2008 YAMAHA SUPERJET check engine

Operation
29
draining water or use a dry cloth to soak up
any water that could spill into the watercraft. If
any water spills into the watercraft, be sure to
wipe it up with a dry cloth. Also, be sure to in-
stall the drain screw after draining the water
separator.
EJU32430Bilge
Check the bilge for moisture and fuel residue.
CAUTION:
ECJ00340
Excessive water in the bilge can splash
into the carburetor and engine, which can
result in severe damage.
EJU32481Battery
Check the battery electrolyte level and check
that the battery has sufficient power to start
the engine easily. Recharge the battery or re-
place it if it is not in good condition. (See page
60 for battery recharging procedures.)
Also, check that the battery leads are tight-
ened securely and that there is no corrosion
on the battery terminals. Check that the
breather hose is securely connected to the
battery and that it is not pinched.
WARNING
EWJ00450

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 bat-
tery 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 re-
sult if the breather hose is damaged, ob-
structed, or not connected properly.
Make sure that the battery is securely held in
place.
EJU32500Fire extinguisher
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
The fire extinguisher container is located on
the hood under the steering pole.
1Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
2Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
3Breather hose
UF2F70E0.book Page 29 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM

Operation
30
To open the fire extinguisher container:
(1) Grasp the tab, pull the band to the rear,
and then pull it up.
(2) Lift the container about 30 degrees from
the storage position.
CAUTION:
ECJ00400
Do not force the fire extinguisher contain-
er up more than 30 degrees from the stor-
age position, otherwise the container and
hood could be damaged.
(3) Remove the cap to access the fire extin-
guisher.
To close the fire extinguisher container:
(1) Insert the fire extinguisher into the con-
tainer, and then install the cap and tighten
it securely.(2) Lower the container on the hood to its
storage position and secure it with the
band.
NOTE:

To check the fire extinguisher, see the in-
structions supplied by the fire extinguisher
manufacturer. Always keep the fire extin-
guisher in the fire extinguisher container.

Always carry a fire extinguisher on board. A
fire extinguisher is not standard equipment
with this watercraft. If you do not have one,
contact a Yamaha dealer or a fire extin-
guisher dealer to obtain one meeting the
proper specifications.
EJU32590Throttle lever
Check the throttle lever for proper operation.
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 com-
plete range and spring back to the idle posi-
tion when released.
WARNING
EWJ00490
Before starting the engine, always check
the operation of the throttle lever.
EJU32600Steering system
Check the handlebars for looseness.
Turn the handlebars as far as possible to the
right and left to make sure that operation is
1Fire extinguisher holder and cover
2Ta b
UF2F70E0.book Page 30 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM

Operation
31
smooth and unrestricted throughout the
whole range. Also, make sure that the jet
thrust nozzle moves as the handlebars are
turned, and that there is no free play between
the handlebars and the jet thrust nozzle.
EJU32620Steering pole
Check the steering pole for looseness.
Move the steering pole up and down to make
sure that operation is smooth and unrestricted
throughout the whole range. Also, make sure
that the steering pole does not have any side
play.
EJU32650Jet intake
Carefully check the jet intake for weeds, de-
bris, or anything else that might restrict the in-
take of water. If the jet intake is clogged,
cavitation could occur, reducing jet thrust, and
possibly damaging the jet pump.
In some cases, the engine may overheat be-
cause of lack of cooling water, and damage tothe engine could result. Cooling water is fed to
the engine by the jet pump. (See page 65 for
jet intake cleaning procedures.)
WARNING
EWJ00470

Keep away from the intake grate while
the engine is on. Items such as long hair,
loose clothing, or PFD straps can be-
come entangled in moving parts, result-
ing 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 in-
take.
UF2F70E0.book Page 31 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM

Operation
32
EJU32660Engine shut-off cord
Check that the engine shut-off cord is not
frayed or broken. If the cord is damaged, re-
place it; never try to repair it or tie it together.
EJU32670Switches
CAUTION:
ECJ00410
Do not run the engine for more than 15
seconds when checking the switches on
land without supplying water, otherwise
the engine could overheat.
Check the start switch, the engine stop
switch, and the engine shut-off switch for
proper operation.
Push the start switch to start the engine. As
soon as the engine starts running, push the
engine stop switch to verify that the engine
stops immediately. Restart the engine, and
then pull the engine shut-off cord to remove
the clip from the engine shut-off switch to ver-
ify that the engine stops immediately. (See
pages 19 to 20 for information on proper op-eration of the start switch, the engine stop
switch, and the engine shut-off switch.)
EJU32680Cooling water pilot outlet
Check that water comes out from the cooling
water pilot outlet while the engine is running
and the watercraft is in the water. (See page
20 for more information.)
1Engine shut-off switch
2Start switch
3Engine shut-off cord
4Engine stop switch
5Clip
UF2F70E0.book Page 32 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM

