lock YAMAHA VX 2008 User Guide

Operation
52
EJU32900
Operating your watercraft EJU32960Getting 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, and all warning and caution labels
on the watercraft. Pay particular attention to
the safety information on page 9. These ma-
terials 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 watercraft at
any time.
EJU33000Learning to operate your watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always per-
form the pre-operation checks listed on page
40. 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 to your left
wrist and keep it free from the handlebars so
that the engine stops if you, the operator, 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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Operation
53
(subnormal body temperature) and abra-
sions.
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 de-
signed to float should your eyewear 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.
EJU33060Riding with passengers
When 2 or 3 persons (including the operator)
are on board, the watercraft handles different-
ly, and is not as easy to maneuver, so operat-
ing it requires a higher degree of skill. Before
attempting to operate the watercraft with pas-
sengers on board, the operator must practice
operating the watercraft alone enough to be
able to acquire the necessary skills.
The passengers must always wear a PFD
that is approved by the appropriate authorities
and a wetsuit bottom or equivalent.
WARNING
EWJ00540
Do not apply throttle when anyone is at the
rear of the watercraft. Turn the engine off
or keep it 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 ap-
plying throttle.
Do not give a ride to children whose feet can-
not reach the floor of the footwell. The pas-
sengers should hold on firmly, either to the
person in front of them or to the handgrip pro-
vided, and keep their feet on the floor of thefootwell. Never allow a passenger to ride in
front of the operator.
WARNING
EWJ00550
When passengers are on board, make
sure that they are holding on firmly and
have their feet on the floor of the footwell
before you start to accelerate.
When pulling a water-skier, the spotter should
face to the rear while holding the handgrip
with both hands. The spotter should always sit
astride the seat with both feet placed firmly on
the floor of the footwell for proper balance.
Follow all local laws regarding water-skiing,
such as those for skier-down flags, rearward-
facing spotter, and other requirements.
EJU33080Starting the watercraft
WARNING
EWJ00710

Scan constantly for people, objects, and
other watercraft. Be alert for conditions
that limit your visibility or block your vi-
sion of others.

Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people,
objects, and other watercraft.

Do not follow directly behind watercraft
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 submerged objects or shal-
low water.

Take early action to avoid collisions. Re-
member, watercraft and other boats do
not have brakes. Do not release the
throttle lever when trying to steer away
from objects—you need throttle to steer.
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Operation
58
ride plate while pushing down on the gun-
wale with your right hand or foot.
NOTE:
If the port (left) side of the capsized watercraft
is tilting up, push down on the gunwale so that
the port (left) side is down before turning the
watercraft clockwise.
CAUTION:
ECJ00540
Do not turn the watercraft over counter-
clockwise, otherwise water can enter the
engine, which can result in severe dam-
age.
(3) Start the engine and operate the water-
craft to discharge any water remaining in
the engine compartment. (If the engine
does not start, see “Towing the water-
craft” on page 83 or “Submerged water-
craft” on page 83.)
CAUTION:
ECJ00550
Do not operate the engine at full throttle
for at least 1 minute after the engine has
been restarted. Excessive water in the
bilge can splash into the engine, which
can result in severe damage.
NOTE:
To efficiently discharge water from the engine
compartment, operate the watercraft as
straight as possible and above planing speed
for at least 2 minutes.
EJU33250Turning the watercraft
Steering control depends on the combination
of handlebar position and the amount of throt-
tle.
Water sucked in through the intake grate is
pressurized by the impeller in the jet pump. As
the pressurized water is expelled from the
pump through the jet thrust nozzle, it creates
thrust to move and steer the watercraft. The
higher the engine speed, the more thrust pro-
duced.
The amount of jet thrust, in addition to the po-
sition of the handlebars, determines how
sharply you turn.
A. More throttle produces higher thrust, so
the watercraft will turn more sharply.
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Maintenance and care
72
If the reverse gate does not make contact with
the stopper, have a Yamaha dealer service it.
EJU36640Checking and adjusting the throttle
cable
Check that the throttle cable moves back to
the set position smoothly and that the throttle
lever free play is within specification.
Squeeze and release the throttle lever. If the
throttle lever does not return smoothly, have a
Yamaha dealer service it.
If the specified throttle lever free play cannot
be obtained as described below, have a
Yamaha dealer make the adjustment.
(1) Remove the six screws, and then remove
the front handlebar cover.
(2) Slide the rubber cover away from the ad-
juster, and then loosen the locknut.(3) Adjust the free play by turning the adjust-
er.
(4) Hold the adjuster with one wrench while
tightening the locknut with another
wrench. Slide the rubber cover to its orig-
inal position.
(5) Install the front handlebar cover, and then
install the six screws.
EJU34391Cleaning and adjusting the spark
plugs
The spark plug is an important engine compo-
nent and is easy to inspect. The condition of
the spark plug can indicate something about
the condition of the engine. For example, if
one spark plug has a distinctly different color,
the engine could require servicing. Do not at-
tempt to diagnose any problems yourself.
Have a Yamaha dealer service the watercraft.
Remove and inspect the spark plugs periodi-
cally; heat and deposits will cause the spark
plugs to slowly break down and erode. If elec-
trode erosion becomes excessive, or if carbon
and other deposits are excessive, replace the
spark plug with the specified plug.
1Front handlebar cover
1Rubber cover
2Locknut
3Adjuster
4Throttle lever free play
Throttle lever free play:
4.0–7.0 mm (0.16–0.28 in)
UF1K73E0.book Page 72 Wednesday, July 11, 2007 9:15 AM

