Evinrude 40hp VRO, pinched gas line??

[flywoman]

Howdy All.<br />I have a '86 Evinrude 40 horse VRO motor. During a two week fishing trip (never when you are at home) a problem started. I can start the motor and it idles fine. I accelerate fine. But, after running 15-30 seconds the engine cuts back to idle speed, then revs, then idle. If I take it back to idle on the throttle it smooths out, then if I accelerate it happens again. IF I pump the fuel bulb off of the tank while running I can cure this problem. When I opened the engine cover I tried to trace the fuel lines. I replaced the fuel filter. Then I noticed that after the VRO pump the fuel lines splits into 3. One I can see goes to the top carb. The middle one was pinched off considerably between the pump and starter, which I rectified. I have not run it since.<br /><br />Questions:<br />--Does it sound like a fuel restriction problem?<br />--Could the pinch be causing the problem?<br />--Where do the three fuel lines go?? One to each of the two carbs....<br /><br />Kicker...I ran like this for two weeks. The last day the VRO warning started going off. A beep every other second, which I think means engine not getting oil.<br /><br />Thanks for any help...

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Evinrude 40hp VRO, pinched gas line??

Mic.... Three (3) fuel lines = 1ea (2) to carburetors, one (1) to fuel primer solenoid = 3.<br /><br />If the warning is a beep every other second, that indicates a failing VRO, air in the oil line, a oil restriction, or not oil. Usually it's the VRO.<br /><br />Eliminating the surging by pumping the fuel primer bulb, in essence acting as a manual fuel pump, indicates either a fuel restriction, a fuel leak causing the VRO to draw air, of a failing VRO. If there's no obvious fuel leaks, it would indicate to me that the VRO is failing.

 

[flywoman]

Re: Evinrude 40hp VRO, pinched gas line??

Thanks for the help. How can I tell if the VRO is going bad? Can I replace it myself? Any idea on the part number I need?<br />Thanks again.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Evinrude 40hp VRO, pinched gas line??

Mic.... If there are no obvious oil leaks or restrictions, and the "every other second" beep stops when you apply pressure to the oil bulb but starts (the beep) up again within a short time, consider the VRO faulty.<br /><br />The same hold true with the surging being eliminated by pumping the fuel primer bulb. No beeps in this case but simply an improvement in performance.<br /><br />Replacing the VRO is pretty straight forward, three bolts and four hoses... rocket science experience is not required. Just take your time, be patient, don't rush the job.<br /><br />The important thing is to leave the oil line disconnected momentarily, pump the oil bulb until no air is present, then connect the oil line to the VRO, and then apply pressure ONE time only to prime the VRO oil side of the pump.

 

[flywoman]

Re: Evinrude 40hp VRO, pinched gas line??

Thanks Joe.<br />I never tried pumping the oil bulb while it was beeping. It only happened the last day of the trip, so I just would shut the engine down and fish where i was. It wouldn't resume beeping when I started it back up, but SOMETIMES would resume a while later.<br />This is my first VRO motor, so I have limited experience with them. Does the VRO pump mix the gas and oil and serve as a fuel pump as well? So if it is failing the gas is not being delivered?<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Mic

 

[flywoman]

Re: Evinrude 40hp VRO, pinched gas line??

Any other ideas??? Still waiting for new pump...<br /><br />Mic