2016 YAMAHA VIKING VI steering

4-13
4
EBU34750Parking brake leverThe parking brake lever is located at the right
side of the steering wheel. Setting the parking
brake lever will help keep the vehicle from
moving while parked.
To set the parking brake, pull the lever rear-
ward completely.
To release the parking brake, pull rearward on
the lever, press the release button, and then
push the lever all the way forward.
TIPSpring tension helps return the lever to the
released position.
 If you drive the vehicle with the parking
brake engaged, a buzzer will sound.
1. Brake pedal
1
1. Parking brake lever
2. Release button
12
UB857AE0.book Page 13 Monday, August 24, 2015 8:59 AM

5-2
5
Coolant• Check coolant level in reservoir.
• Fill with coolant if necessary.
5-6, 8-20
Final gear oil/Differen-
tial gear oil • Check for leakage. 5-6, 5-6, 8-16, 8-18
Accelerator pedal • Check for proper accelerator pedal operation. 5-7
Seat belts • Check for proper operation and belt wear. 5-7
Passenger handhold • Check for stability and proper fastening. 5-7, 7-9
Steering • Check for proper operation. 5-7
Fittings and fasteners • Check all fittings and fasteners. 5-8
Instruments, lights and
switches • Check operation, and correct if necessary. 5-8, 8-53, 8-55, 8-56
Wheels and tires • Check tire pressure and for wear and damage. 5-8, 8-43, 8-45
Axle boots • Check for damage. 8-25
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
UB857AE0.book Page 2 Monday, August 24, 2015 8:59 AM

5-7
5
EBU31790Accelerator pedalCheck to see that the accelerator pedal oper-
ates correctly. It must operate smoothly and
spring back to the idle position fully when re-
leased. Have a Yamaha dealer repair as nec-
essary for proper operation.EBU31800Seat beltsMake sure that the seat belts are not frayed,
torn, stretched, or damaged. The seat belts
must move smoothly when pulled out and re-
tract on its own when released. The seat belts
must also lock up when quickly pulled out.
The latch plate should click securely into the
buckle and release when the release button is
pushed firmly. Wash off any dirt or mud that
could affect operation. Have a Yamaha dealer
repair as necessary for proper operation.
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.
EBU31810Passenger handholdCheck that the handhold bar and its supports
are in good condition. Confirm that the lock-
ing pins are securely fastened, and then push
and pull on the handhold to make sure that it
is not loose.EBU31820SteeringPark 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.
UB857AE0.book Page 7 Monday, August 24, 2015 8:59 AM

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 flashi ng, 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. UB857AE0.book Page 6 Monday, August 24, 2015 8:59 AM

7-12
7
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 VI 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
steering wheel. Grip the steering wheel so
that your thumbs will not be hit by the spokes.
As an example, see the illustration.
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7-14
7
Approved motorcycle helmet that fits prop-
erly
 Eye protection (goggles, helmet face shield,
or protective eyewear)
 Over-the-ankle boots, gloves, long-sleeved
shirt or jacket, and long pants
An approved helmet and other personal pro-
tective equipment can help in a variety of
ways, including:
 Reduce the severity of injuries if any part of
you is outside the vehicle cage/frame pro-
tective structure during a rollover.
 Help protect you if outside objects intrude
inside the vehicle during operation.
 Help protect you in the event of vehicle im-
pact with an obstacle.
Wear eye protection when operating or riding
the vehicle to reduce the risk of a serious ac-
cident or injury. Eye pr otection, 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 VI users
You should become familiar with the perfor-
mance characteristics of the vehicle in a lar-
ge, flat area that is free of obstacles and other
vehicles. 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.UB857AE0.book Page 14 Monday, August 24, 2015 8:59 AM

7-15
7
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.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 – tu
rning 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 VI 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.UB857AE0.book Page 15 Monday, August 24, 2015 8:59 AM

7-16
7
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. 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.
Braking
When slowing down or stopping, take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal smoothly. Improper use of the
brakes can cause the tires to lose traction, re-
ducing control of the vehicle and increasing
the possibility of an accident.
Braking ability is affected by type of terrain. In
most cases, gradual application of the brakes
is more effective than abrupt braking, partic-
ularly on loose surfaces
, such as gravel. Al-
ways allow for greater braking distance on
rough, loose, or slippery surfaces.
Engine braking
Engine compression braking is designed to
assist you when operating your Viking VI off-
road. With this feature, the engine helps slow
UB857AE0.book Page 16 Monday, August 24, 2015 8:59 AM