new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

[vintage_car]

92 playcraft pontoon, new to me (1 week old). I just did a compression test. 90, 90, 100, 100. undid the lower oil unit screw and milky oil... What are my options? I'm new to boating, I have mechanical skills (does this even matter). There was also what appears to be a few thin oil streams on the proppeller? VRO is unhooked and 50:1 oil mix has been used. what are my options/costs?

 

[Daviet]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Has the engine been sitting for a while?
I would change the lower unit oil, make sure to replace the seal washers on both screws,
Run the engine with a good dose of sea foam mixed in the gas, maybe even do a decarb, and recheck the compression after several hours of running time and see if the compression evens out.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

The PO said he had just had the boat out the day before I bought it, so it has been sitting for a week. He put the muffs on it and fired it up for me. Just a quick puff of smoke on fire up and then clean running.
I have a set of muffs, so I will change the oil with new seal washers, should I run it on the lake or with the muffs in the backyard?

 

[Daviet]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Run it on the lake under load for several hours.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

will do. I have used the seafoam in cars before, will the outboard act the same and smoke screen the lake for awhile?

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Just don't add to much Seafoam.
You can put it in the gas or spray in the carbs.
Spray in the carbs,I'd do that in the drive.
You can overpower the motor and choke it out.
Just make sure you have enough water in the hose to supply the motor.
There are a few links on homemade pressure tester in iboats.
Maybe make one or get to a marina to have yours tested.
Profile?? Location?? You might be close to someone who can help??

 

[wilde1j]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

If LU oil has oil after doing as suggested:

Test leaking lower unit … pressure or vacuum (both recommended)

1. Drain gear oil
2. Pressurize (or apply max vacuum possible) to no more than 15 psig with air (see OEM shop manual for max for your motor)
3. Submerge in water, look for bubbles
4. Possibilities
a. Drive shaft seal
b. Prop shaft seals
c. Shift rod seal
d. Cracked casting
e. Drain/fill screws/seals
5. Repair as needed

For V4 and V6 lower units, should hold some pressure or vacuum for at least 45 minutes.

If a seal(s) is found to be leaking, inspect the shaft (prop or drive) carefully for grooving. If there is any, make sure the new seal(s) do not seat in the same place as the groove.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

I think the boat has about a 30 gallon gas tank on it, would a can of that seafoam be to much in 30 gallons? suggestion on where I can get an OEM manual for this motor? thanks for the general step by step.

 

[Daviet]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Do you know anybody that you could borrow a 6 gallon tank from? Mix 6 gallons at 50:1 and pour in a can of sea foam, run the engine on the lake till you use the 6 gallons of fuel.
Google KEN COOK manuals, they have factory manuals, use your model number to make sure to get the proper manual.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

I've got a 5 gallon fuel tank i use for my lawn equipment, I could use that. Then just hook up the original tank. I got some more info from the PO. Lower unit oil was changed 2 weeks ago when the prop shaft seal was replaced. I noticed fresh oil streaks on the propeller blades, so maybe that seal is the culprit? will the pressure test show that?

 

[Daviet]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Does the 5 gallon tank have the proper fuel line attachment?
Yes the pressure test will show a defective seal.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

probably not, it just a normal plastic 5 gallon gas can. I checked the fuel tank in the boat and it is pretty low, I bet there is maybe 8-10 gallons of fuel in it at the most. I'll just use what I have in there and then bring the gas can along in case things looks to be running low.
Looking for the pressure tester tool and procedure currently.

 

[Daviet]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Make sure to premix the gas in your 5 gal tank.
You might end up taking your lower unit to a dealer to be pressure,vacume tested.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

if i can find the procedure I think I can handle it at home.

 

[Daviet]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Look at post #7.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

yeah downloading the manual so I can find out how to pressurize it.

 

[vintage_car]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Changed the fluid, some metal flecks could be seen, not feeling to good about my chances. Just an off the cuff question before I take this to the lake and see if the gear fluid gets milky. What is an average price to repair a LU (1986 Johnson v4 vro) next question, is it something that should be done by a boat mechanic or can a shade tree guy do it?

 

[wilde1j]

Re: new boat/engine woes...86 Johnson 110 V4 VRO

Get an OEM shop manual and you can answer your question. Cost to repair depends on what is needed to fix. SEI has brand new LU's for < $1000 with a three year warranty.