2014 YAMAHA VXR steering

Table of contents
General and important labels ........... 1Identification numbers .................... 1
Primary Identification (PRI-ID)
number............................................ 1
Craft Identification Number (CIN) ....... 1
Engine serial number.......................... 1
Manufactured date label .................... 2
Model information ........................... 2
Builder’s plate .................................... 2
Important labels .............................. 4
Warning labels.................................... 5
Other labels ........................................ 8
Safety information ........................... 10 Limitations on who may operate the watercraft ............................. 10
Cruising limitations ........................ 11
Operation requirements ................ 12
Recommended equipment ........... 14
Hazard information........................ 15
Watercraft characteristics ............. 15
Water-skiing .................................. 17
Safe boating rules ......................... 18
Enjoy your watercraft responsibly ................................. 19
Description....................................... 20 Watercraft glossary ....................... 20
Location of main components ...... 21
Control function operation ............. 25 Watercraft control functions ......... 25
Remote control transmitter .............. 25
Yamaha Security System ................. 26
Engine stop switch .......................... 27
Engine shut-off switch .................... 27
Start switch ..................................... 27
Throttle lever .................................... 28
Steering system ............................... 28
Cooling water pilot outlet ................. 29
Water separator................................ 29
Watercraft operation ...................... 30Watercraft operation functions ..... 30
Reverse system ................................ 30
Watercraft operation modes ......... 31
Low RPM Mode ............................... 31
Instrument operation ...................... 33Multifunction information center ... 33
Information display ........................... 33
Equipment operation ...................... 38Equipment..................................... 38
Seat .................................................. 38
Handgrip........................................... 39
Reboarding step (VXR) ..................... 39
Bow eye............................................ 40
Stern eyes ........................................ 40
Cleat ................................................. 40
Storage compartments .................... 40
Fire extinguisher holder and cover ... 42
Operation and handling
requirements ................................... 44Fuel requirements ......................... 44
Fuel................................................... 44
Engine oil requirements ................ 45
Engine oil .......................................... 45
Draining the bilge water ................ 47
Draining the bilge water on land....... 47
Draining the bilge water on water .... 47
Transporting on a trailer................ 48
First-time operation ........................ 49 Engine break-in............................. 49
Pre-operation checks ..................... 50
Pre-operation checklist .................... 50
Pre-operation check points .......... 52
Pre-launch checks ........................... 52
Post-launch checks.......................... 58
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Safety information
11
EJU30762
Cruising limitations
Scan constantly for people, objects, and
other watercraft. Be alert for conditions
that limit your visibility or block your vision
of others.
Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people,
objects, and other watercraft.
Do not follow directly behind watercraft or
other boats.
Do not go near others to spray or splash
them with water.
Avoid sharp turns or other maneuvers that
make it hard for others to avoid you or un-
derstand where you are going.
Avoid areas with submerged objects or
shallow water.
Take early action to avoid collisions. Re-
member, watercraft and other boats do not
have brakes.
Do not release the throttle lever when trying
to steer away from objects—you need
throttle to steer. Always check throttle and
steering controls before starting the water-
craft.
Ride within your limits and avoid aggres-
sive maneuvers to reduce the risk of loss of
control, ejection, and collision.
This is a high performance boat—not a toy.
Sharp turns or jumping wakes or waves
can increase the risk of back/spinal injury(paralysis), facial injuries, and broken legs,
ankles, and other bones. Do not jump
wakes or waves.
Do not operate the watercraft in rough wa-
ter, bad weather, or when visibility is poor;
this may lead to an accident causing injury
or death. Be alert to the possibility of ad-
verse weather. Take note of weather fore-
casts and the prevailing weather
conditions before setting out on your wa-
tercraft.
As with any water sport, you should not op-
erate your watercraft without someone else
nearby. If you operate further than swim-
ming distance from shore, you should be
accompanied by another boat or water-
craft, but make sure you stay a safe dis-
tance away. It’s good, common sense.
