YAMAHA VX 2020 Manual PDF

Pre-operation checks
64
together. The engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) may not pull free when the operator
falls off, allowing the watercraft to conti-
nue to run and cause an accident.
[EWJ01221]
EJU32676
Switch checks
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.
Check the start switch, the engine stop
switch, and the engine shut-off switch for
proper operation. (See pages 27 to 27 for in-
formation on operating each switch.)To check the operation of the switches:
(1) VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited: If
the lock mode is selected for the
Yamaha Security System setting, select
the unlock mode. (See page 26 for
Yamaha Security System setting proce-
dures.)
(2) Push the start switch to make sure that
the engine starts.
(3) As soon as the engine starts running,
push the engine stop switch to make
sure that the engine stops immediately.
(4) Restart the engine, and then pull the en-
gine shut-off cord (lanyard) to remove
the clip from the engine shut-off switch
to make sure that the engine stops im-
mediately.
EJU40102Storage compartment checks
Make sure that the storage compartments
are not damaged and that water has not col-
lected in the compartments. (See page 46 for
information on the storage compartments.)
EJU43800Fire extinguisher holder, cover, and band
checks
Make sure that the fire extinguisher holder,
cover, and band are not damaged and that
the fire extinguisher is securely held in place
using the band. (See page 48 for information
on the fire extinguisher holder, cover, and
band.)
1Start switch
2Engine stop switch
3Engine shut-off switch
4Clip
5Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
1
3
4
25
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Pre-operation checks
65
EJU32544Fire extinguisher check
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
To check the fire extinguisher, see the in-
structions supplied by the fire extinguisher
manufacturer. Always keep the fire extin-
guisher 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 extinguish-
er dealer to obtain one meeting the proper
specifications.
EJU40122Safety equipment check
Check that safety equipment meeting the ap-
plicable regulations is on board.
EJU32353Hull and deck check
Check the hull and deck for damage or other
problem.
EJU32657Jet intake checks
Make sure that the jet intake is not damaged
or clogged with weeds or debris. If the jet in-
take is clogged, clean it. (See page 95 for in-
formation on the jet intake.)
EJU43221Jet thrust nozzle and reverse gate check
(VX / VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited)
Check the jet thrust nozzle and reverse gate
for damage or other problem.
EJU44250Stern drain plug checks
Loosen the stern drain plugs and remove
them, and then make sure that the plugs and
O-rings on the plugs are not damaged and
that there is no foreign material on the
threads or O-rings on the plugs. NOTICE:
Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads and the O-
rings on the plugs to remove any foreign
materials, such as dirt or sand. Otherwise,
the stern drain plugs could be damaged,
allowing water to enter the engine com-
partment. Check the O-rings on the stern
drain plugs and make sure that the plugs
are tightened securely before launching
the watercraft. Otherwise, water may
flood the engine compartment and cause
the watercraft to submerge.
[ECJ00363]
1Stern drain plug
2O-ring
2
1
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Pre-operation checks
66
Securely install the stern drain plugs by tight-
ening them until they stop.
EJU43810Hood check
Push down the hood latch and make sure
that it is securely closed.
EJU40146Post-launch checks
Perform the post-launch checks in the pre-
operation checklist while the watercraft is in
the water and the engine is running.
To perform the post-launch checks:
(1) Launch the watercraft. (See page 69 for
information on launching the watercraft.)
(2) Perform the checks and make sure that
there are no malfunctioning items or oth-
er problems.
EJU40553Cooling water pilot outlet check
Make sure that water is discharged from the
cooling water pilot outlet while the engine is
running. (See page 29 for information on the
cooling water pilot outlet.)
EJU32715Multifunction information center check
Make sure that the multifunction information
center operates properly. (See page 38 for in-
formation on proper operation of the multi-
function information center.)
