warning YAMAHA XL 800 2001 Owner's Guide

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Starting the watercraft
WARNING
●Scan constantly for people, objects
and other watercraft. Be alert for con-
ditions that limit your visibility or block
your vision of others.
●Operate defensively at safe speeds
and keep a safe distance away from
people, objects, and other watercraft.
●Do not follow directly behind water-
craft 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 sub-
merged objects or shallow water.
●Take early action to avoid collisions.
Remember watercraft and other boats
do not have brakes. Do not release the
throttle when trying to steer away from
objects—you need throttle to steer.
●Practice reboarding in shallow water
before riding in deep water.
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Boarding and starting in deep
water
WARNING
●Operator and passenger should prac-
tice getting on board in shallow water
before riding in deep water. Boarding
in deep water requires more skill.
●The fatigue and exposure that could
result after unsuccessful attempts to
get back on the watercraft may
increase the risk of injuries and drown-
ing.
Boarding alone
1. Swim to the rear of the watercraft and
place both hands on the boarding plat-
form, pull yourself up, and then grasp the
handgrip with one hand.
2. Pull yourself up to a kneeling position on
the platform, and then move to the seat
and sit astride.
3. Attach the engine shut-off cord to your
wrist, and then install the clip to the
engine shut-off switch.
4. Grip the handlebars firmly with both
hands, place both feet in footwell, start
the engine, and look in all directions
before starting off.
WARNING
Before starting off, make sure that there
are no boats, obstructions, or swimmers
around you.
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Boarding with passengers
WARNING
Severe internal injuries can occur if
water is forced into body cavities as a
result of being near the jet thrust nozzle.
Do not apply throttle until each passen-
ger is seated with his or her feet on the
floor of the footwell and is holding on to
the person in front of him or her.
1. Climb on board as noted in the previous
section, and sit astride the seat. Attach
the engine shut-off cord to your wrist,
and then install the clip to the engine
shut-off switch.
2. Have the passenger move to the rear of
the watercraft.
3. Have the passenger get on board and sit
on the seat. If a second passenger is
getting on, have him or her follow the
same procedure.
NOTE:
When a passenger is getting on board, both
he and the operator should try to balance
the watercraft.
4. The operator should check to see that
the passengers have their feet on the
floor of the footwell and that they are
securely holding on to the person in front
of them.
5. Start the engine, look in all directions,
and then accelerate to planing speed.
WARNING
Before starting off, make sure that there
are no boats, obstructions, or swimmers
around you.
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NOTE:
The heavier the total weight of the operator
and passengers, 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. If it is
difficult to balance the vehicle at a standstill,
proceed as follows:
1. The passenger must steady the water-
craft while the operator is boarding. The
operator pulls himself up onto the plat-
form into a seating position, then bal-
ances the vehicle.
2. Attach the lanyard to your left wrist, then
install the clip on the lanyard to the
engine shut-off switch. Start the engine
and keep it at idle.
3. The passenger pulls himself up on the
platform kneels down, then crawls onto
the seat as the watercraft accelerates.
4. The watercraft can now be accelerated
to planing speed, then the operator can
reduce the throttle to the desired running
speed.
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Capsized watercraft
If the watercraft capsizes, follow the pro-
cedures below carefully to prevent damage
or injury.
WARNING
IMPROPER UPRIGHTING CAN CAUSE
INJURY:
●Shut engine off, and be sure engine
shut-off cord is removed from the
engine shut-off switch.
●Do not put hand in intake grate.
●Watch so you are not hit by the water-
craft as it comes over.
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WARNING
●Do not release the throttle when trying
to steer away from objects—you need
throttle to steer. A collision could
result in severe injury or death.
●When operating at higher speeds,
make gradual turns or slow down
before turning. Sharp high-speed turns
may cause the watercraft to slide side-
ways or spin, throwing the operator
and passengers overboard which
could cause an injury.
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Stopping the watercraft
The watercraft is not equipped with a sep-
arate braking system. It is stopped by water
resistance when the throttle lever is
released. From full speed, the watercraft
comes to a complete stop in approximately
105 m (345 ft) after the throttle is released
and the engine is stopped, although this dis-
tance will vary depending on many factors,
including gross weight, water surface condi-
tions, and wind direction. The watercraft
slows down as soon as the throttle lever is
released, 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.
