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Starting a Johnson VRO 40 for the first time in about 2 years? Where to even start?

R

rm.harper

New member
Hi, New to the forum so any help would be appreciated. I am not boater and know next to nothing so really struggling with where to begin in trying to get it started.


Around 18 months ago my dad purchased a project boat with the idea me and him would fix it up and use it for cruising and fishing. The motor has been winterised but was apparently in good running order (we didn't see it running) We did a few hours on the trim pieces and then it got stored. My dads now left the country and the boats been left to me to deal with.


The engine as i know it is a Johnson VRO 40.
Model Number: BJ40ELCO
(if anyone has a manual on this they can send it would be greatly appreciated!)


Using the chart im guessing its a Belgium Johnson 40HP electric 1985 model. But thats as far as it goes.
Trying to get the thing running but i dont know where to start. I have cable steering to a wheel at the front of the boat and a small throttle controller which seems to just be reverse, nuetral and throttle. No ignition and no power leads to hook up to an external battery and the controls on the motor i can see are just choke and STOP. The motor does have a pullstart above the flywheel so im assuming it has a power block fitted and a couple of pulls in neutral would be enough to fire it up if everything was ok?


NGK spark plugs look ok but i had read somewhere these plugs arnt the best for this job. With it being a VRO apparently how would i go about getting it fueled? I have a tank, primer bulb and inline fuel filter to what looks to be a pump. Would i just premix petrol with a 2 stroke oil in the tank?


I will try and get some pictures of the motor tonight when im down at the lock up but in the meantime i will be as descriptive as possible.

Thanks in advance.
 
BJ40ELCO is a 1985 Electric 40hp Johnson Long Shaft (20"), manufactured in Belgium.

With a empty fuel tank, always put in a little gasoline first, then add the oil. This prevents having pure oil forced into the fuel line and carburetor(s). The mixture is 50/1.... 1 pint of good quality 50/1 oil to 6 gallons of gasoline. 89 octane will be fine for that engine.

With the spark plugs removed, check the spark which should jump a air gap of 7/16" width with a strong blue lightning like flame... a real SNAP! Does it? NOTE that the 7/16" air gap is important!

S/plugs still removed... check the compression. What is the psi reading of the gauge on each individual cylinder?

With that model number of BJ40ELCO, the engine should have an electric starter, electrical leads, requiring a good 12v battery but you state: "No ignition and no power leads to hook up to an external battery and the controls on the motor i can see are just choke and STOP"<-- This contradicts the model number description!
 
Thanks Joe, Gives me something to start with! I will check the plugs and try and borrow a compression tester tonight.

The engine is something which is also confusing me for the same reason. I may have to get pictures to show the block itself. Wondering if it has a different motor all together and just uses the "shell" of a 40HP electric? Definately only has choke to the left and a STOP button to the right and the pull start is fitted above the flywheel. On a light pull it does turn the flywheel if that makes a difference? Is there a location on the block that would give a model number? or other things to look out for to distinguish the ACTUAL model?
 
Judging by your reply, I assume that the model number of BJ40ELCO is located somewhere... either on the port transom bracket or the top portion of the steering swivel bracket?

I also assume that you too are leaning towards the possibility that you have a mixture of parts there?

Look for a quarter size core plug somewhere on the powerhead... looks like a small freeze out plug. Sometimes that core plug has both the model and serial number imprinted upon it.
 
Sorry Joe i thought i had mentioned the location of the ID plate. It is on the bracket which attaches the outboard to the boat itself, is this a
port transom bracket?

Yes, I think somewhere along the lines things may have been changed as the model just doesn't match what I actually have here.

Im completely lost when you talk about core plugs or freeze out plugs? So to make it easier on anyone willing to help I will take some pictures of the block etc. and post them up. That way anyone can see what im looking at without having to deal with a poor descriptive skills of someone clueless! Thanks again Joe, will be back shortly.
​
 
Yes, the bracket that attaches the engine to the boat is called a "Transom Bracket".

Standing in back of the engine, facing the spark plugs... left is "Port"... right is "Starboard". When referring to the engine, boat, or trailer, it is best to use the marine terminology as the meaning of "left" or "right" changes easily whenever the person moves about.

A core plug is simply a slightly domed aluminum plug that sits in a retaining hole, then the dome is tapped slightly so as to expand the plug which makes it tightly expanded so it stays put. Make an effort to find it as it may be in a area you'll miss with the camera.
 
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