Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

LonLB

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Nov 19, 2010
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264
While everyone is removing VRO, I'd like to add a VRO setup to a much earlier engine.
A 73 65 hp Johnson.

Has anyone done this?


In the meantime I'm going to search how exactly it works, and other sites for similar info.


Thanks in advance.
 

boobie

Supreme Mariner
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Nov 5, 2009
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20,826
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

If your mtr is running fine now, keep on mixing your fuel 50:1 and leave a sleeping dog lie. If you try this your opening up a big can of worms.
 

LonLB

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Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

Do you have info on how to do this then?:confused:
 

jerryjerry05

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May 7, 2008
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Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

I myself haven't ever seen anything about adding a VRO oil system.They were so unreliable they were taking them off as soon as the waranty was done.My stepdad removed his as soon as he got it home.J
 

boobie

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Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

Sorry but no. I was usually taking them off for customers or disconnecting them.
 

samo_ott

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Jun 18, 2006
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Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

That is a first. Any particular reason you want to go to all that time and expense to add on an unreliable system? You must have an old one lying around? And if so, why was it removed? And if not, why spend all the $$$ to get one?
 

milliesdad

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Dec 20, 2010
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Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

The biggest problem would be buying everything that you would need to make it work. Other than the costs involved, it just might be a doable project.

The VRO is a fairly reliable system, most failures that I've heard of were from lack of maintainence. Yes, there is maintaince involved it that system, too.
 

rolmops

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Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

If you don't like mixing you own fuel,you may want to look at the mercury system that mixes fuel and oil near the fuel tank.You can just install it without having to make expensive changes to your engine. These older engines do not like a 1:100 mix which a Variable Ratio Oil (VRO) will provide at certain RPMs.The VRO system was abandoned by OMC in the early nineties for very good reasons
 

Faztbullet

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Mar 2, 2008
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15,930
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

you may want to look at the mercury system that mixes fuel and oil near the fuel tank
That the Autoblend and it has burnt up more engines than you can count!!! You can either try to find the old OMC Accumix system.You can add a VRO/OMS but it will require you to change out the air box assy and you loose the low speed adjust access plugs,you will need to totally redo all the fuel lines as routing is different, add a few brackets and install a new fuel/oil inlet to splash pan and oil tank in boat. Some wiring mod's to give failure/low oil alarms and make sure you get the latest pump(#5007420)
Price to do this with new parts is going to be around $1000, cheapest way would be to find a late model 3 cylinder and get the parts off it to convert yours.
 

bktheking

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Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

Ooof $1000, may as well find a VRO motor for that kind of money.
 

clanton

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Jul 9, 2001
Messages
4,876
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

The VRO/OMS just a vacumn operated pump. All you need is a pump kit with blue hose connector that screws into block. Some hoses. Alarm system you need warning horn with logic on horn and some wires to make the connections. Probley close to 500.00 in parts.
 

clanton

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Messages
4,876
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

The VRO/OMS just a vacumn operated pump. All you need is a pump kit with blue hose connector that screws into block. Some hoses. Alarm system you need warning horn with logic on horn and some wires to make the connections. Oil Tank. Probley close to 500.00 in parts.
 

LonLB

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 19, 2010
Messages
264
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

While not in the cards 'now', it's something I want to do.


With all the folks removing them, I should be able to get the parts CHEAP.


The variable oiling is just one step towards making a cleaner running old engine.

I don't have delusions of making an old motor a current era 2 stroke, but I think a few steps can be done to update the operation of an old 65hp Johnson.
 

seminol7

Seaman
Joined
Nov 16, 2009
Messages
69
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

I have 2 vro pumps lying in the garage if you really want the headaches I went through I will give them to you!I swapped mine to regular fuel pumps and never looked back,just more fishing since.
 

kenmyfam

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Aug 10, 2006
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14,392
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

Lot of investment in time and money for what you will get out of it.
Just my 2 cents though.
 

boobie

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20,826
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

Cleaner running? Around 1996 OMC did away with the VRO name and changed it to OMS. The OMS was around a constant 50:1 mix the same as you would premix it. There were to many probs with the VRO.
 

jay_merrill

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Dec 5, 2007
Messages
5,653
Re: Retrofitting VRO to an early Motor.

I own a '72 J65, which aside from the hydro-electric shift, is essentially the same motor as yours. The beauty of this engine, is that it is simple. It has a minimum of electronics and is as reliable as a clock, if it is taken care of.

I absolutely encourage you to leave your motor alone. Just put the oil in the fuel and enjoy a motor that will get you to the fish and back every time, without spending a bunch of money for something that you don't really need.



???
 
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