Hello to all. I am new here. I originally posted this over in another thread (Non-Repair Outboard Discussions) when I was considering buying a new outboard, but tincture of time has helped me see the light.. 
My kids and I built a 20 foot Simmons Sea Skiff in 1995. I wanted to put a four stroke on it back then but found a brand new left over 1993 Johnson 60TLET with VRO, and the price was too good to pass on, $3600. Our family used it extensively on the right coast, inland and offshore. I now live in Idaho. The Johnson worked great for many years. I had the local dealer replace the water pump, the 15 year old VRO, (just because), and tune it up two years ago while I was refinishing the entire wooden structure(West epoxy, and Interlux linear polyurethane). The Johnson 60 hasn't worked well since.. Some type of vacuum leak, that I now know is under the cowling that I haven't been able to find yet.. I hate to take it back to the dealer, after paying over $900 for work that was less than stellar. Plus over $300 for a new rectifier or something, that didn't fix the problem. The gas tank is built in, and this makes accurately mixing oil a little problematic, not knowing exactly how much fuel I will be adding each time I refuel.
I'm considering a new engine, Evinrude 60, Yamaha 60 (4 stroke), or a Honda. After surfing around this site, I'm a little more confused than I was before. Before I shell out the dough for a new engine, I would like to try and fix this one, for strictly sentimental reasons. ALL of my children learned how to sky and fish behind this motor.. It just belongs on the boat..
The problem seems to be in the fuel side of the VRO system. The oil bulb at the VRO tank ALWAYS remains pressurized. The fuel side of the system doesn't. Even while the engine is idling (trolling), the fuel line pump (bulb) looses pressure, and the engine eventually stalls either while trolling, or attempting to accelerate.
I also noticed that the little beep noise that normally sounds at start up, doesn't always sound any more.. UH OH.
I am thinking that if I unhook the fuel overflow line of the internally installed tank up in the bow, I could drain all the fuel out of the fuel line, put a little air pressure in the fuel tank with an air compressor, and look for an 'air leak' somewhere in the fuel supply side of the VRO system by spraying the various parts of the fuel system with some soapy water while the fuel system is slightly pressurized with air and look for tiny bubbles where the leak is occurring..
Would pressurizing the fuel side of the VRO system as described damage the 'new' VRO pump? If it won't damage the VRO system, how much air pressure could I use to pressurize the fuel side of the system to look for the leak that allows the fuel side of the system constantly loose fuel pressure at the fuel priming bulb??
Thanks in advance for the input of the wise..
My kids and I built a 20 foot Simmons Sea Skiff in 1995. I wanted to put a four stroke on it back then but found a brand new left over 1993 Johnson 60TLET with VRO, and the price was too good to pass on, $3600. Our family used it extensively on the right coast, inland and offshore. I now live in Idaho. The Johnson worked great for many years. I had the local dealer replace the water pump, the 15 year old VRO, (just because), and tune it up two years ago while I was refinishing the entire wooden structure(West epoxy, and Interlux linear polyurethane). The Johnson 60 hasn't worked well since.. Some type of vacuum leak, that I now know is under the cowling that I haven't been able to find yet.. I hate to take it back to the dealer, after paying over $900 for work that was less than stellar. Plus over $300 for a new rectifier or something, that didn't fix the problem. The gas tank is built in, and this makes accurately mixing oil a little problematic, not knowing exactly how much fuel I will be adding each time I refuel.
I'm considering a new engine, Evinrude 60, Yamaha 60 (4 stroke), or a Honda. After surfing around this site, I'm a little more confused than I was before. Before I shell out the dough for a new engine, I would like to try and fix this one, for strictly sentimental reasons. ALL of my children learned how to sky and fish behind this motor.. It just belongs on the boat..
The problem seems to be in the fuel side of the VRO system. The oil bulb at the VRO tank ALWAYS remains pressurized. The fuel side of the system doesn't. Even while the engine is idling (trolling), the fuel line pump (bulb) looses pressure, and the engine eventually stalls either while trolling, or attempting to accelerate.
I also noticed that the little beep noise that normally sounds at start up, doesn't always sound any more.. UH OH.
I am thinking that if I unhook the fuel overflow line of the internally installed tank up in the bow, I could drain all the fuel out of the fuel line, put a little air pressure in the fuel tank with an air compressor, and look for an 'air leak' somewhere in the fuel supply side of the VRO system by spraying the various parts of the fuel system with some soapy water while the fuel system is slightly pressurized with air and look for tiny bubbles where the leak is occurring..
Would pressurizing the fuel side of the VRO system as described damage the 'new' VRO pump?
If it won't damage the VRO system, how much air pressure could I use to pressurize the fuel side of the system to look for the leak that allows the fuel side of the system constantly loose fuel pressure at the fuel priming bulb??Thanks in advance for the input of the wise..