YAMAHA VX 2014 Manual PDF

Operation
65
(See page 30 for information on the reverse
system.)
Make sure that there are no obstacles or peo-
ple behind you before shifting into reverse.
EJU36087Boarding the watercraft
WARNING
EWJ01112
Be sure the operator and any passengers
have practiced boarding from the water
while still close to shore before riding. A
person who has made many unsuccessful
attempts to get back on the watercraft
may become fatigued and suffer from ex-
posure, increasing the risk of injury and
drowning.
Board 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 run the engine in water
that is less than 60 cm (2 ft) deep from the
bottom of the watercraft, otherwise peb-
bles or sand could be sucked into the jet
intake, causing impeller damage and en-
gine overheating.
[ECJ00473]
TIP:
VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser: This watercraft is
equipped with a reboarding step, which can
be lowered and used to assist in reboarding.
(See page 39 for information on operating the
reboarding step.)
EJU36354Boarding alone
(1) From the rear of the watercraft, place
both hands on the boarding platform,
pull yourself up, and then grasp the
handgrip with one hand.
1Shift lever
2Reverse position
1
2
60 cm (2 ft)
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Operation
66
(2) Pull yourself up to a kneeling position on
the boarding 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 and
place both feet on the floor of the foot-
well.
(5) Look in all directions, start the engine,
and then start off slowly.
EJU3316ABoarding with passenger(s)
WARNING
EWJ00661
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 seat-
ed with their feet on the floor of the
footwell and are securely holding on to theperson in front of them or to the handgrip
provided.
The heavier the total weight of the operator
and passenger(s), 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.
To board at a standstill:
(1) Board as noted in the previous section
“Boarding alone”.
(2) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(3) Grip the handlebars with both hands and
place both feet on the floor of the foot-
well.
(4) Have the first passenger move to the rear
of the watercraft.
(5) Have the first passenger board using the
same procedure as the operator, place
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Operation
67
their feet on the floor of the footwell, and
securely hold on to the operator.
(6) Have the second passenger follow the
same procedure. When the second pas-
senger is boarding, try to balance the
watercraft together with the first passen-
ger.
(7) Make sure that the passenger(s) 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.(8) Look in all directions, start the engine,
and then start off slowly.
To board when it is difficult to balance at a
standstill:
(1) Have the passenger(s) steady the water-
craft, and then board as noted in the pre-
vious section “Boarding alone”.
(2) Grip the handlebars with both hands,
place both feet on the floor of the foot-
well, and balance there.
(3) Have the first passenger board using the
same procedure as the operator, place
their feet on the floor of the footwell, se-
curely hold on to the operator, and bal-
ance there.
(4) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(5) Look in all directions, and then start the
engine and operate at trolling speed.
(6) Have the second passenger pull them-
selves up onto the boarding platform into
a kneeling position and balance there.
Look in all directions, and then gradually
accelerate. Then, have the second pas-
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Operation
68
senger crawl onto the seat while main-
taining their balance.
(7) Have the second passenger sit astride
the seat, place their feet on the floor of
the footwell, securely hold on to the per-
son in front of them or to the handgrip
provided, and balance there.
(8) Make sure that the passenger(s) 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,
and then gradually increase the speed to
balance the watercraft.
EJU33083Starting off
WARNING
EWJ00712
To avoid collisions:
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.
NOTICE
ECJ01341
Never run the engine in water that is less
than 60 cm (2 ft) deep from the bottom of
the watercraft, otherwise pebbles or sand
could be sucked into the jet intake, caus-
ing impeller damage and engine overheat-
ing.
EJU40593Starting off from a trailer
VX Sport:
(1) Launch the watercraft, and then turn it
around so that the bow faces the direc-
tion you wish to go.
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Operation
69
(2) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(3) Look in all directions, start the engine,
and then start off slowly.
VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser:
(1) Launch the watercraft, and then move
the shift lever to the reverse position.
(See page 30 for information on the re-
verse system.)
(2) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(3) Look in all directions, start the engine,
and then start off slowly.
EJU33114Boarding and starting off from a dock
(1) Board the watercraft from the side.
(2) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch.
(3) Push the watercraft away from the dock,
grip the handlebars with both hands, and
place both feet on the floor of the foot-
well.
