2008 YAMAHA VX emergency towing

Table of contents
Post-operation care ...................... 61
Transporting ................................. 62
Maintenance and care ..................... 63
Storage ......................................... 63
Flushing the cooling system ............ 63
Lubrication ....................................... 64
Fuel system ..................................... 64
Battery ............................................. 65
Cleaning the watercraft ................... 65
Maintenance and adjustments ..... 66
Owner’s/operator’s manual and
tool kit ........................................... 67
Periodic maintenance chart ............. 68
Checking the fuel system ................ 70
Engine oil and oil filter ..................... 70
Air filter element .............................. 71
Checking the jet thrust nozzle
angle ............................................ 71
Checking the shift cable
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) .......... 71
Checking and adjusting the throttle
cable ............................................ 72
Cleaning and adjusting the spark
plugs ............................................ 72
Lubrication points ............................ 73
Checking the battery ....................... 74
Fuel injection system ....................... 75
Specifications .................................. 77
Specifications ................................ 77
Trouble recovery ............................. 78
Troubleshooting ........................... 78
Troubleshooting chart ...................... 78
Emergency procedures ................ 80
Cleaning the jet intake and
impeller ........................................ 80
Jumping the battery ......................... 81
Replacing the fuses ......................... 82
Towing the watercraft ...................... 83
Submerged watercraft ..................... 83
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Safety information
17
Make sure that the rope is not looped
around anything.
After checking that the skier is ready and
that there is no traffic or other obstacles, ap-
ply enough throttle to raise the skier.

Make smooth, wide turns. The watercraft is
capable of very sharp turns, which could ex-
ceed the abilities of the skier. Keep the skier
at least 50 m (150 ft), about twice the dis-
tance of a standard ski rope, from any po-
tential hazard.

Be alert to the hazard of the ski rope handle
snapping back at the watercraft when the
skier falls or is unable to get up on the skis.

Towing heavy or bulky objects other than
skiers, such as another boat or watercraft,
can cause loss of steering control and cre-
ate a hazardous condition. If you must tow
another boat in an emergency situation, op-
erate slowly and cautiously.
EJU30970
Safe boating rules
Your Yamaha watercraft is legally considered
a powerboat. Operation of the watercraft must
be in accordance with the rules and regula-
tions governing the waterway on which it is
used.
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Features and functions
28

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.
To shift into forward:
(1) Release the throttle lever and let the en-
gine speed return to idle.
(2) Push the shift lever away from you.
EJU31360Handgrip
The handgrip provides a handhold for board-
ing the watercraft and for a spotter when fac-
ing rearward.
WARNING
EWJ00020
Do not use the handgrip to lift the water-
craft. The watercraft could fall, which
could result in severe injury.
EJU34870Bow eye
The bow eye is located at the bow of the wa-
tercraft.The bow eye is used to attach a rope to the
watercraft when transporting, mooring, or
towing it in an emergency.
EJU34880Stern eyes
The stern eyes are located at the stern of the
watercraft.
The stern eyes are used to attach a rope to
the watercraft when transporting or mooring it.
EJU31370Yamaha Engine Management System
(YEMS)
This model is equipped with an integrated,
computerized management system that con-
trols and adjusts ignition timing, fuel injection,
engine diagnostics, and the off-throttle steer-
ing (OTS) system.
1Handgrip
1Bow eye
1Stern eye
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Trouble recovery
83
WARNING
EWJ00800
Do not use fuses of higher amperage than
recommended. Substitution with a fuse
that has an improper rating can cause ex-
tensive electrical system damage and pos-
sible fire.
EJU34710Towing the watercraft
If the watercraft becomes inoperative in the
water, it can be towed to shore.
If the watercraft must be towed in an emer-
gency using a towline, the operator should
ride the watercraft, holding onto the handle-
bars.
CAUTION:
ECJ00720

Tow the watercraft at 5 mph (8 km/h) or
less, otherwise water could enter the en-
gine through the exhaust passages or
through the air intake and flood the en-
gine compartment if it is towed too fast.

Tow the watercraft using the bow eye
only.

The bow must be kept up out of the wa-
ter during towing to prevent water from
entering the engine compartment.
WARNING
EWJ00810

The watercraft should only be towed in
an emergency.

The towline should be long enough so
that the watercraft will not collide with
the towing boat when slowing down. A
good rule of thumb is a towline that is
three times the combined length of the
towing boat and the watercraft.

The operator of the towing boat must
keep speed to a minimum and avoid traf-
fic or obstacles which could be a hazard
to the rider on the watercraft.
EJU36150Submerged watercraft
If the watercraft is submerged or flooded with
water, follow the procedure below and consult
a Yamaha dealer as soon as possible. Failure
to do so could result in serious engine dam-
age!
In an emergency:
(1) Beach the watercraft and remove the
stern drain plugs to drain the water from
the engine compartment. (See page 43
for more information.) Remove the stor-
age compartment drain plugs to drain the
water from the storage compartments.
(2) Install the stern drain plugs and storage
compartment drain plugs.
(3) Disconnect the spark plug caps, and then
remove the spark plugs.
CAUTION:
ECJ00760
Do not connect the spark plugs to the
spark plug caps.
(4) Disconnect the fuel injector couplers.
CAUTION:
ECJ00770
Cover the disconnected fuel injector cou-
plers so that they do not get wet. If the cou-
1Bow eye
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