2006 YAMAHA FX HO Steering

3-31
E
EJU19960
Turning the watercraft
Steering control depends on the combi-
nation of handlebar position and the amount
of throttle.
Water sucked in through the intake grate
is pressurized by the impeller in the jet
pump. As the pressurized water is expelled
from the pump through the jet thrust nozzle,
it creates thrust to move and steer the
watercraft. The higher the engine speed, the
more thrust produced.
The amount of jet thrust, in addition to the
position of the handlebars, determines how
sharply you turn.
A. More throttle produces higher thrust, so
the watercraft will turn more sharply.
B. Less throttle produces lower thrust, so
the watercraft will turn more gradually.
C. Releasing the throttle lever completely
produces only minimum thrust. If you are
traveling at speeds above trolling, you
will have rapidly decreasing ability to
steer without throttle. You may still have
some turning ability immediately after
releasing the throttle lever, but once the
engine slows down, the watercraft will no
longer respond to handlebar input until
you apply throttle again or you reach
trolling speed.
At trolling speed, the watercraft can be
turned gradually by handlebar position
alone using just the amount of thrust
available at idle.
D. If the engine is stopped while riding,
there is no thrust. The watercraft will go
straight even though the handlebars are
turned.
You need throttle to steer.
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3-32
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WARNING@
Do not release the throttle lever 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.
@
This model has the Yamaha Engine Man-
agement System (YEMS) that includes an
Off-Throttle Steering (OTS) system. It will
activate at planing speeds should you
attempt to steer the watercraft after releas-
ing the throttle lever (see condition C
above). The OTS system assists in turning
by continuing to supply some thrust while
the watercraft is decelerating, but you can
turn more sharply if you apply throttle while
turning the handlebars. The OTS system
does not function below planing speeds or
when the engine is off. Once the engine
slows down, the watercraft will no longer
turn in response to handlebar input until you
apply throttle again or you reach trolling
speed.
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4-3
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EJU18980
Lubrication
WARNING@ Do not spray flammable rust inhibitor
products on engine surfaces while the
engine is hot. The sprayed substance or
propellants could catch fire.
@
1. Remove the rear and front seats. (See
pages 2-5 to 2-6 for seat removal and
installation procedures.)
2. Remove the air filter case cover
screws1, slide the locks 2 open, and
then remove the case cover.
3. Remove the air filter case cover and air
filter element.
4. Spray a rust inhibitor into each intake
opening 3 for 3 seconds.
5. Install the air filter element and air filter
case cover.
6. Start the engine in a well-ventilated area
and let it run at idle for 15 seconds.
CAUTION:@ Do not run the engine for more than
15 seconds. The engine could overheat.
@
7. Lubricate all cables such as the throttle
and steering cables.
NOTE:@ Use a suitable marine grease applicator to
pressure lubricate the cables and purge out
any moisture between the inner and outer
cables.
@
8. Lubricate the areas of the watercraft
specified under Lubrication points on
page 4-18.
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4-10
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EJU13550
Periodic maintenance chart
The following chart gives general guidelines for periodic maintenance. However, depend-
ing on your operating conditions maintenance may need to be performed more frequently.
PMC-F1B1(
) This mark indicates maintenance that you may do yourself.
(
❍) This mark indicates work to be done by a Yamaha dealer.
MAINTENANCE INTERVAL
INITIALTHEREAFTER
EVERYPA G E
10
hours50
hours100
hours100
hours200
hours
ITEM
6
months12
months12
months24
months
Spark plug Inspect, clean, adjust



4-16
Lubrication points Lubricate

/❍

/❍
4-18
Intermediate housing Lubricate❍
*1

*2

*2 4-20
Fuel system Inspect❍❍
4-11
Fuel tank Inspect, clean❍❍
4-11
Trolling speed Inspect, adjust❍❍
4-23
Throttle shaft Inspect❍❍
—
Cooling water passages Flush

*3 4-1
Water inlet strainer Inspect, clean❍❍
—
Bilge strainer Clean❍❍
—
Electric bilge pump strainer Inspect, clean❍❍
—
Impeller Inspect❍❍
—
Jet thrust nozzle angle Inspect, adjust

/❍

/❍
4-15
Steering master Inspect❍❍❍
—
QSTS mechanism Inspect, adjust❍❍❍
—
Shift cable and mechanism Inspect, adjust❍❍
4-15
Throttle cable Inspect, adjust❍❍❍
4-15
Stern drain plugs Inspect, replace❍❍
3-10
Battery Inspect ❍❍
—
Rubber coupling Inspect❍
—
Engine mount Inspect❍
—
Nuts and bolts Inspect❍❍❍
—
Air filter Inspect, replace


4-14
Engine oil Replace❍❍❍
4-12
Engine oil filter Replace❍❍
—
Valve clearance Inspect, adjust❍
—
*1: Grease quantity: 33.0–35.0 cm3 (1.11–1.18 oz)
*2: Grease quantity: 6.0–8.0 cm3 (0.20–0.27 oz)
*3: After every use
E_F1X-70-4.fm Page 10 Monday, August 29, 2005 1:36 PM

