ECU YAMAHA VX 2009 User Guide

Operation
39
(5) Wipe up any spilled fuel immediately.
(6) Install the fuel tank filler cap. Make sure
that the fuel tank filler cap is securely
closed before operating the watercraft.
(7) Install the seat. Make sure that the seat is
securely installed before operating the
watercraft.
EJU31891Engine oil
NOTICE
ECJ00281
Use only 4-stroke engine oil. Usage of 2-
stroke engine oil could result in severe en-
gine damage.
Make sure that the engine oil is at the speci-
fied level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 42for engine oil level checking procedures.) Use
a combination of the recommended SAE and
API engine oil classifications shown in the
chart below. Fuel tank capacity:
60 L (15.9 US gal, 13.2 Imp.gal)
1Approximately 50 mm (2 in) from top of the
fuel tank
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Operation
40
EJU31980
Pre-operation checks EJU31991Pre-operation check list
Before operating this watercraft, perform the checks in the following check list.
WARNING
EWJ00411
Failure to inspect or maintain the watercraft properly increases the possibility of an ac-
cident or damage to the watercraft. Do not operate the watercraft if you find any prob-
lem. If a problem cannot be corrected by the procedures provided in this manual, have
the watercraft inspected by a Yamaha dealer.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
BEFORE LAUNCH OR OPERATION
Engine compartmentRemove the seat to ventilate the engine compart-
ment. Check for fuel vapors and loose electrical con-
nections.42
BilgeCheck for water and fuel and drain if necessary. 43
Stern drain plugsCheck for proper installation. 44
Throttle leverCheck that the throttle lever springs back smoothly. 45
Steering systemCheck for proper operation. 45
Shift lever and reverse gate
(VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser)Check for proper operation. 45
Fuel and oilCheck the fuel and oil levels and replenish if neces-
sary.
Check the hoses and tanks for leakage.42, 42
Water separatorCheck for water and drain if necessary. 43
BatteryCheck the electrolyte level and battery condition. 44
HoodCheck that the hood is securely closed. 23
SeatCheck that the seat is securely installed. 23
Hull and deckCheck the hull and deck for cracks and other dam-
age.42
Jet intakeCheck for debris and remove if necessary. 46
Fire extinguisherCheck the condition and replace if necessary. 44
Engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard)Check the condition and replace if frayed or broken. 46
SwitchesCheck the start switch, engine stop switch, and en-
gine shut-off switch for proper operation.46
AFTER LAUNCH
Cooling water pilot outletCheck that water is discharged while the engine is
running and the watercraft is in the water.47
Multifunction information
centerCheck for warning indications and proper operation. 47
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Operation
44
(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]
Recharge the battery or replace it if it is not in
good condition. (See page 72 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.
EJU32541Fire extinguisher
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
The fire extinguisher holder and cover are lo-
cated in the front storage compartment.
1Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
2Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
3Breather hose
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Operation
45
To store the fire extinguisher, unhook the
band and remove the cover. Place the fire ex-
tinguisher in the holder, and then place the
cover over the fire extinguisher. Fasten the
cover and the fire extinguisher with the band
securely.
To check the fire extinguisher, see the instruc-
tions supplied by the fire extinguisher manu-
facturer. Always keep the fire extinguisher
secured in the holder with its cover in place.
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-plete range and spring back to the idle posi-
tion when released.
EJU32600Steering 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.
EJU32632Shift lever and reverse gate
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser)
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.
1Fire extinguisher holder and cover
2Band
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Operation
48
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.
EJU32782Engine 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 42 for engine oil checking procedures.)
(1) Launch the watercraft and start the en-
gine. (See page 48 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 6500 r/min.
(3) Proceed with normal operation.
EJU32812Launching the watercraft
When launching the watercraft, make sure
that there are no obstacles around you.
If there are waves, someone should make
sure that the watercraft is not pushed into the
trailer after launching the watercraft.

For VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser:
Use the remote control transmitter to select
the unlock mode. (See page 29 for Yamaha
Security System lock and unlock mode se-
lection procedures.)
After the watercraft is in the water, start the
engine. Shift into reverse and move the wa-
tercraft back slowly.

