2009 YAMAHA VX maintenance

Important manual information
EJU30191
To the owner/operator
Thank you for choosing a Yamaha watercraft.
This owner’s/operator’s manual contains in-
formation you will need for proper operation,
maintenance, and care. If you have any ques-
tions about the operation or maintenance of
your watercraft, please consult a Yamaha
dealer.
This manual is not a course on boating safety
or seamanship. If this is your first watercraft,
or if you are changing to a type of watercraft
you are not familiar with, for your own comfort
and safety, please ensure that you obtain
proper training or practice before operating
the watercraft by yourself. In addition, a
Yamaha dealer or boating organization will be
pleased to recommend local sea schools, or
competent instructors.
Because Yamaha has a policy of continuing
product improvement, this product may not be
exactly as described in this owner’s/opera-
tor’s manual. Specifications are subject to
change without notice.
This manual should be considered a perma-
nent part of this watercraft and should remain
with it even if the watercraft is subsequently
sold.
In this manual, information of particular impor-
tance is distinguished in the following ways:
The Safety Alert Symbol means ATTEN-
TION! BECOME ALERT! YOUR SAFETY IS
INVOLVED!
WARNING
EWJ00071
A WARNING indicates a hazardous situa-
tion which, if not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE
ECJ00091
A NOTICE indicates special precautions
that must be taken to avoid damage to the
watercraft or other property.
TIP:
A TIP provides key information to make pro-
cedures easier or clearer.
EJU30231
WaveRunner VX/VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser
OWNER’S/OPERATOR’S MANUAL
©2008 by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
1st Edition, May 2008
All rights reserved.
Any reprinting or unauthorized use
without the written permission of
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
is expressly prohibited.
Printed in U.S.A.
UF2L70E0.book Page 3 Thursday, June 19, 2008 8:38 AM

Table of contents
Post-operation care ...................... 60
Transporting ................................. 61
Maintenance and care ..................... 62
Storage ......................................... 62
Flushing the cooling system ............ 62
Lubrication ....................................... 63
Battery ............................................. 63
Cleaning the watercraft ................... 64
Maintenance and adjustments ..... 64
Owner’s/operator’s manual and
tool kit ........................................... 64
Periodic maintenance chart ............. 66
Checking the fuel system ................ 68
Engine oil and oil filter ..................... 68
Air filter element .............................. 68
Checking the jet thrust nozzle
angle ............................................ 68
Checking the shift cable
(for VX Deluxe/VX Cruiser) .......... 69
Checking and adjusting the throttle
cable ............................................ 69
Cleaning and adjusting the spark
plugs ............................................ 70
Lubrication points ............................ 71
Checking the battery ....................... 72
Fuel injection system ....................... 73
Specifications .................................. 74
Specifications ................................ 74
Trouble recovery ............................. 75
Troubleshooting ........................... 75
Troubleshooting chart ...................... 75
Emergency procedures ................ 78
Cleaning the jet intake and
impeller ........................................ 78
Jumping the battery ......................... 79
Replacing the fuses ......................... 79
Towing the watercraft ...................... 80
Submerged watercraft ..................... 80
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Safety information
18
EJU30991
Enjoy your watercraft
responsibly
You share the areas you enjoy when riding
your watercraft with others and with nature.
So your enjoyment includes a responsibility to
treat these other people, and the lands, wa-
ters, and wildlife with respect and courtesy.
Whenever and wherever you ride, think of
yourself as the guest of those around you. Re-
member, for example, that the sound of your
watercraft may be music to you, but it could be
just noise to others. And the exciting splash of
your wake can make waves others won’t en-
joy.
Avoid riding close to shoreline homes and wa-
terfowl nesting areas or other wildlife areas,
and keep a respectful distance from fisher-
men, other boats, swimmers, and populated
beaches. When travel in areas like these is
unavoidable, ride slowly and obey all laws.
Proper maintenance is necessary to ensure
that the exhaust emission and sound levels of
your watercraft will continue to be within regu-
lated limits. You have the responsibility to
make sure that the recommended mainte-
nance in this owner’s/operator’s manual is
carried out.
Remember, pollution can be harmful to the
environment. Do not refuel or add oil where a
spill could cause damage to nature. Remove
your watercraft from the water and move it
away from the shoreline before refueling. Dis-
pose of water and any fuel and oil residue in
the engine compartment according to local
regulations. And keep your surroundings
pleasant for the people and wildlife that share
the waterways: don’t litter.
When you ride responsibly, with respect and
courtesy for others, you help ensure that ourwaterways stay open for the enjoyment of a
variety of recreational opportunities.
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Features and functions
32
the fuel tank. The display segments of the fuel
level meter disappear two at a time as the fuel
level decreases.
TIP:
The fuel level is most accurate when the wa-
tercraft is sitting level on a trailer or in the wa-
ter.
EJU31552Hour meter/voltmeter
To switch the display between the hour meter
and the voltmeter, push the select button for
at least 1 second after the meter is displayed
for more than 10 seconds.
Hour meter
The hour meter is provided to make it easy to
follow the maintenance schedule.
The meter shows the hours of engine opera-
tion that have elapsed since the watercraft
was new.Voltmeter
The voltmeter is provided to display the volt-
age of the battery.
When the battery voltage is normal, the volt-
meter displays approximately 12 volts.
If the battery voltage is less than 8.0 volts,
“LO” is displayed on the voltmeter and if the
voltage is above 18.1 volts, “HI” is displayed
on the voltmeter. If “HI” or “LO” is displayed,
return to shore and, if necessary, have a
Yamaha dealer check the charging system
and the battery.
EJU31562Fuel level warning indicator
If the fuel remaining in the fuel tank drops to
about 13 L (3.4 US gal, 2.9 Imp. gal), the low-
est two fuel level segments, the fuel level
warning indicator, and the “WARNING” light
begin to blink. The buzzer also starts sound-
ing intermittently.
If this occurs, refill the fuel tank as soon as
possible.
The warning signals will be cleared when the
engine is restarted after the fuel tank is re-
filled.1Fuel level meter
1Select button
2Hour meter/voltmeter
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Maintenance and care
62
EJU33490
Storage
WARNING
EWJ00330
Always place the watercraft upright in a
horizontal position when storing it, other-
wise fuel could leak out into the engine or
engine compartment, which could create a
fire hazard.
Storage for long periods of time, such as win-
ter storage, requires preventive maintenance
to ensure against deterioration. It is advisable
to have the watercraft serviced by a Yamaha
dealer prior to storage. However, the following
procedures can be performed by the owner.
EJU33544Flushing the cooling system
Flushing the cooling system is essential to
prevent it from clogging with salt, sand, or dirt.
(1) Place the watercraft in a horizontal posi-
tion.
(2) Remove the seat. (See page 23 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(3) Remove the flushing hose connector
cap, and then insert the garden hose
adapter into the flushing hose connector
and turn it until it is securely connected.
(4) Connect the garden hose adapter to a
water tap using a garden hose.
TIP:
A garden hose is not included.
(5) Start the engine, and then immediately
turn the water supply on until water flows
out continually from the jet thrust nozzle.
NOTICE: Do not run the engine for
more than 15 seconds without supply-
ing water or over 4000 r/min on land,
otherwise the engine could overheat.
[ECJ01050]
TIP:
If you will be storing the watercraft for a pro-
longed period, such as winter storage, top off
the fuel tank with fresh gasoline and add fuel
stabilizer and conditioner to the fuel tank ac-
cording to the manufacturer’s instruction be-
fore starting the engine.
(6) Run the engine at idling speed for about
3 minutes watching the engine condition.
If the engine stops while flushing, turn the
water supply off immediately and repeat
the above steps. NOTICE: Do not sup-
ply water to the cooling water passag-
es when the engine is not running. The
water could flow back through the
muffler into the engine, causing se-
vere engine damage.
[ECJ00122]
(7) Turn the water supply off, and then force
the remaining water out of the cooling
water passages by alternately squeezing
1Flushing hose connector cap
2Garden hose adapter
3Flushing hose connector
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Maintenance and care
63
and releasing the throttle lever for 10 to
15 seconds.
(8) Stop the engine.
(9) Remove the garden hose adapter and in-
stall the flushing hose connector cap.
(10) Install the seat.
EJU33623Lubrication
(1) Remove the seat. (See page 23 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(2) Loosen the clamp screw and disconnect
the air intake duct.
(3) Spray a rust inhibitor into the intake open-
ing for 3 seconds. WARNING! Do not
spray flammable rust inhibitor prod-
ucts on engine surfaces while the en-
gine is hot. The sprayed substance or
propellants could catch fire.
[EWJ00261]
(4) Connect the air intake duct and tighten
the clamp screw.
(5) Start the engine in a well-ventilated area
and let it run at idle for 15 seconds.
NOTICE: Do not run the engine for
more than 15 seconds without supply-
ing water, otherwise the engine could
overheat.
[ECJ00562]
(6) Lubricate all cables such as the throttle
and steering cables.
Use a suitable marine grease applicator
to pressure-lubricate the cables and
purge out any moisture between the inner
and outer cables.
(7) Lubricate the areas of the watercraft
specified in “Lubrication points” on page
71.
(8) Install the seat.
EJU33681Battery
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.
NOTICE: Always keep the battery
charged. Storing a discharged battery
can cause permanent battery damage.
[ECJ00101]
1Clamp screw
2Air intake duct
1Intake opening
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Maintenance and care
64
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.
EJU33731Cleaning 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 seat and engine compart-
ment seals, with a vinyl protectant.
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.
EJU33811Owner’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
convenience, a storage compartment is pro- Specific gravity (for reference):
1.28 at 20 °C (68 °F)
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Maintenance and care
65
vided on the watercraft for the manual and
tool kit.
To protect these materials from water dam-
age, it would be a good idea to put them in a
waterproof bag.
The service information included in this man-
ual is intended to provide you, the owner, with
the necessary information for completing your
own preventive maintenance and minor re-
pairs. The tools provided in the tool kit are suf-
ficient for this purpose, except that a torque
wrench may also be necessary to tighten nuts
and bolts.
1Storage compartment
1Tool bag
2Screwdriver
316 mm box wrench
410/12 mm box wrench
5Pliers
6Open-end wrench
7Garden hose adapter
UF2L70E0.book Page 65 Thursday, June 19, 2008 8:38 AM