(4) Look in all directions, start the engine,
and then start off slowly.
EJU33236Capsized watercraft
WARNING
EWJ00672
Improper uprighting can cause injury.
Be sure to shut the engine off by pulling
on the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to
remove the clip from the engine shut-off
switch.
Do not put your hands in the intake
grate.
If the watercraft capsizes, turn it over imme-
diately.
To upright the watercraft:
(1) Remove the clip from the engine shut-off
switch.
(2) Swim to the rear of the watercraft. Turn
the watercraft over clockwise by pulling
on the ride plate with your left hand while
pushing down on the gunwale with your
right hand or foot.
If the port (left) side of the capsized wa-
tercraft is tilting up, push down on the
gunwale so that the port (left) side is
down before turning the watercraft
clockwise. NOTICE: Do not turn the
watercraft over counterclockwise,
otherwise water can enter the engine,
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Operation
70
which can result in severe damage.
[ECJ00542]
(3) Start the engine and operate the water-
craft at planing speed to drain the bilge
water from the engine compartment.
(See page 47 for information on draining
the bilge water. If the engine does not
start, see “Towing the watercraft” on
page 88 or “Submerged watercraft” on
page 88.) NOTICE: Do not run the en-
gine at full throttle for at least 1 minute
after the engine has been restarted.
Bilge water in the engine compart-
ment can splash into the engine,
which can result in severe damage.
[ECJ00554]
EJU35963
Beaching and docking the watercraft
To beach the watercraft:
(1) Make sure that there are no boats, swim-
mers, or obstacles near the beach.(2) Release the throttle lever to reduce
speed about 100 m (330 ft) before you
reach the intended beaching area.
(3) Slowly approach the beach and stop the
engine just before reaching land.
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 se-
vere injury or death.
[EWJ00602] NOTICE:
Never run the engine in water that is
less than 60 cm (2 ft) deep from the
bottom of the watercraft, otherwise
pebbles or sand could be sucked into
the jet intake, causing impeller dam-
age and engine overheating.
[ECJ00473]
( 4 ) G e t o f f t h e w a t e r c r a f t a n d p u l l i t u p o n t h e
beach.
To dock the watercraft:
(1) Make sure that there are no boats, swim-
mers, or obstacles near the dock.
(2) Release the throttle lever to reduce
speed about 100 m (330 ft) away from
the dock.
(3) Slowly approach the dock and stop the
engine just before coming alongside it.
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 se-
vere injury or death.
[EWJ00602]
(4) Come alongside the dock and get off the
watercraft.
EJU37194Operating in weeded areas
Always avoid using your watercraft in areas
where weed growth is thick. If operating in
weeded areas is unavoidable, alternately
squeeze the throttle lever and relax your grip
on the throttle lever to vary the engine speed.
Weeds tend to become clogged more when
operating at a steady speed and at trolling
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Operation
71
speed. If weeds may have clogged the intake
area, clean the jet intake. (See page 85 for in-
formation on the jet intake.)
EJU40242After removing the watercraft from
the water
NOTICE
ECJ01311
Do not run the engine over 4000 r/min on
land. Also, do not run the engine for more
than 15 seconds without supplying water,
otherwise the engine could overheat.
After operating and removing the watercraft
from the water, promptly discharge the re-
maining water from the cooling water pas-
sages.
To discharge water from the cooling water
passages:
(1) Make sure that the area around the wa-
tercraft is clear, and then start the en-
gine.
(2) Discharge the remaining water out of the
cooling water passages by alternately
squeezing and releasing the throttle lever
quickly for 10 to 15 seconds.
(3) Stop the engine.
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Care and storage
72
EJU37146
Post-operation care
WARNING
EWJ00331
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.
After using the watercraft, always take it out
of the water, clean it, and store it. Leaving the
watercraft in the water for extended periods
will accelerate the rate of normal deteriora-
tion of the jet pump and hull. Marine organ-
isms and corrosion are some of the
conditions that can shorten the life of many
watercraft components.
EJU33548Flushing the cooling water passages
NOTICE
ECJ01311
Do not run the engine over 4000 r/min on
land. Also, do not run the engine for more
than 15 seconds without supplying water,
otherwise the engine could overheat.
Flush the cooling water passages to prevent
them from clogging with salt, sand, or dirt.
