YAMAHA XL 1200 2001 Manual PDF

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Operation
WARNING
Before operating your watercraft,
become familiar with all controls. Con-
sult your Yamaha dealer about any con-
trol or function you do not fully
understand. Failure to understand how
controls work could cause an accident or
prevent you from avoiding an accident.
CAUTION:
Make sure that stern drain plugs are
securely tightened before launching the
watercraft.
EJU00459
Engine break-in
The engine break-in period is essential to
allow the various components of the engine
to wear and polish themselves to the correct
operating clearances. This ensures proper
performance and promotes longer compo-
nent life.
CAUTION:
●For the first tankful of operation, pre-
mix a 50:1 mixture of fuel and oil (in
addition to the oil in the oil tank).
●After break-in, use straight gasoline
for normal operation.
1. Launch the watercraft and start the
engine. (See pages 3-16 to 3-18 for
engine starting procedures.)
2. Run the engine at the lowest possible
speed for 5 minutes.

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3. Gradually open the throttle to 3/4 or less.
4. Continue operation at 3/4 throttle or less
until the first tankful of fuel has been
used.
5. Fill the tank with straight gasoline, and
then proceed with normal operation.
CAUTION:
Failure to follow the engine break-in pro-
cedure properly can result in severe
damage to the engine.

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Launching the watercraft
Make sure that there are no obstructions
behind you.
After the watercraft is in the water, start
the engine. Shift into reverse and move the
watercraft back slowly. If there are waves,
someone should make sure that the water-
craft is not pushed into the trailer before
backing away.
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Starting the engine
WARNING
Never start the engine or let it run for any
length of time in an enclosed area.
Exhaust fumes contain carbon monox-
ide, a colorless, odorless gas that may
cause loss of consciousness and death
within a short time. Always operate the
watercraft in an open area.
1. Launch the watercraft in water free from
weeds and debris and at least 60 cm
(2 ft) deep.
WARNING
Never operate in water that is less than
60 cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise you increase
your chance of hitting a submerged
object, which could result in injury.
CAUTION:
Never operate in water that is less than
60 cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise pebbles or
sand could be sucked into the jet intake,
causing impeller damage or engine over-
heating.

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2. Turn the fuel cock knob to the “ON” posi-
tion.
NOTE:
Before first starting the engine, remove the
fuel tank filler cap to release any built-up
pressure in the tank due to fuel expansion.
3. Attach the clip 1 to the engine shut-off
switch 2. Also, attach the engine shut-
off cord 3 to your left wrist.
WARNING
Check that the engine shut-off cord is not
frayed or broken, and keep it free from
the handlebars so the engine stops if the
operator falls off. The engine shut-off
cord may not pull free if wrapped around
the handlebars when the operator falls
off, allowing the watercraft to continue to
run and cause an accident.
NOTE:
It is not possible to start the engine with the
clip removed from the engine shut-off
switch.
4. Pull and hold the choke knob all the way
out to start a cold engine.
NOTE:
The choke should not be used when the
engine is warm.

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5. If the “LOCK” mode was chosen previ-
ously, choose the “START” mode before
starting the engine. (See pages 2-22 to
2-23 for selecting “PADLOC” mode.)
NOTE:
●If the initial setting of the PADLOC has not
been done, the “START” mode is auto-
matically selected.
●If you have previously chosen “LOCK”
mode, the engine will not start unless the
correct code is entered. This selects the
“START” mode.
6. While lightly squeezing the throttle lever,
push the start switch (green button).
WARNING
On this watercraft, the engine is con-
nected directly to the jet pump. Starting
the engine immediately generates some
thrust. Apply only enough throttle to
keep the engine running.
7. Release the start switch as soon as the
engine starts to run.
CAUTION:
●Never push the start switch while the
engine is running.
●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 may be damaged. If the engine
does not start in 5 seconds, release
the start switch, wait 15 seconds, and
try again.
8. After the engine has warmed up, push
the choke knob in to its original position.
NOTE:
If the choke knob is left pulled out, the
engine will stall.

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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 off
the engine can cause you to hit an obsta-
cle you are attempting to avoid. A colli-
sion could result in severe injury or
death.
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Leaving the watercraft
If leaving the watercraft, choose the
“LOCK” mode on the multifunction meter by
setting PADLOC, and remove the engine
shut-off cord to reduce the chance of acci-
dental starting or unauthorized use by chil-
dren or others.
To set the mode, see PADLOC under Mul-
tifunction meter.

