wont die, but when I get on it and open it up it will die within 20 seconds, also it wont idle without me giving it some throttle.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

At putt putt speed the engine's demand for fuel is much less than at high rpm and the fuel pump dosen't have to work as hard to keep fuel supplied. Those carbs work on vaccum from the carbs, the higher rpm the more the vacum from the carbs the harder the pump, pump's. Now thinking about it, you may have a carb issue (clogged high speed jets?), maybe a stuck bowl float. The problem with troubleshooting is that there is allot of thing's it "could" be. I try to sort out the cheaper, less time intensive stuff first, than move up to the more costly "might be's" Hopefully one of the engine pro's here will see your post, they may be able to better pinpoint your problem. I still feel rebuilding your fuel pump is worth trying, the kits are cheap and only takes 15 min. They aren't that complicated.

Art

 

[fortyfreak9]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

Would you say it's possible that it could be the combination of badly vented fuel tank, faulty primer bulb and or clogged fuel filter, would my issues fall in the lines of what could be going on?

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

clear the vent change the filter and the primer bulb first. take it for a spin and see if that fixes it, if not get carb kits and do those, if not that then its the fuel pump and those arent cheap (300 bux)

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

Have a friend constantly prime the fuel hose bulb while running at the lake. If the engine will run normally at high rpm's while doing this, it is probably a weak fuel pump. The engine is consuming more fuel than the pump can deliver at full rpm's. Once the engine empties the fuel bowls, it will go to idle till the pump refills the bowls, then it will take off again. Those fuel pumps (5007423) are more like $ $410.

 

[fortyfreak9]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

Yeah I saw the price of those and about passed out. I Ill start with the cheaper stuff and go from there. Can you just rebuilt the fuel pump to fix it? Someone earlier mentioned this option.

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

If you convert to premix you can buy a conventional fuel pump for a lot less $.

 

[fortyfreak9]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

Update from the weekend. So I changed the fuel filter and primer bulb and the motor is still having the problem. I had my buddy pump the bulb at WOT and the motor ran great. He'd have to keep priming it every 2-3 seconds to run good. I am now convinced that it is the fuel pump. I have the VRO oil injected system and no not want to continue using it now. I will just mix the oil in the tank. What fuel pump can I use? Can someone send me a link to one I can buy? Thank you.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

i think you can rebuild the fuel side of those pumps ... and as long as the other part is pumping oil (id check to be certain) id try to rebuild it, max rules sells the kit for the fuel side for 135 as far as converting im not familiar with the process but i know it can be done and might be fairly simple...
i know that its probably cheaper to convert it though
http://www.maxrules.com/fixomcvro.html

 

[fortyfreak9]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

The oil pump part has not failed, it runs great and smokes like normal. I am guessing I can just get a fuel pump kit off of iboats?

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

You can either rebuild the VRO pump and use the fuel side of it to pump pre-mixed gas or find a conventional fuel pump that will keep up with the fuel demand of the motor. Others may be able to suggest a part number of a suitable conventional pump. I think if you ordered one from a "pre VRO" era V4 135 (or more) horsepower it shoud do the job.

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

You can either rebuild the VRO pump and use the fuel side of it to pump pre-mixed gas or find a conventional fuel pump that will keep up with the fuel demand of the motor. Others may be able to suggest a part number of a suitable conventional pump. I think if you ordered one from a "pre VRO" era V4 135 (or more) horsepower it shoud do the job.

I once enquired about a conventional fuel pump for my 1988 110 Johnson and was told by one of the moderators that the 88 special fuel pump was the one to use... Part number 398387.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

that one would work ... not sure how you hook it up though all my motors are pre VRO

 

[fortyfreak9]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

Is there a rebuild kit I can use to rebuild the fuel side of the pump without replacing it? The oil pumps just fine.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

i think you can rebuild the fuel side of those pumps ... and as long as the other part is pumping oil (id check to be certain) id try to rebuild it, max rules sells the kit for the fuel side for 135 as far as converting im not familiar with the process but i know it can be done and might be fairly simple...
i know that its probably cheaper to convert it though
http://www.maxrules.com/fixomcvro.html

see link above^

 

[TombigbeeMan]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

That's right AuroCook, I swapped my VRO on my 89 110 and there are bolt holes on the block for the conventional fuel pump to bolt right up. Make sure to plug the pulse limiter hole from the VRO. Fuel pump works great....FortyFreak9, Look under your VRO just to the right and you should see 2 empty threaded holes and in between those holes there is a bolt that is right above the pulse limiter. That is where the conventional fuel pump will be mounted. Parts search on Crowley Marine site and find the diagram for your engine and it shows the VRO diagram like you have and also shows the conventional fuel pump....some of these engines were built from factory with the conventional fuel pump from what I understand.

 

[fortyfreak9]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

The pump says its for 25-55 HP motor, will this work for a 110 HP?

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: 1989 Johnson 110

398387 is the factory pump for a 1989 88hp v4. It may also be used in other applications but it will work on your 89 110hp.