Was 1986 a good year for johnson motors

[kiwi karl]

I have just brought a 1986 90hp vro johnson outboard the compression was good and seem to run great,it even came with the original tach and speedo service manual that have never been used.<br /><br />my question is, was there any problems with this years,and any thing on the motor that would need attention in the future that may give me problems.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Was 1986 a good year for johnson motors

The vro unit was prone to failure. If it was upgraded to the vro-2 unit, it is better. If vro unit fails, you've got trouble.<br /><br />I would disable vro and mix the fuel manually.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Was 1986 a good year for johnson motors

hello<br /> after almost ten years change the VRO.<br /> it wears out.<br /> it does not live forerver.<br /> clean the oil tank install new t-stats and water pump.<br /> I hear a lot about VRO failures but on a well maitained rig since the VROII came out in about 86 or 87 I have never seen a "VRO" failure. I have seen a lot of failures due to lack of maint and the alarm horn is bad and the operator ran it until it just quit. I have seen more failures due to improper pre-mix than all manufactures oil injection combined. test your alarm system periodically.<br /> course I have only done this for about 30 years.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Was 1986 a good year for johnson motors

This V-4 was a very good motor and almost bullet-proof if maintained correctly. I'll echo the comments about the VRO. During this period, even the Coast Guard was disconnecting the VRO and going to pre-mix on their motors. It was notoriously undependable.

 

[kiwi karl]

Re: Was 1986 a good year for johnson motors

thank for the infor<br />karl