Specifications
77
EJU34542
Specifications
Watercraft capacity:
Maximum people on board:
3 person
Maximum load capacity:
240 kg (530 lb)
Dimensions:
Length:
3220 mm (126.8 in)
Width:
1170 mm (46.1 in)
Height:
1150 mm (45.3 in)
Dry weight:
VX 319 kg (703 lb)
VX Deluxe 322 kg (710 lb)
VX Cruiser 323 kg (712 lb)
Performance:
Maximum output (according to ISO 8665/SAE
J1228):
75.00 kW@8000 r/min
Maximum fuel consumption:
28.0 L/h (7.4 US gal/h) (6.2 Imp.gal/h)
Cruising range at full throttle:
2.14 hour
Trolling speed:
1650 ±50 r/min
Engine:
Engine type:
Liquid cooled 4-stroke, DOHC
Number of cylinders:
4
Engine displacement:
1052 cm³
Bore & stroke:
76.0 × 58.0 mm (2.99 × 2.28 in)
Compression ratio:
11.4 : 1
Valve clearance-intake (cold):
0.11–0.20 mm (0.0043–0.0079 in)
Valve clearance-exhaust (cold):
0.25–0.34 mm (0.0098–0.0134 in)
Lubrication system:
Dry sump
Cooling system:
Water
Starting system:
ElectricIgnition system:
T.C.I.
Spark plug:
CR9EB
Spark plug gap:
0.7–0.8 mm (0.028–0.031 in)
Battery capacity:
12 V, 19.0 Ah
Charging system:
Flywheel magneto
Drive unit:
Propulsion system:
Jet pump
Jet pump type:
Axial flow, single stage
Impeller rotation:
Counterclockwise
Jet thrust nozzle angle:
24.0+24.0 °
Fuel and oil:
Recommended fuel:
Regular unleaded gasoline
Minimum octane rating (PON):
86
Minimum octane rating (RON):
90
Recommended engine oil type SAE:
SAE 10W-30, 20W-40, 20W-50
Recommended engine oil grade API:
API SE,SF,SG,SH,SJ,SL
Fuel tank total capacity:
60 L (15.9 US gal) (13.2 Imp.gal)
Engine oil quantity with oil filter replacement:
2.2 L (2.33 US qt) (1.94 Imp.qt)
Engine oil quantity without oil filter replacement:
2.0 L (2.11 US qt) (1.76 Imp.qt)
Engine oil total quantity:
4.3 L (4.55 US qt) (3.78 Imp.qt)
UF1K73E0.book Page 77 Wednesday, July 11, 2007 9:15 AM

