Boy do I have a pile!

[dave the dope man]

hey, Rowdy (or anyone else), In my yard sits a deckboat with a 140 VRO Johnson. Sounds bad already doesn't it? Anyhow, I have model numbers but no year model, further more,I thought that the VRO was an "oiler" outboard and yet as much as I look,,,,no oil tank. It cranks and runs fairly well, no big hiccups, not alot of cranking problems, it really doesn't like to sit an idle for long and has a good "pea-stream" no water pressure guage.  and one more thing---it has a really small prop, a 12.9x19. I used to have a 90 hp with that same prop. I am repairing the deck in the boat and puttin in new guages and a few other "nice things" for the couple who own it (they are really good firends of ours). Now here is the BIG question....any suggestions? ..............     Dave

[Rowdy]

Well first off since you don't see oil tank I would be putting oil in fuel tank for now. Send me the model number and I will tell you what Year she is from the model number. The serial number doesn't help much for this, just the model number.

For as the prop size you need a prop that will reach the WOT RPM of that motor on that rig, so this may be right with a big deck boat. Look on the old VRO pump on the motor and see if there is a 1/4" small hose from the oil side of the VRO and follow it if it does, that would go to the tank or be plugged off  or removed if no tank and they mix the fuel and oil...

[Mailman]

Dave My 40 hp VRO Johnson does not have the injection either came that way from dealer It had the vro fuel pump but when that went bad I just replaced it with a regular fuel pump [Rowdy s suggestion} It works great and it cost about 1/5 the price
of the vro pump {just have to mix gas & oil}

[dave the dope man]

The couple that owns the boat has been adding oil to the fuel tanks already and I am not sure if they are ready for a oil injection system yet, they are new at boating and I am not sure if they understand all that, lets keep it easy for now. The number for the outboard is J140tlcua. All they are using it for is tubing and knee boarding so no need to get it up to WOT yet. I am pretty much doing this pro-bono for them, no money on this one.
I am going to put new guages in and rewire the electical, being that it is a rat-nest under there and most of it doesn't work. While I am on it I am going to replace the water pump, plugs, and decarbon the motor before I return it.
Don't get in any hurry in replying to this, like I said its pro-bono and I have several months to get it all together......I just want to do a good job for them.......Thank again ................Dave

[Rowdy]

That model is a 1987 140 dude. Doing the decarboning on her I would do this with plenty chemical too as I figure its really bad LOL. Might also check to be sure that both heads come to temp before decarbon is done. Plenty times I find one or both heads not coming to temp, running cold. This only makes the motors get more carboned up running cold too. Does sound like a fun project though. Keep us posted on how things work out for you on this...

[dave the dope man]

Thanks man. Well if that is an '87 model, it must be a replacement motor. I believe the boat is an early '80's model. I do look forward to completing the tasks I have decided to do. I will post a thread after I am done, complete with pic's. Now it won't be anything like 225HO's posts  ........Dave

[Mike Cork]

Make sure you keep us posted and some before pics would be great

[dave the dope man]

dude, I'm on it like a label on a beer bottle......Dave

[dave the dope man]

Hey check this out.. I started the old outboard up today with one of those water ear things. Now is there supposed be be holes on the lower unit that water runs out of? Also is water supposed to be running out of a hole on the underside of the cavitation plate in front of the LE? And what about a little further up near where those side plates are at?...I mean there was plenty of water running out of the "p" tube and the water never got hot, it did warm up but not hot. As a matter of fact the water was almost as warm as the exhaust water from the prop. It idile'd a little high at around 1000 rpm's. Oh well at least it runs and I am not stuck with a total rebuild for no denero's........Rowdy, if needed I can run it, take pics and send em to ya if neede or if that would be okay........Dave

[Rowdy]

That sounds all about like it sound be. Make sure both heads are the same temp or close, you can do that with your hands too. The high idle is about right too, with the flush attachment on the idle speed is always higher since the exhaust leg is empty. That being part of the tuning of the motor and its setup for when the motors in the lake and the exhaust can would be full of water at idle speed.

