Yet another outboard problem

[CP]

Suzuki DF70 – Last time out I’m running from Mukilteo to area 10 to catch some Coho that I don’t have to throw back.  I’m doing about 5500 rpm, 30 mph, water’s flat and calm.  All is well until the oil light comes on and the rev limiter kicks in.  I turn it off, check this and that.  Oil on the dip stick checks out, motor isn’t hot.  Restart, and the light comes right back on.  It’s in limp mode and I don’t want to run it anyway with an oil problem so I turn it off and putt back to Mukilteo with the kicker.  4mph, 14 miles –  .


When I get home, I check the oil, viscosity looks fine.  I check the filter, clear, no obstructions but there is no oil in it.
I changed the oil.
I checked the oil pressure switch, no problems found with it.
I ran the engine for a few seconds with the filter off.  It should have gushed oil everywhere, but not a drop came out. 


Oil isn’t pumping - 

What to check next?  I think that know the answer and it involves pulling the powerhead from the oil pan  .  Before I do that, is there anything else I should check?

[ASHQUACK]

How old is the motor. I had a couple of buddies that had this happen out of westport. Sane exact scenario, had to call coast guard for a tow in. When they took the motor to the mechanic, he pushed the hour reset button for an oil change. Fired up ran like a top. Why they'd put something like that on an outboard is beyond me.

[CP]

The motor is a 2000, maybe a 2001.  I’ll need to lookup the serial #.  I don’t think this model has an oil change warning monitor.  Just in case, I ran through the reset procedure. 

Take the key out
Put the key in
Turn the key on
Pull the kill switch 3 times within 10 seconds

Didn’t do anything.

[GWP]

How old is the motor. I had a couple of buddies that had this happen out of westport. Sane exact scenario, had to call coast guard for a tow in. When they took the motor to the mechanic, he pushed the hour reset button for an oil change. Fired up ran like a top. Why they'd put something like that on an outboard is beyond me.

Wow! A warning is one thing, compromising the performance of the engine is a whole another level of dangerous!
For the OP, sounds like a tear down. Good you shut it off. Probably saved some damage.

[BigGoonTuna]

How old is the motor. I had a couple of buddies that had this happen out of westport. Sane exact scenario, had to call coast guard for a tow in. When they took the motor to the mechanic, he pushed the hour reset button for an oil change. Fired up ran like a top. Why they'd put something like that on an outboard is beyond me.

had an old 40 Yamaha that did that to me. Thought my coils were going bad until I learned that if the oil reservoir got below 1/3 full it would kick a rev limiter in  bad news if you needed to be able to get on step (had a jet on mine)

[CP]

Camshaft broke where it interfaces with the oil pump. 

[Stein]

Were you racing again CP?

[CP]

No, just dead in the water.