1985 Evinrude VRO - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Repairs/Mods
  1985 Evinrude VRO

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   1985 Evinrude VRO

zork posted 08-13-2012 11:20 AM ET (US)
A long story [about a] 1985 Evinrude 90-HP. [Some] kids [were] using boat [and a] buzzer started--ON-OFF--every second or so. Low oil, right? [The oil reservoir] tank [was] full. Removed [unclear, perhaps meant the oil pick up assembly] from oil tank, replaced filter [screen mesh on pick up tube], and reassembled. Removed oil hose from VRO and used pump on oil tank and no oil came out hose. Just a sucking of air in and out as I squeezed the [primer] bulb. [There was] no sign of oil in the hose when I removed it. Connected the hose to the VRO, and same scenario--just what sounds like a sucking of air in and out. Before running the engine again [I] would like to make sure the VRO oil system is working correctly. Any suggestions much appreciated. This darn old engine has run flawlessly for 27 years now and would like it to continue. Thanks--Zork
Tom W Clark posted 08-13-2012 12:21 PM ET (US)
When you squeezed the oil primer bulb to prime the oil lines and purge air from them, were you holding the bulb so the output end was pointed UP?
newt posted 08-13-2012 12:57 PM ET (US)
The warning horn sounding every second or so is probably a "no oil" alarm. The "low oil" alarm is a beep every 15-20 seconds.
The factory manuals recommend pre-mixing 50:1 fuel:oil until you can verify that your VRO is working properly. It sounds like the oil problem is prior to the VRO pump, since you can't get oil to flow out of the tube. See Tom's post above.
zork posted 08-13-2012 02:11 PM ET (US)
Bulb was up when pumping. When squeezing the bulb and then releasing, what was squeezed was sucked back when released. Does the oil bulb have a one way valve like the gas bulb that doesn't allow that?--Zork
contender posted 08-13-2012 08:50 PM ET (US)
Zork: sounds like either the bulb is bad, air leak, or you need to pump it until you are getting oil (to prime the hose pump). I own a 1985 140 purchased-new from the dealer. I never connected the VRO--it was plugged from the factory. Did not want the extra tank and hoses in the boat [in order to] save space. I have been mixing the gas and oil since day one. Never a problem. If You can not repair the VRO I would disconnected it and mix the gas oil, These mid 80's engine are bullet proof. Take care
seahorse posted 08-13-2012 11:02 PM ET (US)
Over 25 years ago there were service bulletins about replacing the cone shaped filter screen in the original oil tanks due to their ease of getting plugged up. Has yours been serviced by a trained tech who knew how the system works? Has anyone inspected the oil pickup assembly inside the oil tank?
jimh posted 08-13-2012 11:35 PM ET (US)
The owner's manual should have information on how to interpret the cadence of the alarm horn to indicate what alarm is being sounded. Also see:
Warning Horn Signals
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/warningHornSignals.html
zork posted 08-14-2012 10:32 AM ET (US)
Regarding the oil 'bulb'....does it have a check valve
in it so it only pumps one direction ? If so, my bulb
is probably bad ? ?
Thanks
Zork
thegage posted 08-14-2012 11:17 AM ET (US)
Yes, the bulb should have a one-way valve, just like a gas primer bulb. At a minimum your bulb is bad. You should also check all hose connections.
John K.
zork posted 08-14-2012 05:00 PM ET (US)
Found the problem ! There is a short hose (about 6" or so)
that connects from the inlet to the VRO from the oil hose
coming into the engine. It was cracked and leaking.
Bad news....Evinrude parts lists it as 'hose filter assembly', Obsolete. Would a dealer have a cross reference to an active part do you think ? ?
If I can find it and connect I was thinking I would add oil to the gas and disconnect the VRO oil outlet to see if
oil comes out. Would this be reasonable ?
Thanks again all !
Zork
contender posted 08-14-2012 06:51 PM ET (US)
zork: disconnect the hose, try an aircraft/hydraulic hose place, tell them what the hose is used for and they should have a hose to match...If you plan to disconnect the vro, go to the auto parts for rubber plugs/caps, place them over the vro openings and secure them with plastic ties. Use a razor knife to trim the plastic ties so it will not leave a sharp edge.
seahorse posted 08-14-2012 08:03 PM ET (US)
Just use a piece of the oil hose to replace the clear hose and filter assembly. Newer pumps use a single length of oil hose from the oil ball to the pump inlet fitting.
Use the plastic ratchet clamps no. 322654
zork posted 08-15-2012 02:52 PM ET (US)
Well, think I got it. Replaced the broken oil line/filter with a standard piece of oil line. Wow...was that a bear !
Mixed oil with gas in the tank and fired it up. No alarms and no leaks that I can see. Can get a hard bulb on the oil tank outlet. Is there any way to make sure the oil pump is in fact working ? ? Put a mark on the tank to see if it goes down, but is there some other way that is better ?
Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions. Wouldn't have been able to do it without all the help.
Zork
jimh posted 08-15-2012 10:11 PM ET (US)

quote:
Is there any way to make sure the oil pump is in fact working?
The Evinrude oil mixing system provides a monitor and alarm that detects the pumping of the oil. Read the REFERENCE article
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/VRO.html
fwernlein posted 08-23-2012 08:25 AM ET (US)
Good luck on the repair Zork!
I've got the same year engine on my Montauk and "fingers crossed"...never an issue! I keep telling the wife...next year when this engine dies...

