Page 63 of 140
3-6
E
EJU01048
Pre-operation check points
EJU01878
Engine compartment
Ventilate the engine compar tment before
each use.
To ventilate the engine compartment
remove the rear and front seats. (See pages
2-5 and 2-6 for seat removal and installation
procedures.) Allow the engine compartment
to remain open for a few minutes to allow
any fuel vapors to escape. Also, check for
loose electrical connections.
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.
EJU01802
Fuel level
Check the fuel system for leakage, cracks
or malfunctions before each use. (See page
4-11 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 the rear and front seats. (See
pages 2-5 and 2-6 for seat removal and
installation procedures.)
3. Check the fuel level in the tank and
replenish if necessary. (See page 3-4 for
filling instructions.)
E_F1Y-70.book Page 6 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
Page 67 of 140
3-10
E
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.
@
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_F1Y-70.book Page 10 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
Page 69 of 140
3-12
E
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.
EJU01848
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.
Check that the handlebars are locked in
position. (See “Tilt lever” on page 2-11 for
more information.)
E_F1Y-70.book Page 12 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
Page 70 of 140
3-13
E
EJU12451
Shift lever and reverse gate
Check for proper operation of the shift
lever and reverse gate.
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@ Make sure that the throttle 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.
@
E_F1Y-70.book Page 13 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
Page 72 of 140
3-15
E
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 5-3 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_F1Y-70.book Page 15 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
Page 74 of 140
3-17
E
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.
EJU18072
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:@ Be sure to check the engine oil level
before operating the watercraft for the
first time. (See page 3-7 for engine oil
checking procedures.)
@
1. Launch the watercraft and start the
engine. (See page 3-19 for engine start-
ing procedures.)
E_F1Y-70.book Page 17 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
Page 76 of 140
3-19
E
EJU01808
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.
E_F1Y-70.book Page 19 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
Page 77 of 140
3-20
E
2. 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.
3. Push the start switch (green button).
NOTE:@ The engine will not start if the throttle lever is
squeezed.
4. Release the start switch as soon as the
engine starts to run.
CAUTION:@ Never push the start switch while the
engine 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 may be damaged. If the engine
does not start in 5 seconds, release
the start switch, wait 15 seconds, and
then try again.
E_F1Y-70.book Page 20 Friday, August 26, 2005 9:47 AM