Operation
34
(1) Launch the watercraft in water free from
weeds and debris and at least 60 cm (2 ft)
deep.
WARNING
EWJ00570
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise you increase
your chance of hitting a submerged ob-
ject, which could result in injury.
CAUTION:
ECJ00470
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep, otherwise pebbles or sand
could be sucked into the jet intake, caus-
ing impeller damage and engine overheat-
ing.
(2) Turn the fuel cock knob to “ON”.(3) Attach the engine shut-off cord to your left
wrist, and then attach the clip to the en-
gine shut-off switch.
WARNING
EWJ00580
Check that the engine shut-off cord is not
frayed or broken, and keep it free from the
handlebars so that 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, al-
lowing 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.
1Clip
2Engine shut-off switch
3Engine shut-off cord
UF2F70E0.book Page 34 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM

Operation
36
EJU32900
Operating your watercraft EJU32920Getting to know your watercraft
Operating your watercraft requires skills ac-
quired through practice over a period of time.
Take the time to learn the basic techniques
well before attempting more difficult maneu-
vers.
Operating your new watercraft can be a very
enjoyable activity, providing you with hours of
pleasure. However, it is essential to familiar-
ize yourself with the operation of the water-
craft to achieve the skill level necessary to
enjoy riding safely.
Before operating this watercraft, read this
owner’s/operator’s manual, the Riding Prac-
tice Guide, and all warning and caution labels
on the watercraft. Pay particular attention to
the safety information on page 7. These ma-
terials should give you an understanding of
the watercraft and its operation.
Remember: This watercraft is designed to
carry the operator only. Never have more than
one person on the watercraft at any time.
EJU32980Learning to operate your watercraft
Before operating the watercraft, always per-
form the pre-operation checks listed on page
27. The short time spent checking the water-
craft will reward you with added safety and re-
liability.
Check local laws before operating your water-
craft.
Operate defensively at safe speeds and keep
a safe distance away from people, objects,
and other watercraft. Select a wide area tolearn in, where there is good visibility and light
boat traffic.
Use the buddy system—operate with some-
one nearby. Scan constantly for people, ob-
jects, and other watercraft. Be alert for
conditions that limit your visibility or block your
vision of others.
Attach the engine shut-off cord to your left
wrist and keep it free from the handlebars so
that the engine stops if you, the operator, fall
off.
Wear a personal flotation device (PFD). The
operator must wear a PFD that is approved by
the appropriate authorities and is suitable for
personal watercraft use.
Wear protective clothing. Severe internal inju-
ries can occur if water is forced into body cav-
ities as a result of falling into the water or
being near the jet thrust nozzle. Normal swim-
wear does not adequately protect against
forceful water entry into the rectum or vagina.
The operator must wear a wetsuit bottom or
clothing that provides equivalent protection.
Such clothing includes thick, tightly woven,
sturdy and snug-fitting apparel such as den-
im, but does not include spandex or similar
fabrics, like those used in bicycle shorts. A full
wetsuit can also protect against hypothermia
(subnormal body temperature) and abra-
sions.
Footwear and gloves are recommended.
UF2F70E0.book Page 36 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM

Operation
43

Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people,
objects, and other watercraft to give you
time to stop.

