YAMAHA FX HO CRUISER 2009 Repair Manual
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54
If water remains in the water separator, drain
it by removing the drain screw. Place a drain
pan under the water separator to catch the
draining water or use a dry cloth to soak up
any water that could spill into the watercraft. If
any water spills into the watercraft, be sure to
wipe it up with a dry cloth. Also, be sure to in-
stall the drain screw after draining the water
separator.
EJU32452Bilge
Check the bilge for moisture and fuel residue.
NOTICE: Excessive water in the engine
compartment can splash into the engine,
which can result in severe damage.
[ECJ00341]
This watercraft is equipped with a convention-
al jet vacuum bilge draining system and an
electric bilge draining system. The electric
bilge draining system is operated when the
engine is running. When excess water reach-
es the water inlet of the electric bilge pump,
the water is discharged from the electric bilge
pilot outlet at the stern.
A small quantity of water will remain in the
bilge and should be drained manually. To
drain any residual water, beach the watercraft
and perform the following procedure.
To drain water from the bilge:
(1) Remove the stern drain plugs.
(2) Raise the bow of the watercraft until the
water drains.(3) After the water has drained, wipe the
bilge with dry rags to make sure that it is
thoroughly dry.
(4) Install the stern drain plugs. NOTICE:
Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads to remove
any foreign materials, such as dirt or
sand. Otherwise, the stern drain plugs
could be damaged, allowing water to
enter the engine compartment. Make
sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching
the watercraft. Otherwise, water may
flood the engine compartment and
cause the watercraft to submerge.
[ECJ00361]
EJU32472
Stern drain plugs
Check the stern drain plugs for proper instal-
lation.
EJU32482Battery
Check the battery electrolyte level and check
that the battery has sufficient power to start
the engine easily. WARNING! Never operate
the watercraft if the battery does not have
sufficient power to start the engine or if it
shows any other signs of decreased pow-
er. Loss of battery power may leave you
stranded.
[EWJ01240]
1Electric bilge pilot outlet
1
1Stern drain plugs
1
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55
Recharge the battery or replace it if it is not in
good condition. (See page 86 for battery re-
charging procedures.)
Also, check that the battery leads are tight-
ened securely and that there is no corrosion
on the battery terminals. Check that the
breather hose is securely connected to the
battery and that it is not pinched. WARNING!
Fire or explosion could result if the breath-
er hose is damaged, obstructed, or not
connected properly.
[EWJ00451]
Make sure that the battery is securely held in
place.
EJU32581Fire extinguisher
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
The fire extinguisher container is located in
the seat storage compartment.To open the fire extinguisher container, turn
the cap counterclockwise.
To close the fire extinguisher container, insert
the fire extinguisher into the container, and
then install the cap and tighten it securely.
To check the fire extinguisher, see the instruc-
tions supplied by the fire extinguisher manu-
facturer. Always keep the fire extinguisher in
the fire extinguisher container.
Always carry a fire extinguisher on board. A
fire extinguisher is not standard equipment
with this watercraft. If you do not have one,
contact a Yamaha dealer or a fire extinguisher
dealer to obtain one meeting the proper spec-
ifications.EJU32591Throttle lever
Check the throttle lever for proper operation.
Squeeze and release the throttle lever several
times to make sure that there is no hesitation
in its travel. It should be smooth over the com-
1Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
2Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
3Breather hose
3
1
2
1Fire extinguisher container
2Fire extinguisher container cap
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Operation
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plete range and spring back to the idle posi-
tion when released.
EJU32611Steering system
Check the handlebars for looseness.
Turn the handlebars as far as possible to the
right and left to make sure that operation is
smooth and unrestricted throughout the
whole range. Also, make sure that the jet
thrust nozzle moves as the handlebars are
turned, and that there is no free play between
the handlebars and the jet thrust nozzle.
Push the handlebars back and forth to check
that the tilt lever and handlebars are locked inplace. (See “Tilt lever” on page 30 for more in-
formation.)EJU36581Shift lever and reverse gate
WARNING
EWJ00031
Do not touch the reverse gate while the
shift lever is being operated, otherwise
you could be pinched.
Check the shift lever and reverse gate for
proper operation.
Make sure that the reverse gate goes down
completely when the shift lever is pulled up.
1Tilt lever
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Operation
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Also, make sure that the reverse gate goes up
completely when the shift lever is pushed
down.
EJU32641Quick Shift Trim System (QSTS)
Operate the QSTS selector lock lever and the
QSTS selector several times to check that
they operate properly.