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: 1985 Evinrude VRO
zork	posted 08-13-2012 11:20 AM ET (US) A long story [about a] 1985 Evinrude 90-HP. [Some] kids [were] using boat [and a] buzzer started--ON-OFF--every second or so. Low oil, right? [The oil reservoir] tank [was] full. Removed [unclear, perhaps meant the oil pick up assembly] from oil tank, replaced filter [screen mesh on pick up tube], and reassembled. Removed oil hose from VRO and used pump on oil tank and no oil came out hose. Just a sucking of air in and out as I squeezed the [primer] bulb. [There was] no sign of oil in the hose when I removed it. Connected the hose to the VRO, and same scenario--just what sounds like a sucking of air in and out. Before running the engine again [I] would like to make sure the VRO oil system is working correctly. Any suggestions much appreciated. This darn old engine has run flawlessly for 27 years now and would like it to continue. Thanks--Zork
Tom W Clark	posted 08-13-2012 12:21 PM ET (US) When you squeezed the oil primer bulb to prime the oil lines and purge air from them, were you holding the bulb so the output end was pointed UP?
newt	posted 08-13-2012 12:57 PM ET (US) The warning horn sounding every second or so is probably a "no oil" alarm. The "low oil" alarm is a beep every 15-20 seconds. The factory manuals recommend pre-mixing 50:1 fuel:oil until you can verify that your VRO is working properly. It sounds like the oil problem is prior to the VRO pump, since you can't get oil to flow out of the tube. See Tom's post above.
zork	posted 08-13-2012 02:11 PM ET (US) Bulb was up when pumping. When squeezing the bulb and then releasing, what was squeezed was sucked back when released. Does the oil bulb have a one way valve like the gas bulb that doesn't allow that?--Zork
contender	posted 08-13-2012 08:50 PM ET (US) Zork: sounds like either the bulb is bad, air leak, or you need to pump it until you are getting oil (to prime the hose pump). I own a 1985 140 purchased-new from the dealer. I never connected the VRO--it was plugged from the factory. Did not want the extra tank and hoses in the boat [in order to] save space. I have been mixing the gas and oil since day one. Never a problem. If You can not repair the VRO I would disconnected it and mix the gas oil, These mid 80's engine are bullet proof. Take care
seahorse	posted 08-13-2012 11:02 PM ET (US) Over 25 years ago there were service bulletins about replacing the cone shaped filter screen in the original oil tanks due to their ease of getting plugged up. Has yours been serviced by a trained tech who knew how the system works? Has anyone inspected the oil pickup assembly inside the oil tank?
jimh	posted 08-13-2012 11:35 PM ET (US) The owner's manual should have information on how to interpret the cadence of the alarm horn to indicate what alarm is being sounded. Also see: Warning Horn Signals http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/warningHornSignals.html
zork	posted 08-14-2012 10:32 AM ET (US) Regarding the oil 'bulb'....does it have a check valve in it so it only pumps one direction ? If so, my bulb is probably bad ? ? Thanks Zork
thegage	posted 08-14-2012 11:17 AM ET (US) Yes, the bulb should have a one-way valve, just like a gas primer bulb. At a minimum your bulb is bad. You should also check all hose connections. John K.
zork	posted 08-14-2012 05:00 PM ET (US) Found the problem ! There is a short hose (about 6" or so) that connects from the inlet to the VRO from the oil hose coming into the engine. It was cracked and leaking. Bad news....Evinrude parts lists it as 'hose filter assembly', Obsolete. Would a dealer have a cross reference to an active part do you think ? ? If I can find it and connect I was thinking I would add oil to the gas and disconnect the VRO oil outlet to see if oil comes out. Would this be reasonable ? Thanks again all ! Zork
contender	posted 08-14-2012 06:51 PM ET (US) zork: disconnect the hose, try an aircraft/hydraulic hose place, tell them what the hose is used for and they should have a hose to match...If you plan to disconnect the vro, go to the auto parts for rubber plugs/caps, place them over the vro openings and secure them with plastic ties. Use a razor knife to trim the plastic ties so it will not leave a sharp edge.
seahorse	posted 08-14-2012 08:03 PM ET (US) Just use a piece of the oil hose to replace the clear hose and filter assembly. Newer pumps use a single length of oil hose from the oil ball to the pump inlet fitting. Use the plastic ratchet clamps no. 322654
zork	posted 08-15-2012 02:52 PM ET (US) Well, think I got it. Replaced the broken oil line/filter with a standard piece of oil line. Wow...was that a bear ! Mixed oil with gas in the tank and fired it up. No alarms and no leaks that I can see. Can get a hard bulb on the oil tank outlet. Is there any way to make sure the oil pump is in fact working ? ? Put a mark on the tank to see if it goes down, but is there some other way that is better ? Thanks to all for the advice and suggestions. Wouldn't have been able to do it without all the help. Zork
jimh	posted 08-15-2012 10:11 PM ET (US) quote: Is there any way to make sure the oil pump is in fact working? The Evinrude oil mixing system provides a monitor and alarm that detects the pumping of the oil. Read the REFERENCE article http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/VRO.html
fwernlein	posted 08-23-2012 08:25 AM ET (US) Good luck on the repair Zork! I've got the same year engine on my Montauk and "fingers crossed"...never an issue! I keep telling the wife...next year when this engine dies...