YAMAHA VIKING 2017 Owners Manual

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Practice for new Yamaha Viking users
You should become familiar with the perfor-
mance characteristics of the vehicle in a lar-
ge, flat area that is free of obstacles and other
vehicles. Practice controlling the accelerator
pedal, brakes, steering, and drive select lever.
Drive at slow speeds with gradual accelera-
tion and turning. Practice smooth throttle ap-
plication. Practice slowing down before
turning. Practice maintaining a steady throttle
through the turn. Avoid higher speeds until
you are thoroughly familiar with the operation
of your vehicle. Remember, driving aggres-
sively or making abrupt maneuvers even on
flat, open areas can cause side rollovers. Become familiar with the way the vehicle feels
in low and high ranges, first in two-wheel
drive “2WD” and then in four-wheel drive
“4WD” and four-wheel drive with the differen-
tial locked “DIFF LOCK”. Steering may take
more effort in four-wheel drive with the differ-
ential locked “DIFF LOCK”. Also practice
driving in reverse.
Take the time to learn basic operation of the
vehicle before attempting more difficult ma-
neuvers.UB427BE0.book Page 13 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 PM

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Getting ready to ride
Perform the Pre-Operation Checks on page
5-1. Follow the instructions starting on page
6-2 to start the engine.
Turning
Use care in turns – turning the steering wheel
too far or too fast can result in loss of control
or a rollover. Slow down before entering
turns. When making tight turns from a stand-
still or at slow speeds, avoid sudden or hard
acceleration. Driving aggressively or making
abrupt maneuvers even on flat, open areas
can cause side rollovers. Avoid sideways slid-
ing, skidding, or back-wheel sliding, and nev-
er do donuts. If you feel the Viking begin to
slide sideways or the back wheels slide dur-
ing a turn, steer into the direction of the slide,
if possible, and gradually let off the accelera-
tor pedal to regain directional control and
avoid rollover. For example, if you feel the
back of the vehicle start to slide to your right,
steer to the right. If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or
roll, keep your body completely inside the
protective structure of the vehicle:

Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly
on the floorboard and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or passenger handhold.
 Do not put your hands or feet outside of the
vehicle for any reason. Do not try to stop a
tipover using your arm or leg.
Accelerating
With the engine idling in neutral and your foot
on the brake, shift the drive select lever into
low or high. NOTICE: Do not shift from low
to high or vice versa without coming to a
complete stop and waiting for the engine
to return to normal idle speed – damage to
the engine or drive train may occur. Then
release the parking brake.
[ECB02160]
Press the
accelerator pedal slowly and smoothly. The
centrifugal clutch will engage and the vehicle
will begin to accelerate.
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Avoid higher speeds and sudden or hard ac-
celeration until you are thoroughly familiar
with the operation of your vehicle. Avoid sud-
den or hard acceleration in any turn.
Braking
When slowing down or stopping, take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal smoothly. Improper use of the
brakes can cause the tires to lose traction, re-
ducing control of the vehicle and increasing
the possibility of an accident.
Braking ability is affected by type of terrain. In
most cases, gradual application of the brakes
is more effective than abrupt braking, partic-
ularly on loose surfaces, such as gravel. Al-
ways allow for greater braking distance on
rough, loose, or slippery surfaces.
Engine braking
Engine compression braking is designed to
assist you when operating your Viking off-
road. With this feature, the engine helps slow the vehicle down after you take your foot off
the accelerator. Engine braking is more no-
ticeable in four-wheel drive. Application of ve-
hicle brakes provides additional stopping
power.
Leaving the vehicle
Do not get out of the vehicle while the engine
is running and the drive select lever is in any
gear. There is a risk of injury because:

Children or others may accidentally press
the accelerator pedal.
 Objects tossed into the vehicle may strike
the accelerator pedal.
 The parking brake may not keep the vehicle
from accelerating.
Unwanted vehicle movement can cause seri-
ous injury or death, and it may be dangerous
to try to stop the vehicle.UB427BE0.book Page 15 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 PM