(1) Squeeze the QSTS selector lock lever
and check that it returns smoothly to its
original position when released.(2) Check that the QSTS selector turns
smoothly when the lever is squeezed and
check that the selector locks in place at
each position when the lever is released.
(3) Check that the angle of the jet thrust noz-
zle changes when the QSTS selector is
shifted from neutral to bow up or bow
down.
If the mechanism does not work properly,
have a Yamaha dealer service it.
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EJU32651Jet intake
Carefully check the jet intake for weeds, de-
bris, or anything else that might restrict the in-
take of water. If the jet intake is clogged, clean
it. (See page 92 for jet intake cleaning proce-
dures.)
If the watercraft is operated while the jet in-
take is clogged, cavitation could occur, reduc-
ing jet thrust, and possibly damaging the jet
pump. In some cases, the engine may over-
heat because of lack of cooling water, and
damage to the engine could result. Cooling
water is fed to the engine by the jet pump.
EJU32661Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
Check that the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
is not frayed or broken. If the cord is dam-
aged, replace it. WARNING! Never try to re-
pair the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) or
tie it together. The engine shut-off cord
(lanyard) may not pull free when the oper-
ator falls off, allowing the watercraft tocontinue to run and cause an accident.
[EWJ01220]
EJU32671
Switches
NOTICE
ECJ00410
Do not run the engine for more than 15
seconds when checking the switches on
land without supplying water, otherwise
the engine could overheat.
Check the start switch, the engine stop
switch, and the engine shut-off switch for
proper operation.
Push the start switch to start the engine. As
soon as the engine starts running, push the
engine stop switch to verify that the engine
stops immediately. Restart the engine, and
then pull the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to
remove the clip from the engine shut-off
switch to verify that the engine stops immedi-
ately. (See pages 27 to 28 for information on
proper operation of the start switch, the en-
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Operation
59
gine stop switch, and the engine shut-off
switch.)
EJU32680Cooling water pilot outlet
Check that water comes out from the cooling
water pilot outlet while the engine is running
and the watercraft is in the water. (See page
29 for more information.)
EJU32711Multifunction information center
Check the multifunction information center for
proper operation while the watercraft is in the
water. (See page 39 for information on properoperation of the multifunction information cen-
ter.)
1Start switch
2Engine stop switch
3Engine shut-off switch
4Clip
5Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
4
1 3
5
2
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EJU32742
Operation
WARNING
EWJ00510
Before operating your watercraft, become
familiar with all of the controls. Consult a
Yamaha dealer about any control or func-
tion that you do not fully understand. Fail-
ure to understand how the controls work
could cause an accident or prevent you
from avoiding an accident.
NOTICE
ECJ00460
Make sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching the
watercraft.
EJU36661Engine break-in
NOTICE
ECJ00430
Failure to follow the engine break-in pro-
cedure could result in reduced engine life
or even severe engine damage.
The engine break-in period is essential to al-
low the various components of the engine to
wear and polish themselves to the correct op-
erating clearances. This ensures proper per-
formance and promotes longer component
life.
TIP:
Be sure to check the engine oil level before
operating the watercraft for the first time. (See
page 52 for engine oil checking procedures.)
(1) Launch the watercraft and start the en-
gine. (See page 60 for engine starting
procedures.)
(2) For the first 5 minutes, run the engine at
trolling speed only. For the 30 minutes of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 5000 r/min. For the 1 hour of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 6000 r/min.
(3) Proceed with normal operation.
EJU32801Launching the watercraft
When launching the watercraft, make sure
that there are no obstacles behind you.
Use the remote control transmitter to select
the unlock mode. (See page 35 for Yamaha
Security System lock and unlock mode selec-
tion procedures.)
After the watercraft is in the water, start the
engine. Shift into reverse and move the water-
craft back slowly. If there are waves, some-
one should make sure that the watercraft is
not pushed into the trailer before backing
away.
EJU36341Starting the engine
(1) If the lock mode of the Yamaha Security
System is selected, use the remote con-
trol transmitter to select the unlock mode.
(See page 35 for Yamaha Security Sys-
tem lock and unlock mode selection pro-
cedures.)
(2) Launch the watercraft in water free from
weeds and debris and at least 60 cm (2 ft)
deep from the bottom of the watercraft.
NOTICE: Never operate in water that is
less than 60 cm (2 ft) deep from the
bottom of the watercraft, otherwise
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Operation
61
pebbles or sand could be sucked into
the jet intake, causing impeller dam-
age and engine overheating.