For VX:
After the watercraft is in the water, turn it
around so that the bow faces the direction
you wish to go. Start the engine, and then
slowly move away from the launching area.
EJU32852Starting the engine
(1) If the lock mode of the Yamaha Security
System is selected (for VX Deluxe/VX
Cruiser), use the remote control transmit-
ter to select the unlock mode. (See page
29 for Yamaha Security System lock and
unlock mode selection procedures.)
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Operation
50
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]
EJU37181
Shifting (for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser)
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.
EJU32892Leaving the watercraft
If leaving the watercraft, select the lock
mode of the Yamaha Security System (for
VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) and remove the en-
gine shut-off cord (lanyard) to reduce the
chance of accidental starting or unautho-
rized use by children or others. (See page 29
for Yamaha Security System lock and unlock
mode selection procedures.)
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Operation
54
EJU35231Boarding alone
(1) Swim to the rear of the watercraft and
place both hands on the boarding plat-
form, pull yourself up, and then grasp the
handgrip with one hand.
(2) Pull yourself up to a kneeling position on
the platform, and then move to the seat
and sit astride.
(3) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(4) Grip the handlebars with both hands,
place both feet on the floor of the footwell,start the engine, and then look in all direc-
tions before starting off.
TIP:
If your watercraft is equipped with the re-
boarding step (for VX Cruiser), you can lower
the step to make reboarding easier. The step
returns automatically to the up position after
you have boarded.
EJU33164Boarding with passengers
WARNING
EWJ00660
Severe internal injuries can occur if water
is forced into body cavities as a result of
being near the jet thrust nozzle. Do not ap-
ply throttle until the passengers are seated
with their feet on the floor of the footwell
and are securely holding on to the person
in front of them or to the handgrip provid-
ed.
TIP:
The heavier the total weight of the operator
and passengers, the more difficult it will be to
balance the watercraft. Do not operate the
watercraft when the total weight exceeds 240
kg (530 lb) including any cargo.
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Operation
55
(1) Climb on board as noted in the previous
section, and sit astride the seat.
(2) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(3) Have the passengers move to the rear of
the watercraft.
(4) Have a passenger board and sit astride
the seat. If a second passenger is board-
ing, have him or her follow the same pro-
cedure. When a passenger is boarding,both the passengers and the operator
should try to balance the watercraft.
(5) Check that the passengers have their
feet on the floor of the footwell and are
securely holding on to the person in front
of them or to the handgrip provided. Nev-
er allow a passenger to ride in front of the
operator.
(6) Start the engine, look in all directions, and
then accelerate to planing speed.
To board when it is difficult to balance the wa-
tercraft at a standstill:
(1) While the passengers are steadying the
watercraft, pull yourself up onto the
boarding platform into a kneeling posi-
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Operation
61
(5) Flush the cooling system to prevent it
from clogging with salt, sand, or dirt. (See
page 62 for flushing procedures.)
(6) If the watercraft will be stored for a week
or more, lubricate internal engine compo-
nents to help prevent corrosion. (See
page 63 for lubrication procedures.)
(7) Rinse the engine and engine compart-
ment with a small amount of water.
NOTICE: Do not use high-pressure
water when rinsing the engine or en-
gine compartment as severe engine
damage could result.
[ECJ00571]
(8) Wipe the engine and engine compart-
ment dry with a clean cloth (repeat step 3,
if necessary).
(9) Wipe the hull, handlebars, and jet unit dry
with a clean cloth.
(10) Spray a rust inhibitor on metallic parts to
minimize corrosion.
(11) Allow the engine compartment to air dry
completely before installing the seat.
EJU33452
Transporting
Before putting the watercraft on a trailer or
transporting it, be sure to put the shift lever in
the forward position (for VX
Deluxe/VX Cruiser). When transporting the
watercraft on a trailer, secure the tie downs to
the trailer through the bow eye and stern
eyes. NOTICE: Do not attach ropes or tie
downs to any part of the watercraft other
than the bow eye and stern eyes to secure
the watercraft to the trailer. Otherwise, the
watercraft may be damaged. Wrap the
ropes or tie downs with towels or rags
where they touch the body of the water-
craft to avoid scratches or damage. Do not
transport the watercraft with the shift lever
in the reverse position. Otherwise the re-
verse gate may hit an obstacle, which
could cause damage (for VX Deluxe/VX
Cruiser).
[ECJ00622]
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Maintenance and care
62
EJU33490
Storage
WARNING
EWJ00330
Always place the watercraft upright in a
horizontal position when storing it, other-
wise fuel could leak out into the engine or
engine compartment, which could create a
fire hazard.
Storage for long periods of time, such as win-
ter storage, requires preventive maintenance
to ensure against deterioration. It is advisable
to have the watercraft serviced by a Yamaha
dealer prior to storage. However, the following
procedures can be performed by the owner.
EJU33544Flushing the cooling system
Flushing the cooling system is essential to
prevent it from clogging with salt, sand, or dirt.
(1) Place the watercraft in a horizontal posi-
tion.
(2) Remove the seat. (See page 23 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(3) Remove the flushing hose connector
cap, and then insert the garden hose
adapter into the flushing hose connector
and turn it until it is securely connected.
(4) Connect the garden hose adapter to a
water tap using a garden hose.
TIP:
A garden hose is not included.
(5) Start the engine, and then immediately
turn the water supply on until water flows
out continually from the jet thrust nozzle.
NOTICE: Do not run the engine for
more than 15 seconds without supply-
ing water or over 4000 r/min on land,
otherwise the engine could overheat.
[ECJ01050]
TIP:
If you will be storing the watercraft for a pro-
longed period, such as winter storage, top off
the fuel tank with fresh gasoline and add fuel
stabilizer and conditioner to the fuel tank ac-
cording to the manufacturer’s instruction be-
fore starting the engine.
(6) Run the engine at idling speed for about
3 minutes watching the engine condition.
If the engine stops while flushing, turn the
water supply off immediately and repeat
the above steps. NOTICE: Do not sup-
ply water to the cooling water passag-
es when the engine is not running. The
water could flow back through the
muffler into the engine, causing se-
vere engine damage.
[ECJ00122]
(7) Turn the water supply off, and then force
the remaining water out of the cooling
water passages by alternately squeezing
1Flushing hose connector cap
2Garden hose adapter
3Flushing hose connector
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