2017 YAMAHA VIKING wheel

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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.EBU31830Fittings 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.EBU31840Instruments, lights and switchesCheck that all instruments, lights and switch-
es are working properly. Correct if necessary.
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EBU31921On-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 differen t 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 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. UB427BE0.book Page 6 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 PM

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EBU31950
BASIC GUIDE FOR SAFE USE
EBU31961As a Viking owner you are responsible for the
safe and proper operation of this vehicle.
Read this chapter and review the safety in-
structions in Chapter 2 before operating the
vehicle. Use these chapters and the labels on
the vehicle to instruct new operators and pas-
sengers. Do not allow anyone else to operate
the vehicle or ride as a passenger if you are
unsure that he/she is willing and able to follow
these instructions.
WARNING
EWB03340Follow these instructions to reduce your
risk of an accident and to reduce the risk
of serious injury or death in the event of an
accident.
EBU33311KNOW YOUR VEHICLEThis off-road vehicle will handle and maneuver
differently from cars, ATVs, go-carts, golf-cars
and grounds-keeping vehicles. The Viking has
higher ground clearance and other features to
handle rugged terrain, and, as a result, can
overturn in situations where some vehicles
may not. This would include vehicles made
primarily for pavement, roads, improved
paths, or grounds-keeping. If you do not use
care in maneuvering the Viking, you can cause
it to roll over even on flat, open areas.
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
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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
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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 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. 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.UB427BE0.book Page 13 Friday, February 5, 2016 2:14 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 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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