2016 YAMAHA VIKING steering

6-6
6
TIPWhen the knob is set to “DIFF LOCK” or “4WD”, the differential gear lock indicator and indica-
tor light will flash until the differential gear is completely locked or unlocked.
 When the indicator and indicator light are flas hing, 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 indicator
and indicator light are flashing) will cause the vehicle speed to be limited until the differential
gear is completely engaged or disengaged. UB427AE0.book Page 6 Monday, May 18, 2015 9:17 AM

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Seat and shoulder bolsters
The seats and shoulder bolsters are designed
to help keep you in the vehicle. Do not put
your hand or arm on or outside of the shoul-
der bolster during operation. Your hand or
arm may be struck by objects or crushed
against outside objects or the ground during
a rollover.Floorboard
The floorboard allows you to brace your feet,
which helps you keep your body in the vehicle
in the event of an accident or rollover. Keep
your feet on the floorboard during operation.
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-1. Wire loop
1
UB427AE0.book Page 10 Monday, May 18, 2015 9:17 AM

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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
steering 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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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 vehicles. Practice controlling the accel-
erator pedal, brakes, steering, and drive se-
lect lever. Drive at slow speeds with gradual
acceleration and turning. Practice smooth
throttle application. Practice slowing down
before turning. Practice maintaining a steady
throttle through the turn. Avoid higher speeds
until you are thoroughly familiar with the oper-
ation of your vehicle. Remember, driving ag-
gressively 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 differen-
tial locked “DIFF LOCK”. Steering may take
more effort in four-wheel drive with the differ-
ential locked “DIFF LOCK”. Also practice
driving in reverse.
Take the time to learn basic operation of the
vehicle before attempting more difficult ma-
neuvers.UB427AE0.book Page 13 Monday, May 18, 2015 9:17 AM

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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 stand-
still or at slow speeds, avoid sudden or hard
acceleration. Driving aggressively or making
abrupt maneuvers even on flat, open areas
can cause side rollovers. Avoid sideways slid-
ing, skidding, or back-wheel sliding, and nev-
er do donuts. If you feel the Viking begin to
slide sideways or the back wheels slide dur-
ing a turn, steer into the direction of the slide,
if possible, and gradually let off the accelera-
tor pedal 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.If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or
roll, keep your body completely inside the
protective 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.
[ECB02160]
Press the
accelerator pedal slowly and smoothly. The
centrifugal clutch will engage and the vehicle
will begin to accelerate.
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Your Yamaha Viking has higher ground clear-
ance and other features to handle rugged ter-
rain, and as a result, can overturn in situations
where some vehicles may not. Abrupt ma-
neuvers or aggressive driving can cause loss
of control, including rollovers – even on flat,
open areas. These rollovers can result in
crushed limbs and other serious injuries or
death to drivers or passengers.
Hills
Choose carefully which hills you attempt to
climb or descend. Avoid hills with slippery
surfaces or those where you will not be ableto see far enough ahead of you. Use common
sense and remember that some hills are too
steep for you to climb or descend. Use proper
driving techniques to avoid rearward, for-
ward, or sideways rollovers on hills and
slopes.
Drive straight up and down inclines, not
across them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable,
drive slowly. Turn downhill immediately if you
feel the vehicle may tip.
If you think or feel the vehicle may tip or
roll:

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.
Uphill
Do not attempt to climb hills until you have
mastered basic maneuvers on flat ground.
Drive straight up hills, and avoid crossing theUB427AE0.book Page 17 Monday, May 18, 2015 9:17 AM

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8*Parking brake • Check operation and free play/brake pad
wear.
• Correct if necessary. Replace pads if worn to the limit. √√√√√
9 *Brake fluid • Change. Every 2 years
10 *Accelerator pedal • Check operation and free play. √√√√√
11 *V-b e l t • Check operation.
• Check for wear, cracks, or damage. √√
√
12 *Wheels • Check balance/damage/runout.
• Repair if necessary. √√√√
13 *Wheel bearings • Check bearing assemblies for loose-
ness/damage.
• Replace if damaged. √√√√
14 *Front and rear
suspension • Check operation and for leakage.
• Correct if necessary.
√√
15 *Steering system • Check operation and for looseness/Replace
if damaged.
• Check toe-in/Adjust if necessary. √√√√√
16 *Stabilizer bushes • Check for cracks or other damage, and re-
place if necessary. √√√
NO. ITEM
ROUTINE INITIAL
EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month 1 3 6 6 12
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1200
(750) 2400
(1500) 2400
(1500) 4800
(3000)
hours 20 75 150 150 300
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EBU32600Steering shaft lubricationLubricate the pivot points.
EBU32610Wheel removal1. Loosen the wheel nuts.
2. Elevate the vehicle and place a suitablestand under the frame.
3. Remove the nuts from the wheel.
4. Remove the wheel.
Recommended lubricant: Lithium-soap-based grease
Recommended lubricant: Lithium-soap-based grease
UB427AE0.book Page 39 Monday, May 18, 2015 9:17 AM