Never operate in water that is less than 60
cm (2 ft) deep from the bottom of the wa-
tercraft, otherwise you increase your chan-
ce of hitting a submerged object, which
could result in injury.
This watercraft is not equipped with light-
ing required for night operation. Do not op-
erate the watercraft after sunset or before
dawn, otherwise you increase the risk of
60 cm (2 ft)
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Safety information
15
EJU36851
Hazard information
Never start the engine or let it run for any
length of time in an enclosed area. Exhaust
fumes contain carbon monoxide, a color-
less, odorless gas that may cause loss of
consciousness and death within a short
time. Always operate the watercraft in an
open area.
Do not touch the hot muffler or engine dur-
ing or immediately after engine operation;
they can cause serious burns.
EJU30921
Watercraft characteristics
Jet thrust turns the watercraft. 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.
This model is equipped with the Yamaha
Engine Management System (YEMS) that
includes an off-throttle steering (OTS) sys-
tem. It will activate at planing speeds
should you attempt to steer the watercraft
after releasing the throttle lever. The OTS
system assists in turning by continuing to
supply some thrust while the watercraft is
decelerating, but you can turn more sharp-
ly if you apply throttle while turning the han-
dlebars.
The OTS system does not function below
planing speeds or when the engine is off.
Once the engine slows down, the water-
craft will no longer turn in response to han-
dlebar input until you apply throttle again or
you reach trolling speed.
Practice turning in an open area without
obstacles until you have a good feel for this
maneuver.
This watercraft is water-jet propelled. The
jet pump is directly connected to the en-
gine. This means that jet thrust will produce
some movement whenever the engine is
running. There is no “neutral” position. You
are in either “forward” or “reverse”, de-
pending upon the shift lever position.
Do not use the reverse function to slow
d o w n o r s t o p t h e w a t e r c r a f t a s i t c o u l d c a u -
se you to lose control, be ejected, or im-
pact the handlebars.
This could increase the risk of back/spinal
injury (paralysis), facial injuries, and broken
legs, ankles, and other bones. You could
also damage the shift mechanism.
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Safety information
18
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,
apply enough throttle to raise the skier.
Make smooth, wide turns. The watercraft is
capable of very sharp turns, which could
exceed the abilities of the skier. Keep the
skier at least 50 m (164 ft), about twice the
distance of a standard ski rope, from any
potential 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,
operate slowly and cautiously.
EJU30971
Safe boating rules
Your Yamaha watercraft is legally considered
a powerboat. Operation of the watercraft
must be in accordance with the rules and
regulations governing the waterway on which
it is used.
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Description
20
EJU40303
Watercraft glossary
Trolling speed
“Trolling” is the lowest maneuvering speed. You are applying little or no throttle. The water-
craft is down in the water, and there is no wake.
Sub-planing speed
“Sub-planing” is a medium speed. The bow of the watercraft is slightly up from the water sur-
face, but you are still traveling through the water. There is a wake.
Planing speed
“Planing” is a faster speed. The watercraft is more level and is skimming on top of the water.
There is a wake.
Bow
The front end of the watercraft.
Stern
The rear end of the watercraft.
Starboard
The right side of the watercraft when facing forward.
Port
The left side of the watercraft when facing forward.
Bilge water
Water that has collected in the engine compartment.
Yamaha Engine Management System (YEMS) YEMS is an integrated, computerized management system that controls and adjusts ignition
timing, fuel injection, engine diagnostics, and the off-throttle steering (OTS) system.
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Control function operation
28
will not start. Also, the starter motor could
be damaged.
[ECJ01041]
The engine will not start under any of the fol-
lowing conditions:
Lock mode of the Yamaha Security System
has been selected. (See page 26 for
Yamaha Security System setting proce- dures.)
Clip is removed from the engine shut-off
switch.
Throttle lever is squeezed.EJU31212Throttle lever
The throttle lever increases the engine speed
when the lever is squeezed.
The throttle lever returns automatically to its
fully closed (idle) position when released.
EJU31262Steering system
By turning the handlebars in the direction you
wish to travel, the angle of the jet thrust noz-
zle is changed, and the direction of the water-
craft is changed accordingly.