Gear oil, water pump, then decarbon and tune up with new plugs afterwards. Should be ready for a lake trip then...

[dave the dope man]

Thanks again Rowdy. these OMC motor's are new to me. I have always been a Merc guy, you know gotta go along with the family. I am learning though and that is alway a good thing. By the way, what is a good way to learn more about outboard motors in general and how to repair them? I am a hands on kinda guy and I do really like tinkering with moving parts....Thanks .........Dave

[dave the dope man]

Rowdy, I took the cowling off today and the heads ARE NOT  coming to temp together. the starboard head is getting HOT, while the port head is staying cooll as a cucumber. Further I noticed a water leak at the bottom of the motor where it bolts to the mid-section. I know that this can't be good. Next step?....Dave

[dave the dope man]

Has anyone talked to Rowdy lately. I am more worried about him than having him reply to my post...Dude if you read this, let me know you alive...Dave

[dave the dope man]

Here is the post-completion update: the deck is completed, carpet is in and curing, the electrical is re-wired and working, the cylinder head temp deal is diagnosed and thermostats are on the way. I have to put the seats back in and a few minor little repairs and it will be done, all for under $500.00. Dave

[Mike Cork]

Most excellent, we will be looking forward to some "after" pics Also any tips that you could share would be awesome. You know the ones like, man I should have done this first or if we would have done it this way it would have been much easier

[dave the dope man]

Yeah I have two of the biggest tips a person should know. #1. (remember this was Pro-Bono- no pay for service), The Tip is this NAVY, Never Again Volunteer Yourself. #2. PAY A PROFESSIONAL...this is not a job for the idle tinkerer.....Dave

[dave the dope man]

As of today (Friday 04/29/05), The carpet is in and cured. The seats are in and in the right way as opposed to the way I found them. All lights and electronics are in working order including the interior lights that haven't worked since the owners bought it. The thermostats are in, but I can't check the head temps till Nitro girl gets up and I can run the outboard.....That is about it.. Iam going to run it and then I will post a final post here....Dave

[Mike Cork]

Wow, the finishing touches. It has been a long time coming but sounds like you are about complete, now you can come recarpet mine finally

[dave the dope man]

yeah right,,,,UUUMMMM NO!!!...I have had my fill of carpet and glue for a lifetime....I am just glad to have it done. I was figuring it would be done on tuesday and that would not leave me any pre-op fishing time......Dave

[Mike Noble]

But you are an expert now...you could knock out Mike's boat in no time.  And I'm sure he would be there to supervise and provide beer. 

[dave the dope man]

Well no...I am not an expert by any means. I don't drink the beer and we know what happened last time Mike and I worked on a boat....pictures were taken and bad things were said.......

Back to the Pile----I returned it today to the owners and they were satisfied...I ran it yesterday and tried two props with no real difference. It topped out at 42 mph (per speed-o) and amazingingly that dad-gum thing will turn tight and not skip or hop....they floor was solid and all the bells and whistles worked.....the outboard runs great and showed no problems, the heads are now coming to temp equally after replacing the stats....

Total: less than $400.00 for new floors, carpet, glass, seats cleaned and secured properly, electrical reworked and replaced as needed, bilge pump fixed and wired, outboard checked with new stats, replaced lowerer unit oil, props checked.....

I call it a done deal....thank God its over..........Dave

[Mike Cork]

That's outstanding Dave, great job

[dave the dope man]

Thankyou for the props... ...Dave

[bass1cpr]

great Job Dave.  Now I can find ya some more work if your interested especially at that kind of price I'll be your agent. 

[dave the dope man]

Well Sir, I do appreciate it......But NO!!!!. I realize that this boat fixing thing ain't for me....I had fun doing it and I probably could do it for myself at some point, but for a living....no way.....I have a lot of respect for those guys now.....Dave