2018 YAMAHA VX Owners Manual

Pre-operation checks
59
TIP:
To ensure safety and reliability, pre-operation checks should be made each time the water-
craft is used.
Stern drain plugsCheck the stern drain plugs for damage and foreign
material and check that they are securely installed.65
HoodCheck that the hood is securely closed. 66
Front and rear seatsCheck that the seats are securely installed. 43
POST-LAUNCH CHECKS
Cooling water pilot outletCheck that water is discharged from the cooling
water pilot outlet while the engine is running.66
Multifunction information
centerCheck the multifunction information center for prop-
er operation.66
Shift system Check the shift system for proper operation. 66
Engine idling speedCheck the engine idling speed. 67 ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
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Pre-operation checks
60
EJU32282
Pre-operation check pointsEJU42383Pre-launch checks
Perform the pre-launch checks in the pre-op-
eration checklist while the watercraft is on
land.
To perform the pre-launch checks:
(1) Remove the seats and removable water-
tight storage compartment. (See page 43
for seat removal and installation proce-
dures and page 48 for information on the
removable watertight storage compart-
ment.)
(2) Perform the checks and make sure that
there are no malfunctioning items or oth-
er problems.
(3) After completing these checks, securely
install the removable watertight storage
compartment and seats in their original
positions.
EJU32334Engine compartment check
WARNING
EWJ00462
Failure to ventilate the engine compart-
ment could result in a fire or explosion. Do
not start the engine if there is a fuel leak.
Ventilate the engine compartment. Leave the
engine compartment open for a few minutes
to allow any fuel vapors to escape.Make sure that there is no damage inside the
engine compartment.
EJU34215Fuel system checks
WARNING
EWJ00382
Leaking fuel can result in fire or explosion.
Check for fuel leakage regularly.
If any fuel leakage is found, the fuel sys-
tem must be repaired by a qualified me-
chanic. Improper repairs can make the
watercraft unsafe to operate.
Make sure that there is no damage, leakage,
or other problem in the fuel system.
Check:
Fuel filler cap and seal for damage
Fuel tank for damage and leakage
Fuel hoses and joints for damage and leak-
age
Fuel tank breather hose for damage and
leakage
EJU36875Fuel level check
Check the fuel level in the fuel tank.
Add fuel if necessary. (See page 50 for infor-
mation on filling the fuel tank.)
EJU32424Water separator check
Make sure that no water has collected in the
water separator. If water has collected in the
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Pre-operation checks
61
water separator, drain it. (See page 29 for in-
formation on draining the water separator.)
EJU40182Engine unit check
Check the exterior of the engine unit for dam-
age or other problem.
EJU41561Engine oil level check
Make sure that the engine oil level is between
the minimum and maximum level marks on
the dipstick attached to the oil tank filler cap.(See page 53 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 54 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-
1Water separator
1
1Oil tank filler cap/Dipstick
1Dipstick
2Maximum level mark
3Minimum level mark
1
FL
213
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Pre-operation checks
62
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 thewhole range, and that the free play is not ex-
cessive.
Turn the handlebars as far as possible to the
right and left to make sure that the jet thrust
nozzle moves as the handlebars are turned,
and that there is no difference between the
1Negative (–) battery terminal: Black lead
2Positive (+) battery terminal: Red lead
3Breather hose
1Maximum level mark
2Minimum level mark
1
32
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Pre-operation checks
63
right and left fully turned positions of the jet
thrust nozzle.
EJU43213RiDE lever checks
Operate the RiDE lever several times to make
sure that operation is smooth throughout the
whole range. Also, make sure that the RiDElever returns automatically to its fully closed
position when released.
EJU42181Throttle lever checks
Operate the throttle lever several times to
make sure that operation is smooth through-
out the whole range. Also, make sure that the
throttle lever returns automatically to its fully
closed (idle) position when released.
EJU40113Remote control transmitter check
(VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited)
Make sure that the remote control transmitter
operates properly. (See page 26 for Yamaha
Security System setting procedures and
page 33 for Low RPM Mode activation pro-
cedures.)
EJU32664Engine shut-off cord (lanyard) check
Make sure that the engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) is not damaged. If the cord is damaged,
replace it. WARNING! Never try to repair
the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) or tie it Difference between fully turned posi-
tions of jet thrust nozzle (distances A
and B):
Maximum 5 mm (0.20 in)
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Pre-operation checks
64
together. The engine shut-off cord (lan-
yard) may not pull free when the operator
falls off, allowing the watercraft to conti-
nue to run and cause an accident.
