2005 YAMAHA XL 700 Owners Manual

3-6
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EJU01048
Pre-operation check points
EJU01728
Engine compartment
Ventilate the engine compar tment before
each use.
To ventilate the engine compartment,
remove the front seat and front storage com-
partment. (See page 2-5 for front seat, and
2-15 for front storage compartment.) Allow
the engine compartment to remain open for
a few minutes to allow any fuel vapors to
escape. Also, check for loose electrical con-
nections.
WARNING@ Failure to ventilate the engine compart-
ment could result in fire or explosion. Do
not start the engine if there is a fuel leak
or a loose electrical connection.
@
EJU20570
Hull and deck
Check the hull and deck for cracks or
other damage. If any damage is found, have
a Yamaha dealer repair the watercraft.
E_F0M-70.book Page 6 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM

3-7
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EJU01242
Fuel and oil systems
Check the fuel system for leakage, cracks
or malfunctions before each use. (See page
4-10 for check points and correct proce-
dures.)
1. Remove the fuel tank filler cap to release
any pressure that might have built up in
the fuel tank.
2. Remove all seats and front storage com-
partment. (See pages 2-4 and 2-5 for
front and rear seat, and 2-15 for front
storage compartment.)
3. Check the fuel and oil levels in the tanks
and replenish if necessary. (See pages
3-3 and 3-4 for filling instructions.)
EJU01961
Water separator
Check the water separator 1 for water.
Normally the water separator is empty. The
water separator retains any water entering
through the fuel tank breather hose if the
watercraft is capsized.
If water remains in the water separator,
drain it by removing the drain screw 2.
Place a drain pan under the water separator
to catch the draining water or use a dry cloth
to soak up any water that could spill into the
watercraft. If any water spills into the water-
craft, be sure to wipe it up with a dry cloth.
Be sure to install the drain screw after drain-
ing the water separator.
E_F0M-70.book Page 7 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM

3-8
E
EJU10531
Bilge
Check for moisture and fuel residue in the
bilge.
Excessive water in the bilge can splash
into the carburetor and engine which could
cause engine damage.
To remove 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 the
bilge is thoroughly dry.
4. Install the drain plugs.
EJU20581
Stern drain plug
Check the stern drain plugs for proper
installation.
CAUTION:@
Make sure that the stern drain plugs
are tightened securely before launch-
ing the watercraft. Otherwise, water
may flood the engine compartment
and cause the watercraft to submerge.

Clean any foreign materials, such as
dirt or sand, from the drain plug
threads before installing the drain
plugs. Otherwise, the drain plugs may
be damaged and water may enter the
engine compartment.
@
E_F0M-70.book Page 8 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM

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
E_F0M-70.book Page 9 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM

3-10
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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.
@
E_F0M-70.book Page 10 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM

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.
E_F0M-70.book Page 12 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM

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.
E_F0M-70.book Page 13 Wednesday, June 23, 2004 4:52 PM