warning YAMAHA VX CRUISER 2007 User Guide

Operation
41
EJU31820
Fuel and oil
This watercraft is equipped with a 4-stroke en-
gine. Conventional 2-stroke engine oil cannot
be used.
The engine utilizes an electronic fuel injection
system to deliver the optimal air-fuel ratio re-
quired by the engine. By ensuring the optimal
combustion conditions, this system is able to
increase startability and improve fuel econo-
my.
EJU31840Gasoline
WARNING
EWJ00430
GASOLINE AND ITS VAPORS ARE HIGH-
LY FLAMMABLE AND EXPLOSIVE!

Do not smoke when refueling, and keep
away from sparks, flames, and other
sources of ignition.

Stop the engine before refueling.

Refuel in a well-ventilated area with the
watercraft in a horizontal position.

Do not stand or sit on the watercraft
while refueling in case of fire.

Take care not to spill gasoline. If gaso-
line spills, wipe it up immediately with
dry rags. Always properly dispose of
gasoline-soaked rags.

Avoid overfilling the fuel tank. Stop fill-
ing when the fuel level reaches approxi-
mately 50 mm (2 in) from the top of the
fuel tank. Fuel expands as it warms up
and could overflow if the fuel tank has
been overfilled. If temporarily leaving
the watercraft with a full fuel tank, do not
leave it in direct sunlight. Leave it in a
well-ventilated area with the watercraft
in a horizontal position.

Tighten the fuel tank filler cap securely
after refueling.

If you should swallow some gasoline, in-
hale a lot of gasoline vapor, or get gaso-
line in your eyes, get immediate medical
attention.

If any gasoline spills on your skin or
clothing, immediately wash the affected
area with soap and water and change
your clothes.
CAUTION:
ECJ00310
Use only fresh gasoline that has been
stored in clean containers.
EJU31860Gasohol
There are two types of gasohol: gasohol con-
taining ethanol and that containing methanol.
Gasohol containing ethanol can be used if
ethanol content does not exceed 10% and the
fuel meets the minimum octane ratings.
Gasohol containing methanol is not recom-
mended by Yamaha because it can cause
fuel system damage and engine performance
problems.Recommended gasoline:
Regular unleaded gasoline with a mini-
mum octane rating of
86 (Pump octane number) = (R +
M)/2
90 (Research octane number)
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Operation
43
EJU31980
Pre-operation checks EJU31990Pre-operation check list
Before operating this watercraft, perform the checks in the following check list. See the accom-
panying text in this chapter for details on how to perform the checks.
WARNING
EWJ00410
If any item in the pre-operation check list is not working properly, have it inspected and
repaired before operating the watercraft, otherwise an accident could occur.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
BEFORE LAUNCH OR OPERATION
Engine compartmentRemove the seat to ventilate the engine compart-
ment. Check for fuel vapors and loose electrical con-
nections.45
BilgeCheck for water and fuel and drain if necessary. 46
Stern drain plugsCheck for proper installation. 47
Throttle leverCheck that the throttle lever springs back smoothly. 48
Steering systemCheck for proper operation. 48
Shift lever and reverse gate
(VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser)Check for proper operation. 49
Fuel and oilCheck the fuel and oil levels and replenish if neces-
sary.
Check the hoses and tanks for leakage.45, 45
Water separatorCheck for water and drain if necessary. 46
BatteryCheck the electrolyte level and battery condition. 47
HoodCheck that the hood is securely closed. 26
SeatCheck that the seat is securely installed. 26
Hull and deckCheck the hull and deck for cracks and other dam-
age.45
Jet intakeCheck for debris and remove if necessary. 49
Fire extinguisherCheck the condition and replace if necessary. 48
Engine shut-off cordCheck the condition and replace if frayed or broken. 50
SwitchesCheck the start switch, engine stop switch, and en-
gine shut-off switch for proper operation.50
AFTER LAUNCH
Cooling water pilot outletCheck that water is discharged while the engine is
running and the watercraft is in the water.50
Multifunction information
centerCheck for warning indications and proper operation. 51
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Operation
45
EJU32280Pre-operation check points EJU32310Engine compartment
Ventilate the engine compartment before
each use.
To ventilate the engine compartment, remove
the seat. (See page 26 for seat removal and
installation procedures.) Leave the engine
compartment open for a few minutes to allow
any fuel vapors to escape.
While the engine compartment is open, check
for loose electrical connections.
WARNING
EWJ00460
Failure to ventilate the engine compart-
ment could result in a fire or explosion. Do
not start the engine if there is a fuel leak or
a loose electrical connection.
EJU32350Hull and deck
Check the hull and deck for cracks and other
damage. If any damage is found, have a
Yamaha dealer repair the watercraft.
EJU32390Fuel level
Check the fuel system for leakage, cracks,
and malfunctions before each use. (See page
73 for check points and correct procedures.)
(1) Remove the fuel tank filler cap to release
any pressure that might have built up in
the fuel tank.(2) Remove the seat. (See page 26 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(3) Check the fuel level in the fuel tank and
replenish if necessary. (See page 42 for
filling procedures.)
(4) Install the fuel tank filler cap and the seat.
EJU32400Engine oil level
Check the engine oil level before each use.
CAUTION:
ECJ00390

When checking the engine oil level on
water, be careful of other watercraft,
boats, swimmers, and obstacles. The
water current and wind can cause the
watercraft to move and lead to a colli-
sion.

