2015 YAMAHA VIKING wheel

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A crash can damage the restraint systems in
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or death in a crash.
To help make sure your restraint systems are
working properly after a crash, have them in-
spected and any necessary replacements
made as soon as possible.Passenger handholdCheck that the handhold bar and its supports
are in good condition. Confirm that the locking
pins are securely fastened, and then push
and pull on the handhold to make sure that it
is not loose.EVU01230SteeringPark on level ground. Turn the steering wheel
right and left. Check for excessive free play,
abnormal noises, or a rough feeling. Have a
Yamaha dealer repair as necessary for proper operation.
EVU00470Fittings and fastenersAlways check the tightness of chassis fittings
and fasteners before a ride. Take the vehicle
to a Yamaha dealer or refer to the Service
Manual for correct tightening torque.Instruments, lights and switchesCheck that all instruments, lights and switches
are working properly. Correct if necessary.Control cablesWhen riding in cold weather, always make
sure all control cables work smoothly before
you begin riding. WARNING! Control cables
can freeze in cold weather and you could
be unable to control the vehicle.EVU00500TiresCheck tire pressure regularly to make sure it
is at the recommended specifications. Also
check for wear and damage.
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5B410009On-Command drive knobThe vehicle handles differently in each of the drive modes (“2WD”, “4WD” and “DIFF LOCK”). For
example, the vehicle requires more effort to turn in “DIFF LOCK” than in “2WD”. Always stop the
vehicle before changing the position of the On-Command drive knob. The meter display changes
according to the selected drive mode. The different drive indicators, and the differential gear lock
indicator light “DIFF. LOCK” come on as follows:Knob position Indication Drive mode
No indicator light. “2WD” (two-wheel drive): Power is supplied to the rear wheels.
“4WD” (four-wheel drive): Power is supplied to the rear and
front wheels.
“DIFF LOCK” (four-wheel drive with the differential gear
locked): Power is supplied to the rear and front wheels and
the differential gear is locked.
Unlike in four-wheel drive, all wheels turn at the same speed.
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TIP●
When the knob is set to “DIFF LOCK” or “4WD”, the differential gear lock indicator and indi-
cator light will flash until the differential gear is completely locked or unlocked.
●
When the indicator and indicator light are flashing, turning the steering wheel back and forth
will help the differential gear lock to engage or disengage.
●
Riding before the differential gear is properly engaged or disengaged (e.g., when the indica-
tor and indicator light are flashing) will cause the vehicle speed to be limited until the differ-
ential gear is completely engaged or disengaged.
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Doing things with a Viking that some people
do for thrills in other vehicles (such as side-
ways sliding, skidding, back-wheel sliding, or
donuts) have led to side rollovers. These roll-
overs can result in crushed limbs and other
serious injuries or death to drivers or passen-
gers.
As the owner/operator, it is your responsibility
to protect yourself and your passengers from
accidents, including rollovers. The Viking has
many features, including a protective struc-
ture and seat belts, to help protect occupants,
but the best way to avoid injuries is to avoid
accidents. There is a risk of injury or death in
any accident, even with these safety features.1XP7C_EE.book Page 2 Monday, June 9, 2014 5:17 PM

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Steering wheel
Keep both hands on the steering wheel. Do
not hold the steering wheel with your thumbs
inside the rim. Keep your palms on the out-
side of the steering wheel. Similar to other off-
road vehicles, if the Viking hits a deep rut or
large obstacle, the steering wheel could brief-
ly jerk in one direction or back and forth as the
tires and vehicle respond to the obstacle. This
quick motion could injure your thumbs or wrist
if your thumbs or hand(s) are inside the steer-
ing wheel. Grip the steering wheel so that
your thumbs will not be hit by the spokes. As
an example, see the illustration.
CORRECT GRIP EXAMPLE
INCORRECT GRIP EXAMPLE
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Wear eye protection when operating or riding
the vehicle to reduce the risk of a serious ac-
cident or injury. Eye protection, such as a face
shield or goggles, may reduce the risk of for-
eign material getting in your eyes and help
prevent loss of vision.
Practice for new Yamaha Viking users
You should become familiar with the perfor-
mance characteristics of the vehicle in a large,
flat area that is free of obstacles and other ve-
hicles. Practice controlling the accelerator
pedal, brakes, steering, and drive select lever.
Drive at slow speeds with gradual accelera-
tion and turning. Practice smooth throttle ap-
plication. Practice slowing down before
turning. Practice maintaining a steady throttle
through the turn. Avoid higher speeds until
you are thoroughly familiar with the operation
of your vehicle. Remember, driving aggres-
sively or making abrupt maneuvers even on
flat, open areas can cause side rollovers.Become familiar with the way the vehicle feels
in low and high ranges, first in two-wheel drive
“2WD” and then in four-wheel drive “4WD”
and four-wheel drive with the differential
locked “DIFF LOCK”. Steering may take more
effort in four-wheel drive with the differential
locked “DIFF LOCK”. Also practice driving in
reverse.
Take the time to learn basic operation of the
vehicle before attempting more difficult ma-
neuvers.1XP7C_EE.book Page 15 Monday, June 9, 2014 5:17 PM

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Getting ready to ride
Perform the Pre-Operation Checks on page
5-1. Follow the instructions starting on page
6-2 to start the engine. Turning
Use care in turns – turning the steering wheel
too far or too fast can result in loss of control
or a rollover. Slow down before entering turns.
When making tight turns from a standstill or at
slow speeds, avoid sudden or hard accelera-
tion. Driving aggressively or making abrupt
maneuvers even on flat, open areas can
cause side rollovers. Avoid sideways sliding,
skidding, or back-wheel sliding, and never do
donuts. If you feel the Viking begin to slide
sideways or the back wheels slide during a
turn, steer into the direction of the slide, if pos-
sible, and gradually let off the accelerator ped-
al to regain directional control and avoid
rollover. For example, if you feel the back of
the vehicle start to slide to your right, steer to
the right.1XP7C_EE.book Page 16 Monday, June 9, 2014 5:17 PM

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If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or
roll, keep your body completely inside the pro-
tective structure of the vehicle:●
Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly
on the floorboard and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or passenger handhold.
●
Do not put your hands or feet outside of the
vehicle for any reason. Do not try to stop a
tipover using your arm or leg.Accelerating
With the engine idling in neutral and your foot
on the brake, shift the drive select lever into
low or high.
NOTICE: Do not shift from low
to high or vice versa without coming to a
complete stop and waiting for the engine
to return to normal idle speed – damage to
the engine or drive train may occur. Then
release the parking brake. Press the accel-
erator pedal slowly and smoothly. The centrif-
ugal clutch will engage and the vehicle will
begin to accelerate.
Avoid higher speeds and sudden or hard ac-
celeration until you are thoroughly familiar
with the operation of your vehicle. Avoid sud-
den or hard acceleration in any turn.
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