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johnson oil alarm

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oscar362

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I have a Johnson 115 fast strike. It starts and runs well, however after about 10 minutes the alarm and low oil light comes on. If I shut the engine down and restart the same thing occurs again. The engine is smoking so it's getting oil but I can't figure out what's setting off the alarm. Any ideas? Although the engine is almost seventeen years old it has very low run time. I only use it 2 weeks a year for vacation.
 
Is the oil level in the tank going down ?? Run it on premix fuel until you get it repaired. It may also be just a bad tach. OMC had problems with those back in '96 and '97.
 
Last edited:
Boobie said:
Is the oil level in the tank going down ?? Run it on premix fuel until you get it repaired. It may also be just a bad tach. OMC had problems with those back in '96 and '97.
Click to expand...
Oil is going down. Thanks for response, I am going to premix as soon as figure out how to correctly bypass the vro.
 
I just returned from the dealer where I bought the boat. Their top mechanics "Best Guess" is a faulty sensor in the vro. $400.00 to find out. Guess who's bypassing the vro?:cool:
 
(VRO Changeover Judgement Call)
(J. Reeves)

The VROs first came out in 1984 and have been upgraded quite a few times. In my opinion, back around 1988, they had perfected them but I think that they were upgraded even more since then. As long as the warning system is operating as it should, I feel quite at ease with them.


Some boaters have voiced their thoughts such as "What if that overpriced plastic horn should fail while I'm under way for some reason, and the VRO decides to fail five minutes later?" Obviously that would result in a big problem which really brings their fears into view.


The word "ease" is the key word though. If one has the slightest feeling of being ill at ease with that setup, then they should take the route they feel more at ease with. A judgement call each individual would need to make on their own.

Thousands of parts in my remaining stock. Not able to list them all. Let me know what you need and I'll look it up for you. Visit my eBay auction at:

http://shop.ebay.com/Joe_OMC32/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
********************
(VRO Pump Conversion To Straight Fuel Pump)
(J. Reeves)

You can convert the VRO pump into a straight fuel pump, eliminating the oil tank and VRO pump warning system, but retain the overheat warning setup (and fuel restriction warning if so equipped) by doing the following:

1 - Cut and plug the oil line at the engine so that the oil side of the VRO pump will not draw air into its system. Trace the wires from the back of the VRO to its rubber plug (electrical plug) and disconnect it.

2 - Trace the two wires from the oil tank to the engine, disconnect those two wires, then remove them and the oil tank.

3 - Mix the 50/1 oil in the proper amount with whatever quantity fuel you have. Disconnect the fuel line at the engine. Pump the fuel primer bulb until fuel exits that hose with the tint of whatever oil you used. Reconnect the fuel hose.

That's it. If you want to test the heat warning system to ease your mind, have the key in the on position, then ground out the tan heat sensor wire that you'll find protruding from the cylinder head. The warning horn should sound off.

Thousands of parts in my remaining stock. Not able to list them all. Let me know what you need and I'll look it up for you. Visit my eBay auction at:

http://shop.ebay.com/Joe_OMC32/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1
 
I fully intend to replace the vro pump it's just that I hate doing it on a guess. I am changing over to mix so that I can have the boat for my vacation next week. I will change back when I have adequate time. According to dealer I only need to disconnect the tan wire coming from the oil sensor and disconnect the oil line coming from the tank. After all of the research I've done I feel confident I can do it myself. Do you have a vro for a 97 Johnson 115 Fast Strike?
 
If you're asking me personally if I have a VRO... no, sorry. But check with this site first before going elsewhere.

Disconnecting the sensor wire from the oil tank would eliminate the 40 second beep should the oil level drop to 1/4 tank.

Disconnecting the sensor wire from the VRO would eliminate the every other second warning from the VRO should it quit pumping oil. If you go this route, don't forget to premix!
 
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