When checking the engine oil level on
land, supply water to the cooling water
passages. (See page 66 for procedures
on supplying water.)

Make sure that the engine has enough
oil, but do not overfill it. If there is too lit-
tle oil, the engine can be damaged. If
there is too much oil, the air filter can be-
come saturated with oil, permanently
damaging the filter and reducing engine
performance. Follow the checking pro-
cedure carefully.

Make sure that debris and water do not
enter the oil tank filler hole. Debris and
water in the engine oil can cause serious
engine damage.
To check the engine oil level:
(1) Place the watercraft in a horizontal posi-
tion or launch the watercraft, and then
start the engine.
(2) Run the engine at trolling speed for 6 min-
utes or more, and then stop the engine.
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Operation
47
To drain water from the bilge:
(1) Remove the stern drain plugs.
(2) Raise the bow of the watercraft until the
water drains.
(3) After the water has drained, wipe the
bilge with dry rags to make sure that it is
thoroughly dry.
(4) Install the stern drain plugs.
CAUTION:
ECJ00360

Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads to remove
any foreign materials, such as dirt or
sand. Otherwise, the stern drain plugs
could be damaged, allowing water to en-
ter the engine compartment.

Make sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching the
watercraft. Otherwise, water may flood
the engine compartment and cause the
watercraft to submerge.
EJU32470Stern drain plugs
Check the stern drain plugs for proper instal-
lation.
CAUTION:
ECJ00360

Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads to remove
any foreign materials, such as dirt or
sand. Otherwise, the stern drain plugscould be damaged, allowing water to en-
ter the engine compartment.

Make sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching the
watercraft. Otherwise, water may flood
the engine compartment and cause the
watercraft to submerge.
EJU32480Battery
Check the battery condition and the electro-
lyte level.
Check that the battery leads are tightened se-
curely and that there is no corrosion on the
battery terminals.
WARNING
EWJ00450

The battery must always be fully
charged and in good condition. Loss of
battery power may leave you stranded.
Never operate the watercraft if the bat-
tery does not have sufficient power to
start the engine or if it shows any other
signs of decreased power.

Be sure to connect the breather hose to
the battery. Fire or explosion could re-
sult if the breather hose is damaged, ob-
structed, or not connected properly.
1Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
2Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
3Breather hose
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Operation
48
Make sure that the battery is securely held in
place.
EJU32540Fire extinguisher
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
The fire extinguisher holder and cover are lo-
cated in the front storage compartment.
To store the fire extinguisher, unhook the
band and remove the cover. Place the fire ex-
tinguisher in the holder, and then place the
cover over the fire extinguisher. Fasten the
cover and the fire extinguisher with the band
securely.
NOTE:

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 extin-
guisher dealer to obtain one meeting the
proper specifications.
EJU32590Throttle lever
Check the throttle lever for proper operation.
Squeeze and release the throttle lever several
times to make sure that there is no hesitation
in its travel. It should be smooth over the com-
plete range and spring back to the idle posi-
tion when released.
WARNING
EWJ00490
Before starting the engine, always check
the operation of the throttle lever.
EJU32600Steering system
Check the handlebars for looseness.
Turn the handlebars as far as possible to the
right and left to make sure that operation is
smooth and unrestricted throughout the
whole range. Also, make sure that the jet
thrust nozzle moves as the handlebars are
1Fire extinguisher holder and cover
2Band
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Operation
49
turned, and that there is no free play between
the handlebars and the jet thrust nozzle.
EJU32630Shift lever and reverse gate (for VX Deluxe/
VX Cruiser)
Check the shift lever and reverse gate for
proper operation.
Make sure that the reverse gate goes down
completely when the shift lever is pulled up.
Also, make sure that the reverse gate goes up
completely when the shift lever is pushed
down.
WARNING
EWJ00480

Make sure that the throttle lever is com-
pletely released and that the engine is at
idle before shifting into reverse.

Do not use the reverse function to slow
down or stop the watercraft as it could
cause you to lose control, be ejected, or
impact the handlebars.

Use reverse for slow-speed maneuver-
ing only.

Make sure that there are no obstacles or
people behind you before shifting into
reverse.