[EWJ01221]
EJU32676
Switch checks
NOTICE
ECJ01311
Do not run the engine over 4000 r/min on
land. Also, do not run the engine for more
than 15 seconds without supplying water,
otherwise the engine could overheat.
Check the start switch, the engine stop
switch, and the engine shut-off switch for
proper operation. (See pages 27 to 27 for in-
formation on operating each switch.)To check the operation of the switches:
(1) VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited: If
the lock mode is selected for the
Yamaha Security System setting, select
the unlock mode. (See page 26 for
Yamaha Security System setting proce-
dures.)
(2) Push the start switch to make sure that
the engine starts.
(3) As soon as the engine starts running,
push the engine stop switch to make
sure that the engine stops immediately.
(4) Restart the engine, and then pull the en-
gine shut-off cord (lanyard) to remove
the clip from the engine shut-off switch
to make sure that the engine stops im-
mediately.
EJU40102Storage compartment checks
Make sure that the storage compartments
are not damaged and that water has not col-
lected in the compartments. (See page 46 for
information on the storage compartments.)
EJU43800Fire extinguisher holder, cover, and band
checks
Make sure that the fire extinguisher holder,
cover, and band are not damaged and that
the fire extinguisher is securely held in place
using the band. (See page 48 for information
on the fire extinguisher holder, cover, and
band.)
1Start switch
2Engine stop switch
3Engine shut-off switch
4Clip
5Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
1
3
4
25
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Pre-operation checks
65
EJU32544Fire extinguisher check
Check that there is a full fire extinguisher on
board.
To check the fire extinguisher, see the in-
structions supplied by the fire extinguisher
manufacturer. Always keep the fire extin-
guisher secured in the holder with its cover in
place.
Always carry a fire extinguisher on board. A
fire extinguisher is not standard equipment
with this watercraft. If you do not have one,
contact a Yamaha dealer or a fire extinguish-
er dealer to obtain one meeting the proper
specifications.
EJU40122Safety equipment check
Check that safety equipment meeting the ap-
plicable regulations is on board.
EJU32353Hull and deck check
Check the hull and deck for damage or other
problem.
EJU32657Jet intake checks
Make sure that the jet intake is not damaged
or clogged with weeds or debris. If the jet in-
take is clogged, clean it. (See page 94 for in-
formation on the jet intake.)
EJU43221Jet thrust nozzle and reverse gate check
Check the jet thrust nozzle and reverse gate
for damage or other problem.
EJU44250Stern drain plug checks
Loosen the stern drain plugs and remove
them, and then make sure that the plugs and
O-rings on the plugs are not damaged and
that there is no foreign material on the
threads or O-rings on the plugs. NOTICE:
Before installing the stern drain plugs,
clean the drain plug threads and the O-
rings on the plugs to remove any foreign
materials, such as dirt or sand. Otherwise,
the stern drain plugs could be damaged,
allowing water to enter the engine com-
partment. Check the O-rings on the stern
drain plugs and make sure that the plugs
are tightened securely before launching
the watercraft. Otherwise, water may
flood the engine compartment and cause
the watercraft to submerge.
[ECJ00363]
1Stern drain plug
2O-ring
2
1
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Pre-operation checks
66
Securely install the stern drain plugs by tight-
ening them until they stop.
EJU43810Hood check
Push down the hood latch and make sure
that it is securely closed.
EJU40146Post-launch checks
Perform the post-launch checks in the pre-
operation checklist while the watercraft is in
the water and the engine is running.
To perform the post-launch checks:
(1) Launch the watercraft. (See page 69 for
information on launching the watercraft.)
(2) Perform the checks and make sure that
there are no malfunctioning items or oth-
er problems.
EJU40553Cooling water pilot outlet check
Make sure that water is discharged from the
cooling water pilot outlet while the engine isrunning. (See page 29 for information on the
cooling water pilot outlet.)
EJU32715Multifunction information center check
Make sure that the multifunction information
center operates properly. (See page 38 for in-
formation on proper operation of the multi-
function information center.)
EJU43392Shift system check
Operate the throttle lever and RiDE lever, and
check that the watercraft moves or does not
move according to the displayed shift indica-
tor. (See page 31 for shift system operation
procedures.) WARNING! To avoid colli-
sions, operate at safe speeds and keep a
1Stern drain plug
1
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