EJU43392Shift system check (VX / VX Deluxe /
VX Cruiser / VX Limited)
Operate the throttle lever and RiDE lever, and
check that the watercraft moves or does not
move according to the displayed shift indica-
tor. (See page 31 for shift system operation
procedures.) WARNING! To avoid colli-
sions, operate at safe speeds and keep a
1Stern drain plug
1
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Pre-operation checks
67
safe distance away from people, objects,
and other watercraft.
[EWJ01860]
EJU40172
Engine idling speed check
Start the engine and warm it up. Use the ta-
chometer in the multifunction information
center to make sure that the engine idling
speed is not significantly above or below the
specified range.
1Shift indicator
2“F” (Forward position)
3“N” (Neutral position)
4“R” (Reverse position)
Engine idling speed:
1500 ±100 r/min
2
3
41
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Operation
68
EJU32903
Operating your watercraft
WARNING
EWJ00511
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.
EJU32965Getting 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, the Riding Instruction card, and all
labels on the watercraft. Pay particular atten-
tion to the safety information beginning on
page 10. These materials should give you an
understanding of the watercraft and its oper-
ation.
Remember: This watercraft is designed to
carry the operator and up to 2 passengers.
Never exceed the maximum load limit or al-
low more than 3 persons (or 2 persons if a
wakeboarder or water-skier is being pulled)
to ride the watercraft at any time.
EJU33006Learning to operate your watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always per-
form the pre-operation checks listed on page
58. The short time spent checking the water-
craft will reward you with added safety and
reliability.
Check local laws before operating your wa-
tercraft.
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.
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.Maximum load:
240 kg (530 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, op-
erator, and passengers.
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Operation
69
EJU40212Riding position
Operator riding position
The operator should grip the handlebars firm-
ly with both hands and sit astride the seat
with both feet on the floor of the footwell.
Passenger riding position
The passenger(s) should hold on firmly, either
to the person in front of them or to the hand-
grip provided, and sit astride the seat with
their feet on the floor of the footwell. Never al-
low a passenger to ride in front of the opera-
tor. (See page 17 for information on the riding
position when pulling a wakeboarder or wa-
ter-skier.)
EJU32803Launching the watercraft
When launching the watercraft, make sure
that there are no obstacles around you.
If the watercraft is launched from a trailer,
someone should make sure that waves do
not push the watercraft into the trailer.
EJU36346Starting the engine on water
WARNING
EWJ01531
Do not apply throttle when anyone is at the
rear of the watercraft. Turn the engine off
or keep it at idle. Water and debris exiting
the jet thrust nozzle can cause severe in-
jury.
To start the engine:
(1) VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited: If
the lock mode is selected for the
Yamaha Security System setting, select
the unlock mode. (See page 26 for
Yamaha Security System setting proce-
dures.)
(2) Move the watercraft to an area that is
free from weeds and debris, and has a
water depth of at least 60 cm (2 ft) 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
pebbles or sand could be sucked into
the jet intake, causing impeller dam-
age and engine overheating.
[ECJ00473]
(3) Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
to your left wrist, and then attach the clip
to the engine shut-off switch. (See page
27 for information on operating the en-
gine shut-off switch.) WARNING! Check
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Operation
70
that the engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
is attached correctly. If the engine
shut-off cord (lanyard) is not attached
correctly, it may not pull free when the
operator falls off, allowing the water-
craft to continue to run and cause an
accident.
[EWJ00582]
(4) With the throttle lever released, push the
start switch (green button) to start the
engine. (See page 27 for information on
operating the start switch.)
EJU32863Stopping the engine
Release the throttle lever, and then push the
engine stop switch (red button) to stop the
engine. WARNING! You need throttle to
steer. Shutting the engine off can cause
you to hit an obstacle you are attemptingto avoid. A collision could result in severe
injury or death.
[EWJ00602]
EJU32873
Leaving the watercraft
If leaving the watercraft, remove the clip from
the engine shut-off switch to prevent acci-
dental starting or unauthorized operation by
children or others.
