Hallelujah! Finally Completed Disconnect of Johnson 40 VRO!

[Pat Anderson]

OK, this topic goes back a while. The goal was to disconnect the VRO (variable rate oiler, an automatic system to mix oil and gas) on my '91 Johnson 40 VRO and run 50:1 mixed in the gas tank.

We started by cutting and plugging the oil line, just like Larry H said, there was a plug under the cowling. This was easy. Then we disconnected the wires from the oil tank to the engine, and it was not too hard to trace them either.

But I could not locate the low oil / no oil sensor wires that go from the engine to the alarm at the helm control, which also need to be disconnected. So as we were running, we had the beep - beep - beep of the alarm from time to time (sometimes the alarm did not sound at all, but today it was awful, all the way from Blaine to Birch Bay and back, so Patty ordered that it had to be fixed OR ELSE. She didn't say or else what, but really, it would not have been pretty!

Guess what - it is a simple little round rubber connector with three wires under the cowling, right next to the two wires from the oil tank. It looks NOTHING like the pictures on the web on my '91 Johnson 40. I don't have a camera here, will take some pix later for anybody else who wants to do the same modification...

 

[Captains Cat]

Congratulations Pat. Probably easier than using a lug wrench.... BTW, you didn't buy three more C-Dorys and are trying to get rid of them on Portland Craig's list did you?? :disgust

Charlie

 

[Pat Anderson]

Nope, the ones I have are just about all I can handle, thanks! Definitely easier than using a lug wrench, once I understood what I was looking at...

Congratulations Pat. Probably easier than using a lug wrench.... BTW, you didn't buy three more C-Dorys and are trying to get rid of them on Portland Craig's list did you?? :disgust

Charlie

 

[Walldog]

I found that jiggling the high idle or pumping the fuel bulb stopped it. Wish I had known that it was the oiler, as I knew you had 50 to 1 mixture. I would have disconnected it for you...grins.

 

[Pat Anderson]

I had completely forgotten about that blasted alarm, or I would have told you! You must thought you were going to blow up the engine or something! All fixed now. I might remove one of the 12 gallon tanks for some extra room under the motor well, maybe for a second battery. My thought on the two 12s was that I wanted a 100+ mile range, but I can see that using the 1/3 rule at about 5 smpg running fast (actually 5.5 smpg measured the only time I really checked it), I will have a 40 mile range and 20 in reserve with one 12, and that should be plenty for the way we are using the boat. Or have a 12 for a 60 mile range and and a 5 gallon container of 50:1 on board for the reserve. Herb - 12 gallons will get you from Fidalgo Bay to LaConner and back for sure! I'll stick the other tank in when we take 'er up the Inside Passage (just kidding, Patty!). The starboard tank is nearly empty, should drain it today, going to take Austin and Kristy our for a boat ride today.

I found that jiggling the high idle or pumping the fuel bulb stopped it. Wish I had known that it was the oiler, as I knew you had 50 to 1 mixture. I would have disconnected it for you...grins.