Do not shut the engine off when slowing
down in case you need engine power to
steer away from a boat or other obstacle
that comes into your path.
EJU33300Beaching the watercraft
(1) Make sure that there are no boats, swim-
mers, or obstacles near the beach. Re-
lease the throttle lever about 90 m (300 ft)
before you reach the intended beaching
area.
(2) Approach the beach slowly and stop the
engine before reaching land.
Remember, you need throttle to steer.
(3) Get off the watercraft and pull it up on the
beach.
CAUTION:
ECJ00490
Small pebbles, sand, seaweed, and other
debris can be sucked into the jet intake
and impair or damage the impeller. Always
stop the engine and get off the watercraft
before beaching it.
EJU33330Rough water operation
The force of landing after jumping can cause
a strong impact on both the watercraft and the
operator. It is possible for the operator to hit
his or her chest or jaw on the watercraft or
handlebars and be injured.
Do not operate the watercraft with your chin
right above the handlebars or with your feet
outside the watercraft.
Operating in rough water or jumping waves
can also crack the watercraft hull and damage
internal parts. Avoid operating in rough water
or bad weather conditions.
EJU33361
Post-operation care
To keep your watercraft in top shape, always
take it out of the water after using it and per-
form the following procedures. Leaving the
watercraft in the water for extended periods
will accelerate the rate of normal deterioration
of the jet unit components and hull finish. Ma-
rine organisms and corrosion are some of the
conditions that can adversely affect the life of
many watercraft components.
(1) Remove the watercraft from the water.
(2) Wash down the hull, steering pole, han-
dlebars, and jet unit with fresh water.
(3) Remove the hood and check the engine
compartment for water. To drain excess
water, turn the watercraft on its port (left)
side. If necessary, turn the watercraft up-
side down to drain the water completely.
CAUTION:
ECJ00580

Place a suitable clean cloth or carpeting
underneath the watercraft to protect it
from abrasions and scratches.

Always turn the watercraft over onto its
port (left) side.

When turning the watercraft onto its
side or inverting it, support the bow and
secure the steering pole, otherwise the
steering pole and handlebars could be
bent or damaged.
NOTE:
This watercraft is equipped with an automatic
bilge draining system that removes water
from the engine compartment while you are
underway. However, some residual water will
remain.
(4) Place the watercraft in a horizontal posi-
tion.
UF2F70E0.book Page 43 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM

Maintenance and care
48
line in your eyes, get immediate medical
attention.

If any gasoline spills on your skin or
clothing, immediately wash the affected
area with soap and water and change
your clothes.
Draining the fuel system prevents buildup of
varnishes and other harmful deposits that re-
sult when gasoline sits for a long period of
time.
To drain the fuel system:
(1) Turn the fuel cock knob to “OFF”.
(2) Drain the fuel tank using a siphon.
EJU33680Battery
If the watercraft will not be used for more than
a month, remove the battery from the water-
craft and store it in a cool, dry place.
(1) Disconnect the negative (–) battery lead
first, then the positive (+) battery lead and
breather hose, and then remove the bat-
tery from the watercraft.
(2) Clean the battery casing using fresh wa-
ter.
(3) If the battery terminals are dirty or corrod-
ed, clean them with a wire brush.
(4) Fully charge the battery.
(5) Apply Yamaha Marine Grease or
Yamaha Grease A to the battery termi-
nals, and then store the battery in a cool,
dry place.
(6) Check the battery at least once every 2
months and fully charge it if necessary.
CAUTION:
ECJ00100
Always keep the battery charged. Storing
a discharged battery can cause permanent
battery damage.
To check the condition of the battery, check
the specific gravity of the electrolyte or mea-
sure the voltage at both battery terminals.Charge the battery if the voltage is less than
12 volts.
It is recommended to have a Yamaha dealer
check the specific gravity and charge the bat-
tery. If you maintain the battery yourself, be
sure to read and follow the instructions provid-
ed with the battery tester and charger you
use.
EJU33700Cleaning the watercraft
Clean the watercraft before storing it for a long
period.
(1) Wash down the hull, handlebars, and jet
unit with fresh water.
(2) Rinse the engine and bilge area with
fresh water. Drain all of the water and
wipe up any remaining moisture with
clean, dry rags.
CAUTION:
ECJ00110
Do not use high-pressure water when rins-
ing the engine and bilge area as severe en-
gine damage could result.
(3) Spray the engine’s exterior with a rust in-
hibitor and lubricant.
(4) Wax the hull with a non-abrasive wax.
(5) Wipe all vinyl and rubber components,
such as the engine compartment seals,
with a vinyl protectant.
NOTE:
Do not use vinyl protectant on the riding tray,
because it will make it slippery.
Specific gravity (for reference):
1.28 at 20 °C (68 °F)
UF2F70E0.book Page 48 Tuesday, April 17, 2007 9:56 AM