Do not touch the reverse gate while the
shift lever is being operated, otherwise
you could be pinched.
EJU32650Jet intake
Carefully check the jet intake for weeds, de-
bris, or anything else that might restrict the in-
take of water. If the jet intake is clogged,
cavitation could occur, reducing jet thrust, and
possibly damaging the jet pump.
In some cases, the engine may overheat be-
cause of lack of cooling water, and damage to
the engine could result. Cooling water is fed to
the engine by the jet pump. (See page 82 for
jet intake cleaning procedures.)
WARNING
EWJ00470

Keep away from the intake grate while
the engine is on. Items such as long hair,
loose clothing, or PFD straps can be-
come entangled in moving parts, result-
ing in severe injury or drowning.

Stop the engine and remove the clip
from the engine shut-off switch before
removing any debris or weeds, which
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Operation
51
and the watercraft is in the water. (See page
29 for more information.)
EJU32710Multifunction information center
Check the multifunction information center for
proper operation. (See page 34 for informa-
tion on proper operation of the multifunction
information center.)
EJU32740
Operation
WARNING
EWJ00510
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.
CAUTION:
ECJ00460
Make sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching the
watercraft.
EJU32781Engine break-in
The engine break-in period is essential to al-
low the various components of the engine to
wear and polish themselves to the correct op-
erating clearances. This ensures proper per-
formance and promotes longer component
life.
CAUTION:
ECJ00440
Be sure to check the engine oil level be-
fore operating the watercraft for the first
time. (See page 45 for engine oil checking
procedures.)
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Operation
52
(1) Launch the watercraft and start the en-
gine. (See page 52 for engine starting
procedures.)
(2) For the first 5 minutes, run the engine at
trolling speed only. For the 30 minutes of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 5000 r/min. For the 1 hour of
operation after that, keep the engine
speed below 6500 r/min.
(3) Proceed with normal operation.
CAUTION:
ECJ00430
Failure to follow the engine break-in pro-
cedure could result in reduced engine life
or even severe engine damage.
EJU32811Launching the watercraft
When launching the watercraft, make sure
that there are no obstacles around you.
If there are waves, someone should make
sure that the watercraft is not pushed into the
trailer after launching the watercraft.

For VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser:
Use the remote control transmitter to select
the unlock mode. (See page 32 for Yamaha
Security System and low-RPM mode selec-
tion procedures.)
After the watercraft is in the water, start the
engine. Shift into reverse and move the wa-
tercraft back slowly.

For VX:
After the watercraft is in the water, turn it
around so that the bow faces the direction
you wish to go. Start the engine, and then
slowly move away from the launching area.
EJU32850Starting the engine
WARNING
EWJ00560
Never start the engine or let it run for any
length of time in an enclosed area. Ex-
haust fumes contain carbon monoxide, acolorless, odorless gas that may cause
loss of consciousness and death within a
short time. Always operate the watercraft
in an open area.
(1) If the lock mode of the Yamaha Security
System is selected (for VX Deluxe/VX
Cruiser), use the remote control transmit-
ter to select the unlock mode. (See page
32 for Yamaha Security System and low-
RPM mode selection procedures.)
(2) Launch the watercraft in water free from
weeds and debris and at least 60 cm (2 ft)
deep.
WARNING
EWJ00570
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise you increase
your chance of hitting a submerged ob-
ject, which could result in injury.
CAUTION:
ECJ00470
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise pebbles or sand
could be sucked into the jet intake, caus-
ing impeller damage and engine overheat-
ing.
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Operation
53
(3) Attach the engine shut-off cord to your left
wrist, and then attach the clip to the en-
gine shut-off switch.
WARNING
EWJ00580
Check that the engine shut-off cord is not
frayed or broken, and keep it free from the
handlebars so that 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, al-
lowing 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) Push the start switch (green button), and
then release it as soon as the engine
starts to run.
NOTE:
The engine will not start if the throttle lever is
squeezed.
CAUTION:
ECJ00480

Never push the start switch while the en-
gine 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 could
be damaged. If the engine does not start
in 5 seconds, release the start switch,
wait 15 seconds, and then try again.
1Clip
2Engine shut-off switch
3Engine shut-off cord
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Operation
54
EJU32860Stopping the engine
To stop the engine, release the throttle lever,
and then push the engine stop switch (red
button).
WARNING
EWJ00600
You need throttle to steer. Shutting the en-
gine off can cause you to hit an obstacle
you are attempting to avoid. A collision
could result in severe injury or death.
EJU32890Leaving the watercraft
If leaving the watercraft, select the lock mode
of the Yamaha Security System (for VX De-
luxe/VX Cruiser) and remove the engine shut-
off cord to reduce the chance of accidental
starting or unauthorized use by children or
others. (See page 32 for Yamaha Security
System and low-RPM mode selection proce-
dures.)
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 12. 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
43. 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.
Maximum load:
240 kg (530 lb)
Load is the total weight of cargo, oper-
ator, and passengers.
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