Trouble recovery
78
EJU34560
Troubleshooting
If you have any trouble with your watercraft, use this section to check for the possible cause.
If you cannot find the cause, or if the procedure for replacement or repair is not described in
this owner’s/operator’s manual, have a Yamaha dealer perform the necessary service.
EJU34592Troubleshooting chart
TROUBLE POSSIBLE CAUSE REMEDY PAGE
Engine does not
start (Starter motor
does not turn over)Yamaha Se-
curity Sys-
tem (VX
Deluxe/VX
Cruiser)Lock mode selected Select unlock mode
29
Engine shut-
off switchClip not in place Install clip
25
Fuse Burned out Replace the fuse and
check wiring82
Battery Run down Recharge 74
Poor terminal con-
nectionsTighten as required
74
Terminal corroded Clean 65
Starter motor Faulty Have serviced by
Yamaha dealer—
Engine does not
start (Starter motor
turns over)Throttle lever Squeezed Release 26
Fuel Empty Refill as soon as pos-
sible39
Stale or contaminat-
edHave serviced by
Yamaha dealer70
Fuel tank Water or dirt present Have serviced by
Yamaha dealer70
Spark plug Fouled or defective Clean or replace 72
Spark plug
capNot connected or
looseConnect properly
72
Connected to wrong
cylinderConnect properly
72
Fuel injec-
tion systemFuel pump faulty Have serviced by
Yamaha dealer—
UF1K73E0.book Page 78 Wednesday, July 11, 2007 9:15 AM

Index
Operating your watercraft......................... 52
Operation ................................................. 49
Operation of controls and other
functions ............................................... 23
Operation requirements ........................... 11
Owner’s/operator’s manual and tool kit .... 67
P
Periodic maintenance chart...................... 68
Post-operation care .................................. 61
Pre-operation check list............................ 40
Pre-operation check points ...................... 42
Pre-operation checks ............................... 40
Primary Identification (PRI-ID) number ...... 1
R
Recommended equipment ....................... 13
Remote control transmitter
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ................... 24
Reverse on waterways
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ................... 60
Riding with passengers ............................ 53
Rough water operation ............................. 61
S
Safe boating rules .................................... 17
Seat .......................................................... 23
“SECURITY” indicator light
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ................... 34
Selecting the normal mode/low-RPM
mode (for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ......... 30
Shift cable, checking (for VX Deluxe/
VX Cruiser) ........................................... 71
Shift lever and reverse gate
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ................... 46
Shift lever (for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ..... 27
Spark plugs, cleaning and adjusting ........ 72
Speedometer............................................ 31
Start switch............................................... 26
Starting the engine ................................... 49
Starting the watercraft .............................. 53
Steering system ................................. 27, 45
Stern drain plugs ...................................... 44
Stern eyes ................................................ 28
Stopping the engine ................................. 51
Stopping the watercraft ............................ 60
Storage..................................................... 63
Storage compartments ............................. 35Submerged watercraft .............................. 83
Switches ................................................... 48
T
Tachometer .............................................. 31
Throttle cable, checking and adjusting ..... 72
Throttle lever ...................................... 26, 45
Towing the watercraft ............................... 83
Transporting ............................................. 62
Trolling speed, checking .......................... 76
Troubleshooting ....................................... 78
Troubleshooting chart .............................. 78
Turning the watercraft .............................. 58
W
Water separator ....................................... 43
Watercraft characteristics ......................... 14
Water-skiing ............................................. 16
Y
Yamaha Engine Management System
(YEMS) ................................................. 28
Yamaha Security System and low-RPM
mode (for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ......... 29
Yamaha Security System
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) ................... 29
Yamaha Security System lock and
unlock modes (for VX Deluxe/
VX Cruiser) ........................................... 29
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