New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

[jovial_cynic]

Hey folks -

I'm brand new to the boating scene, but I've been lurking through here for a little while to glean as much information as possible.

Here's the boat I recently picked up off craigslist for cheap:

The boat itself is in good shape - just a few chips here and there that I'm comfortable fixing. The boat apparently sat for about 8 years, and the engine hasn't been run in about 4 years, so it looks like I've got a little bit of work ahead of me.

The boat was brought in from canada, and according to the previous owner, it's a late 70's boat. The engine (not sure if it originally came with the boat) is a Johnson VRO 50.

As soon as I brought it home, I figured I'd at least check to see if the engine turned over, so I threw a battery on it and sure it, it cranked over just fine. A little sluggish, though... and even when jumping it from a live battery, it seems like there's a bad ground somewhere. It had a beast of a time cranking over...

Anyhow, I put some mixed oil in the gas tank to see if I could get it to fire up at all (after hooking up the water to the bunny ears, of course), and it actually fired up immediately. Now, having done some reading, I realize that the VRO is an auto-mixing system, so I might not have to pre-mix my fuel. However, I also know that trusting a sitting-for-4-years oil mixing system might not be the wisest idea, so I ignored it... but there may still be oil in the system that's also mixing with my pre-mix, effectively watering (oiling?) down my gasoline... which is no good.

So... what's the checklist of things I need to do to make sure my engine is good to go, provided that I've got little issues like the potential grounding problem, carbs that need to be de-gunked, etc., etc.? When you get a new boat with a mystery motor, what's the first thing you do?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

we need the model # of the motor before any real advice. does the boat have the oil tank in it. that is the oil supply, it has a hose that goes to the motor next to the fuel line. one thing that needs to be done. before running, is to do the impeller (water Pump). 4 years that one is very brittle and will disintegrate.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

I'll grab the numbers off the engine when I get off work.

I assumed that a VRO engine would have an oil tank without even looking at it. Is this a faulty assumption?

When you say "do the impeller," do you mean replace it?

As for lubrication and what not, what's keeping the propeller shaft lubed up? is that fed from the oil tank, or is that a separate oil chamber?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

let's get the model #, yes replace it, with a water pump kit. a lot of vro's were converted to premix, which in it self is not bad.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

Serial number: C8199187
Model number: CJ50TLC013

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

Bottom end has it's own contained lube system. Worth while checking this as well. Drain by taking the bottom screw out (could be a hex drive) then take the top screw out. Re-fill from the bottom till it comes out of the top then replace bottom screw and the top screw. report back on the colour of the oil that comes out. Both screws are in the lower unit.
Model number says it is a Canadian Johnson 50hp with power trim and tilt, electric start, 20 inch shaft and is a 1985 model.
See how many lines go in to the fuel pump. A working VRO will have an oil line and a fuel line, a pulse line and an output line for the mixed fuel to go to the carbs.
If it has been converted to premix it will have a fuel line a pulse line and a feed line to the carbs.
Yes, change the impeller. They dry out and get brittle.
2 major things your motor must get are oil and cooling water.
I converted my VRO to pre-mix a few weeks ago when my fuel pump started to fail on me.
Now I know that I am getting oil to the motor as long as I put oil in the fuel.
Good Luck and let us all know how you go on.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

correct service manual http://www.outboardbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=models.main&year=1985&ID=127751

parts list, and diagrams are here. http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx?s1=bf6ad09c53cead335fcfd8a6471c0f7f

did you have the oil tank and hose?

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

I took some pictures. I don't see a specific oil tank and associated hose, but maybe somebody can see something I can't:

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

Oil tank will be external from under the hood of the motor. Most likely around 2 gallon capacity with a small primer bulb on the line just like your gas line only this bulb is smaller.
Here is the one I took off my motor set up a few weeks ago.
Just off to work so I can not study your photos yet. Will look later.
Good Luck.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

you need to continue to mix your fuel with oil 50-1 TC-W3 outboard motor oil, walmart super tech is fine. notice the red make, black hose, next to fuel connection. that was the oil line. no problems, i have all my motors like that.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

Oil tank will be external from under the hood of the motor. Most likely around 2 gallon capacity with a small primer bulb on the line just like your gas line onlt this bulb is smaller.
Here is the one I took off my motor set up a few weeks ago.
Just off to work so I can not study your photos yet. Will look later.
Good Luck.

Oh... in that case, no. There's no additional tank like that.