Since the strength of the jet thrust determines
the speed and degree of a turn, throttle must
always be applied when attempting a turn,
except at trolling speed.
This model is equipped with the Yamaha En-
gine Management System (YEMS) that in-
cludes an off-throttle steering (OTS) system.
It will activate at planing speeds should you
attempt to steer the watercraft after releasing
the throttle lever. The OTS system assists in
turning by continuing to supply some thrust
while the watercraft is decelerating, but you
can turn more sharply if you apply throttle
while turning the handlebars. The OTS sys-
tem does not function below planing speeds
or when the engine is off. Once the engine
slows down, the watercraft will no longer turn
1 Start switch
1 Throttle lever
START
1
1
1Handlebar
2 Jet thrust nozzle
2
1
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Pre-operation checks
50
EJU31982
WARNING
EWJ00412
Failure to inspect or maintain the watercraft properly increases the possibility of an ac-
cident or damage to the watercraft. Do not operate the watercraft if you find any prob-
lem. If a problem cannot be corrected by the procedures provided in this manual, have
the watercraft inspected by a Yamaha dealer.
EJU41233Pre-operation checklist
Before using this watercraft, be sure to perform the checks in the following checklist.
ITEMROUTINEPAGE
PRE-LAUNCH CHECKS
Engine compartment Ventilate the engine compartment.
Check inside the engine compartment for damage.
52
Fuel system Check the fuel system for leakage.
Check the fuel level in the fuel tank.
52
Water separator Check the water separator for water. 52
Engine unit Check the exterior of the engine unit for damage. 52
Engine oil level Check the engine oil level. 52
Bilge water Check the engine compartment for bilge water. 53
Battery Check the battery connections and electrolyte level. 53
Steering system Check the steering system for proper operation. 53
Reverse system Check the reverse system for proper operation. 54
Throttle lever Check the throttle lever for proper operation.
Check the throttle lever free play.
55
Remote control transmitter Check the remote control transmitter for proper op-
eration.
55
Engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) Check the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) for dam-
age.
55
Switches Check the start switch, engine stop switch, and en-
gine shut-off switch for proper operation.
56
Storage compartments Check the storage compartments for damage and
water.
56
Fire extinguisher holder,
cover, and band Check the fire extinguisher holder, cover, and band
for damage.
56
Fire extinguisher Check the condition of the fire extinguisher. 57
Safety equipment Check that safety equipment meeting the applica-
ble regulations is on board.
57
Hull and deck Check the hull and deck for damage. 57
Jet intake Check the jet intake for damage and clogging. 57
Stern drain plugs Check the stern drain plugs for damage and foreign
material and check that they are securely installed.
57
Hood Check that the hood is securely closed. 58
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Pre-operation checks
53
the dipstick. (See page 45 for information on
checking the engine oil level.)
EJU32456Bilge water check
Make sure that no bilge water has collected in
the engine compartment. If bilge water has
collected in the engine compartment, drain it.
(See page 47 for information on draining the
bilge water.)
EJU32485Battery checks
Make sure that the battery terminals and
breather hose are not damaged and that the
battery leads and breather hose are connect-
ed properly. WARNING! Fire or explosion
could result if the breather hose is dam- aged, obstructed, or not connected prop-
erly.
[EWJ00452]
Make sure that the electrolyte level is be-
tween the minimum and maximum level
marks.
WARNING! Never operate the wa-
tercraft if the battery does not have suffi-
cient power to start the engine or if it
shows any other signs of decreased pow-
er. Loss of battery power may leave you
stranded.
[EWJ01241]
Make sure that the battery is securely held in
place.
EJU32614Steering system checks
Turn the handlebars to the right and left sev-
eral times to make sure that operation is
smooth and unrestricted throughout the
1 Dipstick
1 Maximum level mark
2 Minimum level mark
1
2
1
1Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
2 Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
3 Breather hose
1 Maximum level mark
2 Minimum level mark
1 2
3
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