2012 YAMAHA VX ECU

Equipment operation
39
(2) Push the rear of the seat down to secure-
ly lock it in place.
EJU31363Handgrip
The handgrip is used when boarding the wa-
tercraft from the water and when the spotter is
facing rearward. WARNING! Do not use the
handgrip to lift the watercraft. The hand-
grip is not designed to support the water-
craft’s weight. If the handgrip breaks, the
watercraft could fall, which could result in
severe injury.
[EWJ00021]
EJU34864
Reboarding step (VX Cruiser)
The reboarding step is used to assist in re-
boarding the watercraft from the water.
When boarding the watercraft, push the re-
boarding step down until it stops. The step re-
turns automatically to its original position
when released. WARNING! Do not use the
reboarding step to lift the watercraft. Thereboarding step is not designed to sup-
port the watercraft’s weight. If the reboard-
ing step breaks, the watercraft could fall,
which could result in severe injury.
[EWJ01211]
NOTICE
ECJ00742
Use the reboarding step only to board the
watercraft in the water. Do not use the re-
boarding step for any other purpose. The
watercraft can be damaged.
EJU34872Bow eye
The bow eye is used to attach a rope to the
watercraft when transporting, mooring, or
1Handgrip
1
1Reboarding step
1
UF2N72E0.book Page 39 Monday, July 4, 2011 1:10 PM

Equipment operation
40
towing it in an emergency. (See page 87 for
information on towing the watercraft.)
EJU34881Stern eyes
The stern eyes are used to attach a rope to
the watercraft when transporting or mooring it.
EJU40420Cleat
The cleat is used to attach a ski rope to the
watercraft when pulling a water-skier.
WARNING! Do not use the cleat to lift the
watercraft. The cleat is not designed to
support the watercraft’s weight. If the cleatbreaks, the watercraft could fall, which
could result in severe injury.
[EWJ01510]
EJU31683
Storage compartments
This watercraft is equipped with the following
storage compartments.
The storage compartments are not designed
to be waterproof. If you carry objects that must
be kept dry, put them in a waterproof bag.
Make sure that the storage compartments are
closed securely before operating the water-
craft.
EJU31715Bow storage compartment
The bow storage compartment is located un-
der the hood.
1Bow eye
1Stern eye
1
1
1Cleat
1
UF2N72E0.book Page 40 Monday, July 4, 2011 1:10 PM

Equipment operation
41
To open the bow storage compartment:
Pull the hood latch up, and then lift up the rear
of the hood.To close the bow storage compartment:Push the rear of the hood down to securely
lock it in place.
To drain water from the bow storage compart-
ment:
(1) Remove the drain plug on the bottom of
the storage compartment to drain the wa-
ter into the engine compartment.
(2) Securely install the drain plug in its origi-
nal position.
EJU41550Glove compartment
The glove compartment is located in front of
the seat.
The glove compartment is removable.
1Hood latch
1Bow storage compartment
Bow storage compartment:
Capacity:
50.0 L (13.2 US gal, 11.0 Imp.gal)
Load limit:
5.0 kg (11 lb)
1
1
1Drain plug
1
UF2N72E0.book Page 41 Monday, July 4, 2011 1:10 PM

Equipment operation
42
To open the glove compartment:
Slide the glove compartment latch toward
you, and then lift up the lid.To close the glove compartment:Push the lid down to securely lock it in place.
EJU41420Beverage holder (VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser)
The beverage holder is located in the glove
compartment. (See page 41 for information
on the glove compartment.)
The beverage holder is removable.
Do not place any items in the beverage holder
while riding. Otherwise, the items may fall out
of the beverage holder.
EJU40991Fire extinguisher holder and cover
The fire extinguisher holder and cover are lo-
cated in the bow storage compartment.
1Glove compartment latch
1Glove compartment
Glove compartment:
Capacity:
7.0 L (1.8 US gal, 1.5 Imp.gal)
Load limit:
1.5 kg (3 lb)
1
1
1Beverage holder
1
UF2N72E0.book Page 42 Monday, July 4, 2011 1:10 PM

Equipment operation
43
To use the fire extinguisher holder and cover:
(1) Pull the hood latch up, and then lift up the
rear of the hood.
(2) Unhook the band and remove the fire ex-
tinguisher cover.
(3) Place the fire extinguisher in the holder,
and then place the cover over the fire ex-
tinguisher.
(4) Securely fasten the cover and the fire ex-
tinguisher with the band.
(5) Push the rear of the hood down to se-
curely lock it in place. Make sure that thehood is securely closed before using the
watercraft.
1Hood latch
1Band
2Fire extinguisher holder and cover
1
12
UF2N72E0.book Page 43 Monday, July 4, 2011 1:10 PM

