2003 YAMAHA XL 700 Owners Manual

3-8
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EJU01969
Battery
Check the battery condition and the elec-
trolyte level.
Check that the battery leads are tightened
securely and there is no corrosion on the
battery terminals.
WARNING@
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 battery 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
result if the breather hose is damaged,
obstructed, or not connected properly.
@
Make sure that the battery is securely
held in place.
1
Positive (+): Red lead
2
Negative (–): Black lead
3
Breather hose
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3-9
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F0P03010
EJU01136
Fire extinguisher
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher
on board. The fire extinguisher container 1
is located on the underside of the rear seat.
(See page 2-4 for rear seat removal proce-
dures.)
To open the fire extinguisher container
cap 2, turn it counterclockwise.
After inserting the fire extinguisher, make
sure that the container cap is tightened
securely.
Install the fire extinguisher container on
the seat and secure it with the bands 3.
NOTE:@
See the instructions supplied by the fire
extinguisher manufacturer for checking
the fire extinguisher. Always keep the
extinguisher in the fire extinguisher con-
tainer.

Always carry a fire extinguisher on board.
A fire extinguisher is not standard equip-
ment with this watercraft. If you do not
have one, contact a Yamaha dealer or a
fire extinguisher dealer to obtain one
meeting the proper specifications.
@
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3-10
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EJU01834
Throttle
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 complete range, and spring back to
the idle position when released.
WARNING@ Before starting the engine, always check
the operation of the throttle lever.
@
EJU01057
Steering system
Check for looseness in the handlebars.
Turn them as far as possible to the right
and left to make sure that operation is
smooth and unrestricted throughout the
whole range. Make sure that the jet thrust
nozzle also changes directions as the han-
dlebars are turned, and that there is no free
play between the handlebars and the jet
thrust nozzle.
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3-11
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EJU01058
Jet unit
Carefully check the jet intake for weeds,
debris, or anything else that might restrict
the intake of water. If the intake is clogged,
cavitation could occur, reducing jet thrust,
and possibly damaging the jet pump.
In some cases, the engine may overheat
because of lack of cooling water, and dam-
age to the engine could result. Engine cool-
ing water is fed to the engine by the jet
pump. (See page 5-4 for jet intake cleaning
procedures.)
WARNING@
Keep away from intake grate while
engine is on. Items such as long hair,
loose clothing, or PFD straps can
become entangled in moving parts
resulting 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
may have collected around the jet
intake.
@
EJU01059
Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
Check that the engine shut-off cord is not
frayed or broken. If the cord is damaged,
replace it; never try to repair it or tie it
together.
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3-12
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EJU01835
Switches
Check the start switch 1, the engine stop
switch 2, and the engine shut-off switch 3
for proper operation.
To check these switches, place the water-
craft in the water to provide adequate cool-
ing. Start the engine, and then pull the
engine shut-off cord 5 to remove the clip 4
from the engine shut-off switch. Verify that
the engine stops immediately. (See pages
2-9 to 2-10 for information on proper opera-
tion of the start switch, the engine stop
switch and the engine shut-off switch.)
EJU01320
Cooling water pilot outlet
Check that water comes out from the out-
let while the engine is running and the
watercraft is in the water.
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3-13
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EJU01836
Operation
WARNING@ Before operating your watercraft,
become familiar with all controls. Con-
sult your Yamaha dealer about any con-
trol or function you do not fully
understand. Failure to understand how
controls work could cause an accident or
prevent you from avoiding an accident.
@
CAUTION:@ Make sure that the stern drain plugs are
securely tightened before launching the
watercraft.
@
EJU01888
Engine break-in
The engine break-in period is essential to
allow the various components of the engine
to wear and polish themselves to the correct
operating clearances. This ensures proper
performance and promotes longer compo-
nent life.
CAUTION:@
For the first tankful of operation, pre-
mix a 50:1 mixture of fuel and oil (in
addition to the oil in the oil tank).

After break-in, use straight gasoline
for normal operation.
@
1. Launch the watercraft and start the
engine. (See page 3-15 for engine start-
ing procedures.)
2. Run the engine at the lowest possible
speed for 5 minutes.
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3-14
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3. Gradually open the throttle to 3/4 or less.
4. Continue operation at 3/4 throttle or less
until the first tankful of fuel has been
used.
5. Fill the tank with straight gasoline, and
then proceed with normal operation.
CAUTION:@ Failure to follow the engine break-in pro-
cedure properly can result in severe
damage to the engine.
@
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EJU01137
Starting the engine
WARNING@ Never start the engine or let it run for any
length of time in an enclosed area.
Exhaust fumes contain carbon monox-
ide, a colorless, odorless gas that may
cause loss of consciousness and death
within a short time. Always operate the
watercraft in an open area.
@
1. Launch the watercraft in water free from
weeds and debris and at least 60 cm
(2 ft) deep.
WARNING@ Never operate in water that is less than
60 cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise you increase
your chance of hitting a submerged
object, which could result in injury.
@
CAUTION:@ Never operate in water that is less than
60 cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise pebbles or
sand could be sucked into the jet intake,
causing impeller damage or engine over-
heating.
@
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