VRO pump supercesions and interchangability

[billw]

My neighbor has a 1987 Johnson 150, on a 19 ft Whaler, which he is trying to unload, to help put his kids through college. We got the whole stator and power pack thing straightened out last fall. It ran okay on the flusher at that time. Upon start up this year, it ran poorly, lean spitting, running out of gas, oil alarm. Lo and behold, the plastic fitting for the pulse hose on the VRO pump basically either got half-chewed or burned off; and yes, the snapper clamp was broken. The housing where the pulse hose attaches to the pump is trash, because the fitting is part of the plastic casting.

He also has a 1990 70 hp parts motor, which has a physically identical VRO pump. Both engines start out with different part number pumps, but after two part number supercessions, they both require the same part number pump. What was different about the first two models pumps, that they had different part numbers; and can I put the 70 hp original VRO pump on the 150? Note: both pumps have the three-wire harness.

Long live American manufacturing!

[fleetwin]

Well, the difference could have been something as simple as the orientation of the fuel outlet nipple on the original pumps. Later model pumps had outlet nipples that could be adjusted. The pumps on both engines have probably been changed since new, are the outlet nipples adjustable on the pumps? If so, the 70hp pump can be used on the 150.

[beerman57]

And if that VRO doesn’t work, if you want, just put a regular fuel pump on it and add oil to the gas.

[fleetwin]

The V6s required two fuel pumps connected in series, but I’m pretty sure the 1990 models still had fuel pump mounting bosses and the extra pulse port for the second pump if you want to go that route.

[rmhxruss]

Some people are using a Mercury fuel pump to replace a VRO pump. Instead of two OMC style fuel pumps.

[billw]

Yeah, I remember something about directional heads….But these two pumps have the outlets heading in the same direction. I don’t think we want to cobble something up, as it will have the appearance of being worth less money. (even though mechanics know better.) Thanks for the replies. I think I will go ahead and put the 70 pump right on the 150. I just have to change the bracket over; that’s it.

Long live American manufacturing!

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