4-15
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EJU18970
Inspecting the jet thrust nozzle
angle
Check for smooth operation of the handle-
bars and jet thrust nozzle.
Turn the handlebars as far as possible to
the right and left and check that the distance
between the jet thrust nozzle and the
bracket of the reverse gate are equal on
right and left sides.
If steering is stiff or misadjusted, have a
Yamaha dealer service it.
EJU18520
Inspecting the shift cable
Place the shift lever in the reverse posi-
tion.
Make sure that the reverse gate makes
contact with the stopper 1 on the bracket,
and that the arm 2 makes contact with the
reverse gate.
If the reverse gate does not reach the cor-
rect positions, have a Yamaha dealer ser-
vice it.
EJU11040
Inspecting and adjusting the
throttle cable
Check that the throttle cable moves back
to the set position smoothly and that free
play is within specification.
1. Squeeze and release the throttle lever. If
the lever does not return smoothly, have
a Yamaha dealer service it.
2. Adjust free play a by loosening the lock-
nut 1 and turning the adjuster 2. Distance A and B: A = B
Throttle lever free play:
4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in)
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4-18
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EJU22440
Lubrication points
To keep moving parts sliding or rotating
smoothly, coat them with water-resistant
grease.
Recommended water-resistant grease:
Yamaha Marine Grease/
Yamaha Grease A

Throttle cable (throttle body end)

Throttle cable (handlebar end)
Loosen the adjuster 1 and disconnect
the outer cable from the bracket. Spray a
rust inhibitor into the outer cable.
Connect the outer cable, and then adjust
the throttle cable free play. (See page
4-15 for adjustment procedures.)

Steering cable (handlebar end)
E_F1X-70.book Page 18 Friday, August 26, 2005 11:00 AM

4-19
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Steering cable (nozzle end)

Nozzle pivot shaft

QSTS cable (nozzle end)

QSTS cables (pulley end)

QSTS cables (handlebar end)
Remove the QSTS cable housing. Spray
a rust inhibitor into the outer cable.
Reinstall the QSTS cable housing.

Shift cable (shift lever end)
E_F1X-70.book Page 19 Friday, August 26, 2005 11:00 AM

6-2
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J
Jet unit................................................... 3-15
Jumping the battery................................. 5-5
L
Label location .......................................... 1-5
Launching the watercraft ....................... 3-18
Learning to operate your watercraft ...... 3-22
Leaving the watercraft ........................... 3-21
Left multifunction display and
operation buttons .................................. 2-27
Limitations on who may operate the
watercraft .............................................. 1-13
“L-MODE” indicator light........................ 2-26
Location of main components ................. 2-1
Lubrication............................................... 4-3
Lubrication points .................................. 4-18
M
Maintenance and adjustments ................ 4-7
Manufactured date label.......................... 1-4
Model information.................................... 1-3
Multifunction meter ....................... 2-23, 3-16
O
Oil pressure warning indicator............... 2-30
Operating your watercraft...................... 3-22
Operation .............................................. 3-17
Operation of controls and other
functions .................................................. 2-5
Operation requirements ........................ 1-15
Other labels ........................................... 1-11
Owner’s/Operator’s Manual and
tool kit ...................................................... 4-9
P
Periodic maintenance chart................... 4-10
Post-operation checks........................... 3-36
Pre-operation check list........................... 3-5
Pre-operation check points ..................... 3-6
Pre-operation checks .............................. 3-5
Primary Identification (PRI-ID) number ... 1-1
Pull-up cleats
(for FX Cruiser High Output) ................. 2-19
Q
Quick Shift Trim System (QSTS) .......... 3-14Quick Shift Trim System (QSTS)
selector.................................................. 2-16
R
Rear seat................................................. 2-5
Reboarding step
(for FX Cruiser High Output) ................. 2-18
Recommended equipment .................... 1-17
Remote control transmitter ...................... 2-8
Replacing the fuse ................................ 4-24
Reverse on waterways .......................... 3-35
Riding watercraft with passengers ........ 3-23
Right multifunction display and
operation buttons
(for FX Cruiser High Output) ................. 2-31
Rough water operation .......................... 3-35
“RPM” indicator light.............................. 2-26
S
Safe boating rules ................................. 1-21
Safety information ................................. 1-13
Seat storage compartment .................... 2-37
Selecting the normal mode/
low-RPM mode...................................... 2-22
Shift lever .............................................. 2-15
Shift lever and reverse gate .................. 3-13
Specifications ........................................ 4-25
“SPEED” indicator light ......................... 2-25
Starting and boarding in shallow
water ..................................................... 3-25
Starting from a dock .............................. 3-25
Starting the engine ................................ 3-19
Starting the watercraft ........................... 3-24
Start switch............................................ 2-11
Steering system ...........................2-13, 3-12
Stern drain plug ..................................... 3-10
Stopping the engine .............................. 3-21
Stopping the watercraft ......................... 3-33
Storage.................................................... 4-1
Storage compartments .......................... 2-36
Submerged watercraft ............................. 5-8
Switches ................................................ 3-16
T
Throttle .................................................. 3-12
Throttle lever ......................................... 2-11
E_F1X-70.book Page 2 Friday, August 26, 2005 11:00 AM