So good. I'm comfortable with pre-mixing my fuel anyway.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

So, getting an empeller... I tried to look up the part number for the impeller from the link that was posted above, but I couldn't find a 1985 Johnson 50hp motor with the same numbers, so what do I use?

I see tons of Johnson impellers on eBay. Anybody got a good idea how to pinpoint the correct impeller I need for this engine?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

this is what i would use, complete kit, as you have no idea of the condition of present. http://www.iboats.com/mall/partfind...gd_poid=110956&gd_row=29&**********=592918686
watch important parts like this on ebay, they most likely are old stock, thus the rubber is dry.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

As Tashasdaddy, go with the entire kit as you have no idea of your motors history.
Welcome to the premix club !!!!!
I joined up about 4 weeks ago.
Just off to Barrow Bay which is just off Geogian Bay till Tuesday. Boat is hooked up and just waiting for the wife !!!!!
Good Luck.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

I am also using the Wal Mart 2 stroke oil. Works great and if you are like me, I love the smell of 2 stroke oil in the morning !!!!
Just make certain that it TCW-3 rated.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

Ok. So I'll put the kit on my shopping list.

So, after swapping out the impeller, lubing up the propeller shaft, soaking the carbs in carb cleaner... what's next?

I've noticed that my steering wheel isn't moving, and that behind the column, there appears to be some kind of powered device that looks like it's supposed to actuate the steering cable that runs to the engine. I'm going to unhook the main linkage at the engine to make sure that the engine itself isn't rusted in place, and after that, see if I can isolate the power connection to the actuator.

I'm assuming that it's a system of cables that control the steering, and that the thick black cable running back isn't a hydraulic line or something. Confirm, deny?

I've noticed that when I tilt my trailer by hand, I hear the sound of water sloshing around in the boat. However, there's no visible water *in* the boat. What chamber under the boat (that seems to run front to back) is holding water, and how do I drain it? I am, of course, supposing that the boat is not supposed to hold water in it.

What's next? Any other tips?

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

...

I've noticed that when I tilt my trailer by hand, I hear the sound of water sloshing around in the boat. However, there's no visible water *in* the boat. What chamber under the boat (that seems to run front to back) is holding water, and how do I drain it? I am, of course, supposing that the boat is not supposed to hold water in it...

There ususally is a chamber between the hull and the floorboards. Sometimes this chamber has flotation material in it, sometimes it is empty. There should be a plug or plugs at the rear of the boat to drain the water out of there. You should keep the plug out and the boat tilted somewhat bow-up when it is parked so that any water that is in there, or gets in there (rain, etc.) drains out immediately. For boats made of fiberglass with wooden structure it is often bad to have water sitting in there as it can get into the wooden structure and damage it.

If you want to inspect the inner hull, you can often - and fairly easily - remove the floor boards by simply unscrewing them. Sometimes you might have to remove the seats first (again, by unscrewing).

Given the questions you're asking and the fact that you're totally new to boat ownership (not that there's anything wrong with it - we were all there!), you might go to the library or a big bookstore and get a book on general boat ownership/operation / maintenance, etc. There's WAY more information than you can get by asking a question at a time on forums like this, mostly because you don't know all the questions! Good luck and have fun.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

Steering issues with the engine.

So, I couldn't get the steering wheel to turn, so I wrenched on the nuts that connected the steering cables to the engine. After pulling the linkage out, it turns out that the engine itself turns alright (although I might want to grease things up a bit). And after disconnecting the big nut on the starboard side, the steering wheel moved quite freely; there's a pipe of some kind that moves back and forth just fine. However, the port side (which directly actuates the linkage) doesn't seem to move at all. Do I need to bang on this thing until it moves?

As for the steering wheel itself, this is what's behind it:

Is this an electric assist mechanism of some kind? Will plugging in those black and red wires give me electric power steering?

And, what is this red lever on my engine:

And lastly, there are three "things" on the throttle:

The top is the ignition. The middle is what? And the bottom seems to be some kind of auxiliary plug to something. No clue.

Any ideas?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

The one below the ignition is the tensioner.
The one on the side is the lanyard that you fix to your lifejacket so that if you go overboard it will cut the motor out so the boat does not run away on you.
Hear water sloshing around ???? remove plug and get the bow as high as you can. watch what comes out of the plug hole.
The steering rod if siezed up does not need "banging" with a hammer. Penetrating oil regularly and often to start with and go from there. Many ways to free it up ......but start with that one.

 

[jovial_cynic]

Re: New to boating, new to boat engines (VRO 50)

The one below the ignition is the tensioner.

Tensioner to what?