WARNING
●Allow adequate stopping distance.
●Take early action to avoid collisions.
Remember, 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 slow-
ing down in case you need engine
power to steer away from a boat or
other obstacle that comes into your
path.
WARNING
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.
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Transporting
WARNING
Always place the fuel cock knob in the
“OFF” position when transporting the
watercraft, otherwise fuel could leak out
into the engine or engine compartment,
which would create a fire hazard.
When transporting the watercraft on a
trailer, secure the tie downs to the trailer
through the bow eye and stern rope hole.
CAUTION:
●Do not route ropes or tie downs over
the seat, as they may leave permanent
marks on the seat’s surface. Also,
wrap the ropes or tie downs with tow-
els or rags where they touch the body
of the watercraft to avoid scratching or
damage.
●Before putting the watercraft on the
trailer or transporting it, be sure to put
the shift lever in the forward position,
otherwise the reverse gate may hit an
obstruction, which may cause dam-
age.
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Storage
WARNING
Always place the fuel cock knob in the
“OFF” position when storing the water-
craft, otherwise fuel could leak out into
the engine or engine compartment,
which would create a fire hazard.
Storage for prolonged periods of time,
such as winter storage, requires preventa-
tive maintenance to ensure against deterio-
ration. It is advisable to have the watercraft
serviced by a Yamaha dealer prior to stor-
age. However, the following procedures can
be performed by the owner.
EJU00913a
Flushing the cooling system
Flushing the cooling system is essential
to prevent the cooling system from being
clogged with salt, sand, or dirt.
CAUTION:
●Do not supply water to the cooling
water passages when the engine is not
running. The water could flow back
through the muffler into the crankcase
causing severe engine damage.
●Do not run the engine for more
15 seconds without supplying water,
otherwise the engine may overheat.
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Lubrication
WARNING
To reduce the risk of fire or explosion:
Never pour or spray gasoline, or any sub-
stance other than engine fogging oil
through the holes in the carburetor
silencer cover.
CAUTION:
●Be sure to replace the caps securely
after fogging the engine. Otherwise
water could enter the engine and
cause damage.
●Do not attempt to run the engine at full
throttle or for more than 15 seconds
while the watercraft is out of the water,
otherwise the engine may overheat
and/or seize.
1. Open the silencer cap 1 on the silencer
by turning it counterclockwise.
2. Start the engine with the watercraft in a
well-ventilated area.
3. With the engine running at a fast idle,
quickly spray as much fogging oil as pos-
sible through the hole in the silencer
cover. Keep spraying until the engine
stalls (or a maximum of 15 seconds).
4. Install the cap securely.
5. Remove the spark plugs and pour
approximately one tablespoon of engine
oil into each cylinder. Grease the spark
plug threads and install the spark plugs.
6. Crank the engine for 3 seconds.
7. Lubricate all cables such as the throttle,
choke, and steering cables.
8. Lubricate the areas of the watercraft
specified under Lubrication points on
page 4-15.
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Fuel system
Draining the fuel system prevents buildup
of varnishes and other harmful deposits that
result when gasoline sits for a prolonged
period of time.
WARNING@Gasoline is highly flammable and explo-
sive. A fire or explosion can cause
severe injury or death. Shut the engine
off. Refuel in well-ventilated areas away
from flames or sparks. Do not smoke.
Avoid spilling gasoline. Wipe up spilled
gasoline immediately.
@
To drain the fuel system:
1. Place the fuel cock knob in the “OFF”
position.
2. Drain the fuel tank using a siphon.
EJU00530
Battery
When the watercraft is not to be used for
a month or more, remove the battery and
store it in a cool, dark place. Clean the bat-
tery casing using fresh water. Clean the bat-
tery terminals. Apply dielectric grease or
petroleum jelly to the battery terminals and
to all exposed battery leads.
If the battery is to be stored for a longer
period, check the specific gravity of the elec-
trolyte at least once a month and charge the
battery if necessary.
Specific gravity: 1.28 at 20 °C (68 °F)
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