2005 YAMAHA XL 700 engine

3-9
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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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3-11
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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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3-12
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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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3-13
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EJU18352
Switches
CAUTION:@ Do not run the engine of the watercraft
for more than 15 seconds on land with-
out supplying water, otherwise the
engine may overheat.
@
Check the start switch, the engine stop
switch, and the engine shut-off switch for
proper operation.
Push the start switch 1 to start the
engine. As soon as the engine starts run-
ning, push the engine stop switch 2 to ver-
ify that the engine stops immediately.
Restart the engine, and then pull the engine
shut-off cord 5 to remove the clip 4 from
the engine shut-off switch 3 to 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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3-14
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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 3-16 for engine start-
ing procedures.)
2. Run the engine at the lowest possible
speed for 5 minutes.
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3-15
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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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3-17
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2. Turn the fuel cock knob to the “ON” posi-
tion.
NOTE:@ Before starting the watercraft, after it has
been sitting, remove the fuel tank filler cap
to release any built-up pressure in the tank
due to fuel expansion.
@
3. Attach the clip 1 to the engine shut-off
switch 2. Also, attach the engine shut-
off cord 3 to your left wrist.
WARNING@ Check that the engine shut-off cord is not
frayed or broken, and keep it free from
the handlebars so 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, allowing 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. Pull and hold the choke knob all the way
out to start a cold engine.
NOTE:@ The choke should not be used when the
engine is warm.
@
E_F0M-70.book Page 17 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM