
Operation
42
steer away from a boat or other obstacle
that comes into your path.
EJU33301Beaching 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. NOTICE: 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.
[ECJ00491]
EJU37190
Operating in weeded areas
Always avoid operating your watercraft in ar-
eas where weed growth is thick. If traveling in
weeded areas is unavoidable, operate the en-
gine alternately at partial throttle and full throt-
tle. Weeds tend to accumulate more at a
steady speed and at trolling speed. If weeds
clog the intake area and cause cavitation,
clean the jet intake and impeller. (See page
63 for cleaning procedures.)
EJU33362
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 onto its port
(left) side. If necessary, turn the water-
craft upside down to drain the water com-
pletely. Place a suitable clean cloth or
carpeting underneath the watercraft to
protect it from abrasions and scratches.
NOTICE: Always turn the watercraft
over onto its port (left) side, otherwise
the water could flow back through the
muffler into the engine. When turning
the watercraft onto its side or invert-
ing it, support the bow and secure the
steering pole, otherwise the steering
pole and handlebars could be bent or
damaged.
[ECJ00581]
TIP:
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, therefore, wipe it up with a clean
cloth.
(4) Place the watercraft in a horizontal posi-
tion.
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Maintenance and care
47
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.
EJU33701Cleaning 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 engine compart-
ment with fresh water. Drain all of the wa-
ter and wipe up any remaining moisture
with clean, dry rags. NOTICE: Do not
use high-pressure water when rinsing
the engine and engine compartment
as severe engine damage could result.
[ECJ00111]
(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. Do not use vinyl
protectant on the riding tray, because it
will make it slippery.
EJU33762
Maintenance and adjustments
Periodic inspection, adjustment, and lubrica-
tion will keep your watercraft in the safest and
most efficient condition possible. Safety is an
obligation of the watercraft owner. Proper
maintenance must be carried out to keep the
exhaust emission and sound levels within the
regulated limits. The most important points of
watercraft inspection, adjustment, and lubri-
cation are explained on the following pages.
See a Yamaha dealer for genuine Yamaha re-
placement parts and optional accessories de-
signed for your watercraft.
Remember, failures that are the result of the
installation of parts or accessories which are
not qualitatively equivalent to genuine
Yamaha parts are not covered by the limited
warranty.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of the
emission control devices and system may
be performed by any marine SI engine re-
pair establishment or individual. Warranty
repair, however, must be performed at an
authorized Yamaha marine dealership.
WARNING
EWJ00311
Be sure to turn off the engine when you
perform maintenance unless otherwise
specified. If you are not familiar with ma-
chine servicing, this work should be done
by a Yamaha dealer or other qualified me-
chanic.
EJU33781Owner’s/operator’s manual and tool
kit
It is advisable to always carry the owner’s/op-
erator’s manual and tool kit with you whenev-
er you use the watercraft. For your Specific gravity (for reference):
1.28 at 20 °C (68 °F)
UF2F71E0.book Page 47 Thursday, April 10, 2008 11:47 AM

Maintenance and care
55
(4) Hold the adjuster with one wrench while
tightening the locknut with another
wrench.
(5) Install the handlebar cover and the four
screws.
EJU34374Cleaning and adjusting the spark
plugs
WARNING
EWJ00350
Be careful not to damage the insulator
when removing or installing a spark plug.
A damaged insulator could allow sparks to
escape, which could result in a fire or ex-
plosion.
The spark plug is an important engine compo-
nent and is easy to inspect. The condition of
the spark plug can indicate something about
the condition of the engine. For example, if the
center electrode porcelain is very white, this
could indicate an intake air leak or carburetion
problem in that cylinder. Do not attempt to di-
agnose any problems yourself. Have a
Yamaha dealer service the watercraft.
Remove and inspect the spark plugs periodi-
cally; heat and deposits will cause the spark
plugs to slowly break down and erode. If elec-
trode erosion becomes excessive, or if carbon
and other deposits are excessive, replace the
spark plug with the specified plug.
To remove a spark plug:
(1) Remove the hood. (See page 17 for hood
removal and installation procedures.)
(2) Remove the spark plug cap.(3) Remove the spark plug.
Measure the spark plug gap with a wire
thickness gauge. Replace the spark
plugs or adjust the gap to specification if
necessary.
To install a spark plug:
(1) Clean the gasket surface.
(2) Wipe any dirt from the threads of the
spark plug.
(3) Install the spark plug, and then tighten it
to the specified torque.
(4) Wipe off any water on the spark plug or
inside the spark plug cap, and then install
the cap. Push the spark plug cap down
until it is securely installed.
TIP:
If a torque wrench is not available when you
are installing a spark plug, a good estimate of
the correct torque is 1/4 turn to 1/2 turn past
finger tight using the spark plug wrench in-
cluded in the tool kit. Have the spark plug ad-
justed to the correct torque with a torque
wrench as soon as possible.
(5) Install the hood. Throttle lever free play:
7.0–10.0 mm (0.28–0.39 in)
Specified spark plug:
BR7HS
1Spark plug gap
Spark plug gap:
0.6–0.7 mm (0.024–0.028 in)
Spark plug tightening torque:
25.0 Nm (2.55 kgf-m, 18.4 ft-lb)
UF2F71E0.book Page 55 Thursday, April 10, 2008 11:47 AM