(1) Place the watercraft in a horizontal posi-
tion.
(2) Remove the seat. (See page 38 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)(3) Connect the garden hose adapter to a
garden hose.
(4) Loosen the flushing hose connector cap
and remove it. Insert the garden hose
adapter into the flushing hose connector
and turn it until it is securely connected.
(5) Connect the garden hose to a water tap.
(6) Make sure that the area around the wa-
tercraft is clear, and then start the en-
gine. Immediately after the engine starts,
fully turn the water supply on so that wa-
1Garden hose adapter
1Garden hose adapter
2Flushing hose connector
3Flushing hose connector cap
321
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Care and storage
73
ter flows out continually from the jet
thrust nozzle.
(7) 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
perform the procedure again from step 6.
NOTICE: Do not supply water to the
cooling water passages when the en-
gine is not running. The water could
flow back through the muffler into the
engine, causing severe engine dam-
age.
[ECJ00123]
(8) Turn the water supply off.
(9) Discharge the remaining water out of the
cooling water passages by alternately
squeezing and releasing the throttle lever
quickly for 10 to 15 seconds.
(10) Stop the engine.
(11) Remove the garden hose adapter, and
then securely install the flushing hose
connector cap by tightening it until it
stops.
(12) Securely install the seat in its original po-
sition.
EJU41701Cleaning the watercraft
(1) Remove the seat. (See page 38 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(2) If the watercraft will be stored for a week
or more, rustproof the internal engine
components to help prevent corrosion.(See page 77 for information on rust-
proofing the internal engine compo-
nents.)
(3) 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.
[ECJ00572]
(4) Drain the water from the engine com-
partment. (See page 47 for information
on draining the bilge water.)
(5) Wipe the engine and engine compart-
ment with a dry cloth.
(6) Wash down the hull, deck, and jet pump
with fresh water.
(7) Wipe the hull, deck, and jet pump with a
dry cloth.
(8) Wipe all vinyl and rubber components,
such as the seat and engine compart-
ment seals, with a vinyl protectant.
(9) To minimize corrosion, spray metallic
parts of the hull, deck, and engine with a
rust inhibitor.
(10) Allow the engine compartment to air dry
completely before installing the seat.
(11) Securely install the seat in its original po-
sition.
EJU33687Battery care
If the watercraft will not be used for more than
a month, remove the battery from the water-
craft, check it, and then store it in a cool, dry
place.
WARNING
EWJ00792
Battery electrolyte is poisonous and dan-
gerous, causing severe burns, etc. Elec-
trolyte contains sulfuric acid. Avoid
contact with skin, eyes, or clothing.
Antidotes
External: Flush with water.
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Care and storage
74
Internal: Drink large quantities of water or
milk. Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten
egg, or vegetable oil. Call a physician im-
mediately.
Eyes: Flush with water for 15 minutes and
get prompt medical attention.
Batteries produce explosive gases. Keep
sparks, flames, cigarettes, etc., well away.
If using or charging the battery in an en-
closed space, make sure that it is well
ventilated. Always shield your eyes when
working near batteries.
Keep out of the reach of children.
To remove the battery:
(1) Disconnect the negative (–) battery lead.
(2) Disconnect the positive (+) battery lead.
(3) Disconnect the breather hose.
(4) Unhook the battery bands, and then re-
move the battery from the watercraft.
Checking the battery
Make sure that the battery case is not dam-
aged.
Make sure that the battery terminals are
not corroded or damaged.
Make sure that the breather hose is not
clogged or damaged.Checking the electrolyte level
Make sure that the electrolyte level is be-
tween the maximum and minimum level
marks.
If the electrolyte level is low, add distilled wa-
ter to raise it to the specified level. NOTICE:
Use only distilled water for replenishing
the battery, otherwise battery life could be
shortened.
[ECJ00242]
If distilled water was added, check the bat-
tery voltage.
It is recommended to have a Yamaha dealer
check the battery voltage and charge the bat-
tery. If you charge the battery yourself, be
sure to read and follow the instructions pro-
vided with the battery tester and charger you
use. NOTICE: Do not attempt to charge a
battery hastily. Battery life could be short-
ened.
[ECJ00252]1Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
2Battery band
3Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
4Breather hose
123
4
1Maximum level mark
2Minimum level mark
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