How can I check if VRO is working???

[wuzafed]

Just got back from my first trip with my "new to me" 1995 Evinrude 90, salt water series. Once we got her up and running she ran great!! I had the depth finder on (a flasher unit) and the entire time we were out I thought the "ticking" noise I was hearing was the flasher going around. When we got back I determined the "ticking" is really coming from behind the key/shifter area. It stops when I turn the key off. The motor does not have to be running and it still "ticks", as long as the key is on. Could it be something arching or possibly a relay of some type going? Thanks

 

[ezeke]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Hi<br /><br />Don't know how you slipped by everyone, but it sounds like one of your senders is trying to sound the horn.<br /><br />Follow another discussion that's going on here:<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=017272 <br /><br />You might also enter search for "control ticking" under "search forums" at the top of this web page and see previous discussions on this topic.

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Bump

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Thanks<br /> I checked he other topic and decided to check the grounds from the overheat plugs to the harness and cleaned them both and they seem to be fine.<br /> When out again today. Was shrimping which calls for long hours at low speeds, barley above idol. For the almost entire trip, 6 hours, the controll box was "ticking" or maybe you could call it a "short chirp" at the rate of about two a second. The motor runs really well! I'm almost sure the thing is getting oil because when I tilt the engine for an period of time I get get oil draining form the carbs.<br /> Is there any way I check to see if the VRO is working properly. Maybe some way to pull a hose and pump it into a cup or something???<br /> Thanks for any help/ideas

 

[CharlesW]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

First off, if you are in doubt that your VRO is working, get some premix fuel in your tank right away.<br />That may save your motor if you find out that it is not working.<br />Then, make a mark on your VRO oil tank at the present oil level. After you have run for a while, check that the oil level is going down in the oil tank. It won't go down a lot, a pint per 6 gallon of fuel at the most. When I bought my used 40 VRO, it took three 6 gallon tanks of gas before I was satisfied that the VRO was working properly. Once I was OK with it, I went back to straight gas, no pre-mix. The extra oil for a few tanks won't hurt anything, and might save you a motor.<br /><br />Charles

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Thanks Charles<br /> Great idea!!!! I'm going back out today and I'll add oil to the remaing fuel in the tank today. Also I'll mark the oil tank and see if I can tell a difference. a pint per 6 gals isn't much. I'll probably burn about 6 gals or so today. Will let ya know thanks again

 

[CharlesW]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

50:1 would be a pint per 6 gallons of gas. It seems like I remember that even the later VRO systems often used even less than that. It may take more than one tank to verify if it is working.<br />Wish I could take credit for the pre-mix while checking idea, but I picked up that information from the forums.<br /><br />Charles

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Hi Charles<br /> Today I put the oil in the fuel as you suggested. She ran the same but as could be expected after running a idol for extended periods, she loaded up a bit. It burned right out after I got her to higher rpms. Dummy here forgot to mark the oil tank. No biggie, I mark it now and just burn a bit more oil till I get it worked out. <br /><br /> Something I noted today and yesterday on the way back, after running at low speed all day, When coming down fromm say 3,500 running rmp to a much slower speed, I would hear a "clattering" in the motor. I know a lack of oil was not the issue today!!! Any Ideas? Thanks

 

[DJ]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

wuzafed,<br /><br />If your oil injection is not working, you would not be asking these questions. You would be seeking advice on a new powerhead. Never hurts to check though.<br /><br />The "clattering" you heard was probably the clutch dog in the L/U overunning after pulling back on the throttle.

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Thanks dJohns,<br /> I was thinking I would have blown it by now if it wasn't pumping oil. Any idea what the chirping noise could be? If that noise Im hearing is what you think it is, is that bad thing? I plan to change the lower ger oil Wednesday Thanks again

 

[DJ]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

wuzafed,<br /><br />The chirping is trying to tell you something. <br /><br />Have you checked all of the VRO hoses and hoses (fuel) under the hood? An air leak is a potential.<br /><br />Or, you may have a short somewhere in the alarm circuit.

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Thanks again djohns19. I didn't know an air leak could cause the alarm to do that. I'll go over all the hoses very carefully, in the morning.<br /><br />Don't have a clue though, on how to find a short in the alarm system. Do you have an easy check/test I can do to verify a short and/or how to find it? Thanks

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

djohns19 one more quick question, please<br /><br /> If the clattering I am hearing, when I power down, is the clutch dog in the lower unit, is that something that I should be concerned about and need to have checked/repaired? Or is that something that is not a "big deal" and don't worry about it, it happens. Thanks again!

 

[DJ]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

wuzafed,<br /><br />There are a couple of quick ways to check.<br /><br />1. See if the rattling occurs if you back down on the throttle very gradually. <br /><br />2. Or, when you pull back, go all the way into nuetral. That will let the prop spin free.

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Thanks djohns19<br /> I'll try playing around with how I power down Thursday when I got out. I changed the lower unit lube yesterday. The old stuff looked pretty good. Today is inspection day for the hoses and wires. Trying to find the short/air-leak tnx

 

[wuzafed]

Re: How can I check if VRO is working???

Well got her out in the water Friday and ran for 3-4 minutes and she shut down. Trying to restart only could get an idel. Every time I put her in gear she she "cut out". Pretty sure I sucked some "crud" into the carbs. I had tried to clean the fuel tank, but I guess I didn't get it all! She is in the shop now. I can only paddle back so many times! (Amazing how far it seems you went, in a couple of minutes, when you have to go back, against the tide, with only a paddle!)<br /> Posted new under something like How can I clean my Carbs, or somethiing like that! Thanks for your help!