EJU44990Operating the watercraft
VX-C:
When the engine is running, the watercraft
will move forward at trolling speed even if the
1Clip
2Engine shut-off switch
3Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
12
3
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Operation
71
throttle lever is in the fully closed (idle) posi-
tion.
VX / VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited:
When the throttle lever is squeezed, the “F”
(forward) shift indicator will be displayed and
the watercraft will move forward. While the
“F” (forward) shift indicator is displayed, the
watercraft will move forward at trolling speed
even if the throttle lever is in the fully closed(idle) position. (See page 31 for shift system
operation procedures.)
EJU43423Turning the watercraft
WARNING
EWJ01783
Do not release the throttle lever when
trying to steer away from objects—as
with other powerboats, you need throt-
tle to steer. A collision could result in se-
vere injury or death.
When operating at higher speeds, make
gradual turns or slow down before turn-
ing. Sharp high-speed turns may cause
the watercraft to slide sideways or spin,
throwing the operator and passenger(s)
overboard, which could cause an injury.
VX / VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited:
Take early action to avoid collisions. The
1“F” (Forward position)
1
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Operation
72
RiDE system is not a braking device for
avoiding dangerous situations.
Steering control depends on the combination
of handlebar position and the amount of
throttle.
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.
B. Less throttle produces lower thrust, so
the watercraft will turn more gradually.
C. Releasing the throttle lever completely
produces only minimum thrust. If you aretraveling at speeds above trolling, you
will have rapidly decreasing ability to
steer without throttle. You may still have
some turning ability immediately after re-
leasing the throttle lever, but once the
engine slows down, the watercraft will no
longer respond to handlebar input until
you apply throttle again or you reach
trolling speed.
At trolling speed, the watercraft can be
turned gradually by handlebar position
alone using just the amount of thrust
available at idle.
D. If the engine is stopped while riding,
there is no thrust. The watercraft will go
straight even though the handlebars are
turned.
You need throttle to steer.
E. VX / VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited:
If the RiDE lever is squeezed and the
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Operation
73
handlebars are turned when the water-
craft is cruising at planing speed, the wa-
tercraft will turn gradually while slowing
down.
This model is equipped with the Yamaha En-
gine Management System (YEMS) that in-
cludes an off-throttle steering (OTS) system.
It will activate at planing speeds should you
attempt to steer the watercraft after releasing
the throttle lever (see condition C above).
The OTS system assists in turning by con-
tinuing to supply some thrust while the water-
craft is decelerating, but you can turn more
sharply if you apply throttle while turning the
handlebars. The OTS system does not func-
tion below planing speeds or when the en-
gine is off. Once the engine slows down, the
watercraft will no longer turn in response to
handlebar input until you apply throttle again
or you reach trolling speed.
EJU45001Stopping the watercraft
The watercraft is not equipped with a sepa-
rate braking system. The watercraft slows
down by water resistance or, when operating
in reverse, by the water jet. The watercraft
slows down as soon as the throttle lever is re-
leased, but will coast for a distance before
fully stopping. If you are not sure you can
stop in time before hitting an obstacle, apply
throttle and turn in another direction.From full speed, the watercraft comes to a
complete stop due to water resistance in ap-
proximately 100 m (330 ft) after the throttle le-
ver is released or the engine is stopped,
although this distance will vary depending on
many factors, including gross weight, water
surface conditions, and wind direction.
VX / VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited: If
the RiDE lever is squeezed to slow down, the
stopping distance is approximately 30%
shorter than when the RiDE lever is not used.
However, this distance will vary depending
on many factors, including gross weight, wa-
ter surface conditions, and wind direction.
WARNING
EWJ01793
Allow adequate stopping distance. Stay
far enough away from others so you can
always safely coast to a stop.
Take early action to avoid collisions. Re-
member, watercraft and other boats do
not have brakes.
Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people,
objects, and other watercraft to give you
time to stop.
Do not shut the engine off when slowing
down in case you need engine power to
steer away from a boat or other obstacle
that comes into your path.
1Reverse gate
E
1
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