2008 YAMAHA SUPERJET steering

Operation
28
EJU32280Pre-operation check points EJU32290Engine compartment
Ventilate the engine compartment before
each use.
To ventilate the engine compartment, lift the
steering pole and support it with the lock pin,
and then remove the hood. (See page 17 for
hood removal and installation procedures.)
Leave the engine compartment open for a few
minutes to allow any fuel vapors to escape.
While the engine compartment is open, check
for loose electrical connections.
WARNING
EWJ00460
Failure to ventilate the engine compart-
ment could result in a fire or explosion. Do
not start the engine if there is a fuel leak or
a loose electrical connection.
EJU32350Hull and deck
Check the hull and deck for cracks and other
damage. If any damage is found, have a
Yamaha dealer repair the watercraft.
EJU32360Fuel system
Check the fuel system for leakage, cracks,
and malfunctions before each use. (See page
53 for check points and correct procedures.)(1) Remove the fuel tank filler cap to release
any pressure that might have built up in
the fuel tank.
(2) Remove the hood. (See page 17 for hood
removal and installation procedures.)
(3) Check the fuel level in the fuel tank and
replenish if necessary. (See page 26 for
filling procedures.)
(4) Install the fuel tank filler cap and the
hood.
EJU32420Water separator
Check the water separator for water. The wa-
ter separator retains any water that may have
entered through the fuel tank breather hose if
the watercraft was capsized. Normally, the
water separator is empty.
If water remains in the water separator, drain
it by removing the drain screw. Place a drain
pan under the water separator to catch the
1Water separator
2Drain screw
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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
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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
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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.
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Operation
41
NOTE:

To efficiently discharge water from the en-
gine compartment, operate the watercraft
as straight as possible and above planing
speed for at least 2 minutes.

To stabilize the watercraft when accelerat-
ing to planing speed, maintain a low center
of gravity by operating it in the kneeling po-
sition.
EJU33240Turning the watercraft
Steering control depends on the combination
of handlebar position and the amount of throt-
tle.
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 pro-
duced.
The amount of jet thrust, in addition to the po-
sition 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 ap-
ply 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.
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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.
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Operation
44
(5) Flush the cooling system to prevent it
from clogging with salt, sand, or dirt. (See
page 46 for flushing procedures.)
(6) Drain residual water from the exhaust
system by alternately squeezing and re-
leasing the throttle lever for 10 to 15 sec-
onds while the engine is running.
CAUTION:
ECJ00561
Do not run the engine for more than 15
seconds without supplying water, other-
wise the engine could overheat.
(7) If the watercraft will be stored for a week
or more, lubricate internal engine compo-
nents to help prevent corrosion. (See
page 47 for lubrication procedures.)
(8) Rinse the engine and engine compart-
ment with a small amount of water.
CAUTION:
ECJ00570
Do not use high-pressure water when rins-
ing the engine or engine compartment as
severe engine damage could result.
(9) Wipe the engine and engine compart-
ment dry with a clean cloth (repeat step 3,
if necessary).
(10) Wipe the hull, steering pole, handlebars,
and jet unit dry with a clean cloth.
(11) Spray a rust inhibitor on metallic parts to
minimize corrosion.
(12) Allow the engine compartment to air dry
completely before installing the hood.
EJU33420
Transporting
WARNING
EWJ00750
Always turn the fuel cock knob to “OFF”
when transporting the watercraft, other-
wise fuel could leak out into the engine or
engine compartment, which would create
a fire hazard.
Transport this watercraft using a special trail-
er that incorporates a hole into which the pin
can be inserted and locked after passing it
through the bow rope hole.
After securing the bow with the pin, secure the
stern with ropes or tie downs routed over the
1Pin
2Bow rope hole
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Operation
45
gunwale. Use a rubber shock cord to secure
the steering pole.
CAUTION:
ECJ00630

Do not route ropes or tie downs over the
steering pole, as they could damage it.
Also, wrap the ropes or tie downs with
towels or rags where they touch the
body of the watercraft to avoid scratch-
ing or damage.

Do not transport the watercraft with the
steering pole up, otherwise the steering
pole could be damaged.
1Rubber shock cord
2Tie down
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