big fish 2005 wrote:
my 1997 Johnson 200 h.p venom motor smokes too much when I start it,
what could this be from? could I be over choking it, bad VRO pump or
maybe a bad plug. Please help.

I don't know much about boat motors by name, but I have built 2 and 4
stroke motorcycle engines. I can't find info online that would tell me
if the venom is a 2 or 4 stroke engine, but I'll do what I can to help.

I'd start by looking at the spark plugs. A well running engine will have
spark plugs with a gray color on the porcelain. If it's black and/or
shinny, you most likely have an oil problem. I don't think choking is
the problem since the engine wouldn't start or would run real rough.

Changing the plugs is a good idea. While the "experts" say spark plugs
can last 10 of thousands of miles in cars, physics shows that the spark
plug will lose efficiency each time the plug is fired.

If new plugs doesn't help the smoking, there could be enough wear in the
engine to let oil slip past the piston rings and into the combustion
area. If that's the case, you're looking at a rebuild.