Operation and handling requirements
45
(6) Stop filling when the fuel level reaches
approximately 50 mm (2 in) from the top
of the fuel tank. Do not overfill the fuel
tank. Because fuel expands when it heats
up, heat from the engine or the sun can
cause fuel to spill out of the fuel tank. Do
not leave the watercraft with a full tank in
direct sunlight.
(7) Wipe up any spilled fuel immediately with
a dry cloth.
(8) Securely install the fuel filler cap by tight-
ening it until it clicks.
(9) Securely install the seat in its original po-
sition.
EJU40290
Engine oil requirements EJU41542Engine oil
NOTICE
ECJ00281
Use only 4-stroke engine oil. Usage of 2-
stroke engine oil could result in severe en-
gine damage.
Checking the engine oil level
WARNING
EWJ00340
Engine oil is extremely hot immediately af-
ter the engine is turned off. Coming in con-
tact with or getting any engine oil on your
clothes could result in burns.
NOTICE
ECJ00391

Do not run the engine with too much or
not enough oil in the oil tank, otherwise
the engine could be damaged.

Make sure that debris and water do not
enter the oil tank filler hole. Debris and
water in the engine oil can cause serious
engine damage.
TIP:

When checking the engine oil level on land,
the engine must be running while water is
being supplied to the cooling water passag-
es. (See “Flushing the cooling water pas-
seges” on page 71 for information on
supplying water.)

When checking the engine oil level on wa-
ter, moor the watercraft so that it will not drift
away. Fuel tank capacity:
60 L (15.9 US gal, 13.2 Imp.gal)
1Approximately 50 mm (2 in) from top of the
fuel tank
1
Recommended engine oil type:
SAE 10W-30, 10W-40, 20W-40, 20W-
50
Recommended engine oil grade:
API SE,SF,SG,SH,SJ,SL
UF2N72E0.book Page 45 Monday, July 4, 2011 1:10 PM

Operation and handling requirements
46
To check the engine oil level:
(1) With the engine stopped, place the water-
craft in a precisely level position on land
or launch the watercraft.
(2) Look in all directions, and then start the
engine. (See page 60 for information on
starting the engine.)
(3) Run the engine at idling speed for 6 min-
utes or more. Run the engine an addition-
al 5 minutes if the ambient temperature is
20 °C (68 °F) or less.
(4) Stop the engine.
(5) Remove the seat. (See page 38 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(6) Loosen the oil tank filler cap and remove
it, and then wipe the attached dipstick
clean.
(7) Screw the oil tank filler cap into the filler
hole until it stops. Remove the oil tank fill-
er cap again and make sure that the en-gine oil level is between the minimum and
maximum level marks.
(8) If the engine oil level is significantly above
the maximum level mark, consult a
Yamaha dealer. If the engine oil level is
below the minimum level mark, slowly
add engine oil.
(9) Repeat steps 6–8 until the engine oil is at
the proper level.
(10) Securely install the oil tank filler cap and
turn it until it stops.
(11) Securely install the seat in its original po-
sition.
1Oil tank filler cap/Dipstick
1
1Dipstick
2Maximum level mark
3Minimum level mark
213
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Operation and handling requirements
47
EJU40021
Draining the bilge water
NOTICE
ECJ01301
Do not run the engine at full throttle when
bilge water remains in the engine compart-
ment. The bilge water can splash into the
engine, which can result in severe dam-
age.
EJU40033Draining the bilge water on land
To drain the bilge water on land:
(1) Loosen the stern drain plugs and remove
them.
(2) Raise the bow of the watercraft, such as
by placing the watercraft on a slope, to
drain the bilge water from the engine
compartment.
(3) After the bilge water has drained from the
stern drain plug holes, wipe up any re-maining moisture in the engine compart-
ment with a dry cloth.
(4) Securely install the stern drain plugs by
tightening them until they stop. NOTICE:
Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads to remove
any foreign materials, such as dirt or
sand. Otherwise, the stern drain plugs
could be damaged, allowing water to
enter the engine compartment. Make
sure that the stern drain plugs are
tightened securely before launching
the watercraft. Otherwise, water may
flood the engine compartment and
cause the watercraft to submerge.
[ECJ00361]
EJU40534
Draining the bilge water on water
A small quantity of bilge water will remain in
the engine compartment even after the bilge
water is drained on water. To completely drain
the bilge water, remove the watercraft from
the water and drain the bilge water on land.
Jet vacuum bilge draining system
While the watercraft is operating, bilge water
in the engine compartment is drawn in by the
vacuum that is generated in the jet pump and
discharged from the watercraft through the jet
thrust nozzle.
To drain the bilge water on water:
Operate the watercraft as straight as possible
and above planing speed for at least 2 min-
utes. NOTICE: Do not run the engine at full
throttle for at least 1 minute after the en-
gine has been restarted. Bilge water in the
engine compartment can splash into the
1Stern drain plug
1
UF2N72E0.book Page 47 Monday, July 4, 2011 1:10 PM