Tick/click sounds like arcing once every 2-3 seconds at any RPM-- alarm going off.

[Cady8special]

Guys I had my cover off yesterday, and noticed something strange that I've never heard before.

I have a 1988 90HP Johnson with disconnected VRO and Pre-mix.

My oil alarm went off yesterday, so I took off the cover to check around. Only thing I noticed was a tick, or a click that would happen every 2-3 seconds or so. It was in a rhythm--not sparratic. It didn't seem to affect performance at all, and didn't change with an increase in RPM's.

It sounds like it might have been arcing, but now I'm wondering if the motor itself would be possibly making that noise as it sends current to the alarm horn? I don't recall if it was in rhythm with the alarm-- the horn is very quiet and next to the motor I can't hear it, but it might have been in rhythm with it..

Any chance this is the case? Anyone else ever hear anything like this before?

Thanks guys.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing once every 2-3 seconds at any RPM-- alarm going off

That is no doubt the VRO pulsating. It doesn't click constantly, just every so often.

If you're speaking of a horn alarm momentarily beeping every other second (no oil at VRO), apply pressure to the oil primer bulb. If this stops the alarm BUT the alarm starts again in a short period of time.... that's normally due to a VRO pump failure.

If, on the other hand, the alarm sounds (beeps momentarily) every 20 or 40 seconds, that simply indicates that the oil level in the tank is down to the 1/4 tank level.

You say "the horn is very quiet and next to the motor I can't hear it". I don't understand this statement.... the horn is not in the engine area, it's either within the control box or under the console of the boat.

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing once every 2-3 seconds at any RPM-- alarm going off

Actually, is there any chance that the noise I was hearing was the oil pump trying to pump oil?

When they are working, is it a constant flow of oil, or does it pump it in pulses every few seconds?

I just can't imagine what would give a ticking sound ever 2-3 seconds, which isn't related to RPM's and doesn't seem to affect performance.

I'm about to buy a canoe.

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing once every 2-3 seconds at any RPM-- alarm going off

Thanks for the reply Joe--

As for the VRO-- it is disconnected, and I have a bolt in the line to the engine. When I bought the motor, the guy had the oil tank and wires disconnected, and the line plugged- that's how I left it. I took the boat out about 9-10 times without this alarm. I'm hoping the bolt just got loose, and a clamp will solve the problem.

To Clarify my statement about the horn-- yes, it is in the center console. I was thinking that the current making the horn beep was actually making a noise at the engine-- like a shorted wire arcing.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing once every 2-3 seconds at any RPM-- alarm going off

Exactly what kind of warning beep are you receiving thru that horn?....... Every other second, every 20 or 40 seconds, or a constant beeeeeeeeeping?

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing once every 2-3 seconds at any RPM-- alarm going off

Exactly what kind of warning beep are you receiving thru that horn?....... Every other second, every 20 or 40 seconds, or a constant beeeeeeeeeping?

It's the no-oil alarm. 1 Beep every 2 seconds or so.

As I said before- when I bought the boat, the guy gave me the oil tank and wiring seperate, and plugged off the oil line. Since no alarm sounded the first 9-10 trips, I assumed he had disconnected the VRO. I will check to make sure the VRO plug is actually disconnected, and hopefully this will fix both the alarm, and the ticking noise.

I really appreciate the help man.

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

It's the no-oil alarm. 1 Beep every 2 seconds or so.

As I said before- when I bought the boat, the guy gave me the oil tank and wiring seperate, and plugged off the oil line. Since no alarm sounded the first 9-10 trips, I assumed he had disconnected the VRO. I will check to make sure the VRO plug is actually disconnected, and hopefully this will fix both the alarm, and the ticking noise.

I really appreciate the help man.

OK, good news and bad news. The VRO was connected-- I disconnected the harnass, and the alarm stopped.

Bad news is, the ticking is still happening. Maybe 2 ticks per second-- does not get faster at higher RPM's. Performance is not affected, still have good power at all rpm's. Plugs all look OK-- top two might be a little more oily than the bottoms.

Any idea what this ticking could be? Could my fuel pump be crapping out? I took a vid to upload, but you can't hear it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Although the oil side of the VRO is plugged, it will still be functional internally... and it does click, tick, whatever.

A mechanic's trick to find the source of a noise is to stich a screwdriver handle in his ear and touch various portions of the engine with the screwdriver tip. Do that to the VRO to see if that's where the noise is coming from.

 

[boobie]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Vro's will tick when you have a fuel restriction.

 

[Big flop]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

It will click louder and faster if the fuel system
is sucking air, because it's not full of gas
(the pumps running out of gas)
Try pumping the primer bulb and see if
the pump gets quieter.

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

At idle the fuel pump (VRO) should make a click about every 20 sec. If more frequent, check for air leak and/or fuel pressure drop. Use a clear plastic hose, FOR TEST ONLY, on suction side and look for air bubbles.
Try putting the fuel hose directly on the VRO without using the quick connectors.
If no air leak, time to rebuild the pump.

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

The VRO is disconnected, and I'm running pre-mix. I'm going to listen to the pump tonight via the Joe Reeves screwdriver method to see if that is definitly where the sound is coming from. I have the oil line plugged off, so I want to see if the ticking changes if I remove that plug temporarily. If that doesn't change anything, I'm going to put a funnel in the hose, and pour some pre-mixed gas directly into the oil line and see if that changes the things.

If I can verify that it's indeed the oil pump, I might swap the VRO system for the standard fuel pump. I have a spare 88 special at my Dads house, so I might go that route.

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Oh and if none of that works, I'm giving Joe Reeves a first class ticket to Lake Hopatcong so he can tell me what the hell is wrong with my boat.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Use a great amount of caution with that screwdriver trick.... the engine's running you know. Stick that blade accidently on the flywheel and you'll have one hellava headache at a minumum.

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Mr Reeves-- I want to thank you sir. I heard the ticking through the screwdriver, and was 90% sure the oil pump was making the noise. Then I squeezed the primer bulb and realized that when I squeezed it hard, the ticking sped up. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking since it sped up when primed hard, that would mean it's a 99% chance the noise is coming from the oil pump right?

Also, I used your timing method today. Very easy. My motor calls for 27-29 degrees (23-25 with your method), and I was at 23, so I'm within the range. When I held the timer all the way up, I got 24, which is perfect. Tomorrow I'm going to adjust my linkages until the timer base goes up just enough to get me that perfect 24.

Thank you very much for the help- you have no idea what peace of mind you bring to guys like me. I love tinkering with my motor to get it running better, but for the most part, I just know enough to get myself in trouble. Using this site has givin me enough guidance to keep me out of trouble. (this time anyway)

Anyway, thank you to Mr. Joe Reeves, and all of the other members of this site who help us all out. If I could buy a few of you guys a beer I would.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Cady.... I think I speak for all of us when I say that we appreciate your token of thanks for our efforts.

Unfortunately, I had to quit drinking.... where in the hell do I send this bill?

 

[Cady8special]

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

Re: Tick/click sounds like arcing 2-3 times per second at any RPM-- alarm going off

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