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Parking on a flat area
When parking on a flat area, stop the engine
and shift the drive select lever into the neutral
position. Apply the parking brake to help pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling.
Parking on a slope
The parking brake acts only on the rear
wheels when in “2WD”. For the parking brake
to take effect on all four wheels, shift to “DIFF
LOCK” before stopping the engine.
If you park on a hill that is too steep the vehi-
cle may roll out of control. Never park on hills
that are so steep you cannot walk up them
easily. If you must park on an incline follow
these instructions:1. Bring the vehicle to a stop by applying the brake pedal.
2. Put the vehicle in “DIFF LOCK”.
3. Turn the key to “ ” (off).
4. With the brake pedal applied, set the parking brake. 5. Block the front and rear wheels with
rocks or other objects.
Loading
The total weight of operator, passengers, ac-
cessories, cargo, trailer tongue weight, and
the vehicle itself must not exceed 1080 kg
(2381 lb). Vehicle loading can affect handling.
See “Loading” on page 6-7.
EBU33360Operation on different surfaces and
terrainsGo slowly and proceed with caution when op-
erating on an unfamiliar surface or terrain.
This vehicle may handle differently in certain
types of terrains or on certain surfaces. You
may come upon hidden rocks, bumps, or
holes without enough time to react. To avoid
loss of control or rollover, always be alert to
changing surfaces or terrain when operating
the vehicle.
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Your Yamaha Viking has higher ground clear-
ance and other features to handle rugged ter-
rain, and as a result, can overturn in situations
where some vehicles may not. Abrupt ma-
neuvers or aggressive driving can cause loss
of control, including rollovers – even on flat,
open areas. These roll overs can result in
crushed limbs and other serious injuries or
death to drivers or passengers.
Hills
Choose carefully which hills you attempt to
climb or descend. Avoid hills with slippery
surfaces or those where you will not be able to see far enough ahead of you. Use common
sense and remember that some hills are too
steep for you to climb or descend. Use proper
driving techniques to
avoid rearward, for-
ward, or sideways rollovers on hills and
slopes.
Drive straight up and down inclines, not
across them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable,
drive slowly. Turn downhill immediately if you
feel the vehicle may tip.
If you think or feel the vehicle may tip or
roll:
 Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly
on the floorboard and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or passenger handhold.
 Do not put your hands or feet outside of the
vehicle for any reason.
Uphill
Do not attempt to climb hills until you have
mastered basic maneuv ers on flat ground.
Drive straight up hills, and avoid crossing theUB427BE0.book Page 17 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 PM

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side of a hill, which increases your risk of roll-
over. Practice first on gentle slopes before at-
tempting steeper hills. Always check the
terrain carefully before attempting any hill.
To climb a hill, you need traction, momentum,
and steady throttle. For more traction and
control for climbing steeper and/or rougher
slopes, shift into low gear and select “4WD”
or “DIFF LOCK”. Travel fast enough to main-
tain momentum, but not so fast that you can-
not react to changes in the terrain as you
climb.
Slow down when you reach the crest of the
hill if you cannot see clearly what is on the
other side – there could be another person, an
obstacle, or a sharp drop-off.
If you start to lose traction or momentum
when climbing, and decide you will be unable
to continue, use the brakes to stop. Do not at-
tempt to turn the vehicle around. With your
foot on the brake pedal, look behind you and
plan your descent. Shift the drive select lever
into reverse so you can use engine braking toslow your descent. Release the brake and be-
gin to coast down the hill. Use engine braking
as much as possible, gently applying the
brakes when necessary.
Downhill
Check the terrain carefully before going
downhill. When possible, choose a path that
lets you drive your vehicle straight downhill.
Choose your path carefully and drive slowly
enough to be able to react to obstacles that
you encounter.
For more traction and control, before going
down steeper and/or rougher slopes, shift
into low gear and select “4WD” or “DIFF
LOCK”. Engine braking will help you go
downhill slowly. Go as slowly as possible. If
you begin to go too fast, apply the brakes
gently. Avoid hard application of the brakes,
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If you are sliding or skidding, try to steer in the
direction the vehicle is sliding, to regain con-
trol. For example, if you feel the back of the
vehicle start to slide to your right, steer to the
right.
If you must turn on the hill to avoid an obsta-
cle, do so slowly and carefully. If the vehicle
starts to tip, immediately steer in the downhill
direction if there are no obstacles in your
path. As you regain proper balance, gradually
steer again in the direction you want to go.
Rough terrain
Operation over rough terrain should be done
with caution.
Look for and avoid obstacles that could
cause damage to the vehicle or could lead
to a rollover or accident.
 Do not drive in a way that will get the vehicle
airborne, as injury, loss of control, and
damage to the vehicle could occur. Pavement
This vehicle is designed for off-road use only.
Avoid paved surfaces. Turn gradually and go
slowly if you must drive on pavement.
Water
If you must cross shallow, slow-moving water
up to the depth of the vehicle’s floorboard,
choose your path carefully to avoid sharp
drop-offs, large rocks, or slippery surfaces
that could cause the vehicle to overturn. Nev-
er operate through water deeper than 37 cm
(15 in) or fast-flowing water. Choose a path
where both your entrance into and exit point
from the water is a gradual incline. Determine
the water depth and currents before crossing.
Operating this vehicle through deep or fast-
flowing water can lead to loss of control or
overturn. To reduce your risk of drowning or
other injuries, use care when crossing
through water.UB427BE0.book Page 19 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 PM