[ECJ00471]
(3) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch. It is not pos-
sible to start the engine with the clip re-
moved from the engine shut-off switch.
WARNING! Check that the engine
shut-off cord (lanyard) is attached cor-
rectly. If the engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) is not attached correctly, it may
not pull free when the operator falls
off, allowing the watercraft to continue
to run and cause an accident.
[EWJ00581]
(4) Push the start switch (green button), and
then release it as soon as the engine
starts to run. If the engine does not startin 5 seconds, release the start switch,
wait 15 seconds, and then try again. The
engine will not start if the throttle lever is
squeezed. NOTICE: Never push the
start switch while the engine is run-
ning. Do not operate the start switch
for more than 5 seconds, otherwise
the battery will be discharged and the
engine will not start. Also, the starter
motor could be damaged.
[ECJ01040]
EJU32861
Stopping the engine
To stop the engine, release the throttle lever,
and then push the engine stop switch (red
button). WARNING! You need throttle to
steer. Shutting the engine off can cause
you to hit an obstacle you are attempting
to avoid. A collision could result in severe
injury or death.
[EWJ00601]
1Clip
2Engine shut-off switch
3Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
31
2
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EJU37181Shifting
WARNING
EWJ01230
Do not use the reverse function to slow
down or stop the watercraft as it could
cause you to lose control, be ejected, or
impact the handlebars.
Make sure that there are no obstacles or
people behind you before shifting into
reverse.
Do not touch the reverse gate while the
shift lever is being operated, otherwise
you could be pinched.
To shift into reverse:
(1) Release the throttle lever and let the en-
gine speed return to idle.
(2) Pull the shift lever toward you.
To shift into forward:
(1) Release the throttle lever and let the en-
gine speed return to idle.(2) Push the shift lever away from you.
EJU32882Leaving the watercraft
If leaving the watercraft, select the lock mode
of the Yamaha Security System and remove
the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to reduce
the chance of accidental starting or unautho-
rized use by children or others. (See page 35
for Yamaha Security System lock and unlock
mode selection procedures.)
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63
EJU32901
Operating your watercraft EJU32961Getting to know your watercraft
Operating your watercraft requires skills ac-
quired through practice over a period of time.
Take the time to learn the basic techniques
well before attempting more difficult maneu-
vers.
Operating your new watercraft can be a very
enjoyable activity, providing you with hours of
pleasure. However, it is essential to familiar-
ize yourself with the operation of the water-
craft to achieve the skill level necessary to
enjoy riding safely.
Before operating this watercraft, read this
owner’s/operator’s manual, the Riding Prac-
tice Guide, the Riding Instruction card, and all
labels on the watercraft. Pay particular atten-
tion to the safety information on page 10.
These materials should give you an under-
standing of the watercraft and its operation.
Remember: This watercraft is designed to
carry the operator and up to 2 passengers.
Never exceed the maximum load limit or allow
more than 3 persons (or 2 persons if a water-
skier is being pulled) to ride the watercraft at
any time.
EJU33001Learning to operate your watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always per-
form the pre-operation checks listed on page
50. The short time spent checking the water-
craft will reward you with added safety and re-
liability.
Check local laws before operating your water-
craft.Operate defensively at safe speeds and keep
a safe distance away from people, objects,
and other watercraft. Select a wide area to
learn in, where there is good visibility and light
boat traffic.
Use the buddy system—operate with some-
one nearby. Scan constantly for people, ob-
jects, and other watercraft. Be alert for
conditions that limit your visibility or block your
vision of others.
Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to
your left wrist and keep it free from the handle-
bars so that the engine stops if you, the oper-
ator, fall off.
Wear a personal flotation device (PFD). All
riders must wear a PFD that is approved by
the appropriate authorities and is suitable for
personal watercraft use.
Wear protective clothing. Severe internal inju-
ries can occur if water is forced into body cav-
ities as a result of falling into the water or
being near the jet thrust nozzle. Normal swim-
wear does not adequately protect against
forceful water entry into the rectum and vagi-
na. All riders must wear a wetsuit bottom or
clothing that provides equivalent protection.
Such clothing includes thick, tightly woven,
sturdy and snug-fitting apparel such as den-
im, but does not include spandex or similar
fabrics, like those used in bicycle shorts. A full
wetsuit can also protect against hypothermia Maximum load:
240 kg (530 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, oper-
ator, and passengers.
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