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Operating your watercraft
Getting to know your
watercraft
Operating your watercraft requires skills
acquired through practice over a period of
time. Take the time to learn the basic tech-
niques well before attempting more difficult
maneuvers.
Operating your new watercraft can be a
very enjoyable activity, providing you with
hours of pleasure. However, it is essential to
familiarize yourself with the operation of the
watercraft to achieve the skill level neces-
sary to enjoy riding safely. Before operating
this watercraft, read this Owner’s/Operator’s
Manual, the Riding Practice Guide, and all
warning and caution labels on the water-
craft. Pay particular attention to the safety
information on pages 1-8 to 1-15. These
materials should give you an understanding
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 water-
craft at one time.
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Learning to operate your
watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always
perform the pre-operation checks listed on
page 3-5. The short time spent checking the
watercraft will reward you with added safety
and reliability.
Check state and local laws before operat-
ing your watercraft.
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 you have good visi-
bility and light boat traffic.
Use the buddy system—operate with
someone nearby. Scan constantly for peo-
ple, objects, 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 wrist and keep it free from the han-
dlebars so that the engine stops if the opera-
tor falls off.
Wear a personal flotation device (PFD).
All riders must wear the authority-approved
PFD that is suitable for personal watercraft
use. Maximum load: 240 kg (530 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, opera-
tor and passengers.

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Wear protective clothing. Severe internal
injuries can occur if water is forced into body
cavities as result of falling into the water or
being near the jet thrust nozzle. Normal
swimwear does not adequately protect
against forceful water entry into rectum and
vagina. All riders must wear a wetsuit bot-
tom or clothing that provides equivalent pro-
tection.
Such clothing includes thick, tightly
woven, sturdy and snug-fitting apparel such
as denim, but does not include spandex or
similar fabrics like those used in bicycle
shorts. A full wetsuit can also protect against
hypothermia (subnormal body temperature)
and abrasions.
Footwear and gloves are recommended.
Eye protection is recommended to keep
wind, water, and glare from the sun out of
your eyes while you operate your watercraft.
Restraining straps for eyewear are made
which are designed to float should your eye-
wear fall in the water.
You should grip the handlebars firmly and
keep both feet on the floor of the footwell. Do
not attempt to ride with passengers until
your operating skills are fully developed.
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Riding watercraft with
passengers
When 2 or 3 persons (including the oper-
ator) are on board, the watercraft handles
differently, and is not as easy to maneuver,
so operating it requires a higher degree of
skill. Before attempting to operate the water-
craft with passengers on board, the operator
must practice operating the watercraft alone
enough to be able to acquire the necessary
skills.The passengers must always wear the
authority-approved PFD and wetsuit bottom
or equivalent.
WARNING
Do not apply throttle when anyone is at
rear of watercraft. Turn engine off or keep
engine at idle. Water and/or debris exit-
ing the jet thrust nozzle can cause severe
injury. Passengers should not attempt to
board the watercraft if the operator is
applying throttle.
Do not give a ride to children whose feet
cannot reach the floor of the footwell. Pas-
sengers should hold on firmly to the person
in front of them and keep both feet in the
footwell.
WARNING
When passengers are on board, make
sure that they are holding on firmly and
have feet in the footwell before you start
to accelerate.
When pulling a skier, the spotter should
face to the rear while holding the handgrip
with both hands. The spotter should always
sit astride the seat with his or her feet placed
firmly on the footrest for proper balance. Fol-
low state laws regarding skiing such as
skier-down flags, rearward-facing spotter,
and other requirements.

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Starting the watercraft
WARNING
●Scan constantly for people, objects
and other watercraft. Be alert for con-
ditions that limit your visibility or block
your vision of others.
●Operate defensively at safe speeds
and keep a safe distance away from
people, objects, and other watercraft.
●Do not follow directly behind water-
craft or other boats. Do not go near
others to spray or splash them with
water. Avoid sharp turns or other
maneuvers that make it hard for others
to avoid you or understand where you
are going. Avoid areas with sub-
merged objects or shallow water.
●Take early action to avoid collisions.
Remember watercraft and other boats
do not have brakes. Do not release the
throttle when trying to steer away from
objects—you need throttle to steer.
●Practice reboarding in shallow water
before riding in deep water.

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Starting and boarding in shallow
water
1. Do not start the engine in less than
60 cm (2 ft) of water. Put the watercraft
in water that is deep enough, and then
board the watercraft from the side or the
rear.
2. Attach the engine shut-off cord to your
left wrist, and then install the clip to the
engine shut-off switch.
3. Grip the handlebars with both hands,
place both feet on the floor of the foot-
well, start the engine, and start off.
Starting from a dock
1. Board the watercraft from the side.
2. Attach the engine shut-off cord to your
left wrist, and then install the clip to the
engine shut-off switch.
3. Push the watercraft away from the dock,
grip the handlebars with both hands,
place both feet on the floor of the foot-
well, start the engine, and start off.