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Wet brakes may have reduced effectiveness.
After leaving the water, test your brakes. If
necessary, apply the brakes several times to
let friction dry out the linings.NOTICEECB02170After driving your vehicle in water, be sure
to drain the trapped water by removing the
check hoses at the bottom of the air filter
case and air duct and the V-belt case drain
plug. Wash the vehicle in fresh water if it
has been operated in salt water or muddy
conditions. Loose terrain/slippery terrain
When driving on slippery terrain, including
wet, muddy, or icy conditions, as well as
loose gravel, be aware that you could begin
skidding or sliding. To avoid loss of control,
slow down and put the vehicle in four-wheel
drive before driving on a slippery surface and
plan your path to avoid making abrupt ma-
neuvers. If you feel the vehicle begin to slide sideways
or the back wheels slide during a turn, steer
into the direction of the slide if possible, to re-
gain directional control. For example, if you
feel the back of the vehicle start to slide to
your right, steer to the right.
Brush or wooded areas
When operating in areas with brush or trees,
watch carefully on both sides and above the
vehicle for obstacles such as branches that
the vehicle might hit, causing an accident.
Watch for brush that might enter the vehicle
as you pass and strike you or the passengers.
Never hold onto the cage/frame. The passen-
gers should always hold onto the passenger
handhold with both hands.
The muffler and other engine parts become
extremely hot during operation and remain
hot after the engine has stopped. To reduce
the risk of fire during operation or after leaving
the vehicle, do not let brush, grass and other
materials collect under the vehicle, near theUB427BE0.book Page 20 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 PM

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muffler or exhaust pipe, or next to other hot
parts. Check under the vehicle after operating
in areas where combustible materials may
have collected. Do not idle or park the vehicle
in long dry grass or other dry ground cover.
Encountering obstacles
If you cannot go around an obstacle, such as
a fallen tree or a ditch, stop the vehicle where
it is safe to do so. Set the parking brake and
get out to inspect the area thoroughly. Look
from both your approach side and exit side. If
you believe you can continue safely, choose
the path that will allow you to get over the ob-
stacle and at as close to a right angle as pos-
sible to minimize vehicle tipping. Go only fast
enough to maintain your momentum but still
give yourself plenty of time to react to chang-
es in conditions.If there is any question about your ability to
maneuver safely over the obstacle, you
should turn around if the ground is flat and
you have the room or back up until you find a
less difficult path.UB427BE0.book Page 21 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 PM

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EBU32002PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENTEBU32010Periodic inspection, adjustment, and lubrica-
tion will keep your vehicle in the safest and
most efficient condition possible. Safety is an
obligation of the vehicle owner/operator. The
most important points of vehicle inspection,
adjustment, and lubrication are explained on
the following pages.
WARNING
EWB01842Failure to properly maintain the vehicle or
performing maintenance activities incor-
rectly may increase your risk of injury or
death during service or while using the ve-
hicle. If you are not familiar with vehicle
service, have a Yamaha dealer perform the
service.
WARNING
EWB02563Turn off the engine when performing main-
tenance unless otherwise specified.
A running engine has moving parts that
can catch on body parts or clothing and
electrical parts that can cause shocks or
fires.
 Running the engine while servicing can
lead to eye injury, burns, fire, or carbon
monoxide poisoning - possibly leading
to death. See page 2-5 for more informa-
tion about carbon monoxide.
WARNING
EWB02691Brake discs, calipers, drums, and linings
can become very hot during use. To avoid
possible burns, let brake components cool
before touching them.
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