2020 YAMAHA VX-C maintenance

Important manual information
EJU30193
To the owner/operator
Thank you for choosing a Yamaha watercraft.
This owner’s/operator’s manual contains in-
formation you will need for proper operation,
maintenance, and care. If you have any ques-
tions about the operation or maintenance of
your watercraft, please consult a Yamaha
dealer.
This manual is not a course on boating safety
or seamanship. If this is your first watercraft,
or if you are changing to a type of watercraft
you are not familiar with, for your own com-
fort and safety, please ensure that you obtain
proper training or practice before operating
the watercraft by yourself. In addition, a
Yamaha dealer or boating organization will be
pleased to recommend local sea schools, or
competent instructors.
In this manual, information of particular im-
portance is distinguished in the following
ways:
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used
to alert you to potential personal injury haz-
ards. Obey all safety messages that follow
this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
WARNING
EWJ00072
A WARNING indicates a hazardous situa-
tion which, if not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE
ECJ00092
A NOTICE indicates special precautions
that must be taken to avoid damage to the
watercraft or other property.
TIP:
A TIP provides key information to make pro-
cedures easier or clearer.
EJU45451
Engine data recording
This model’s ECM stores certain engine data
to assist in the diagnosis of malfunctions and
for research, statistical analysis and develop-
ment purposes.
Although the sensors and recorded data will
vary by model, the main data points are:
Engine status and engine performance
data
This data will be uploaded only when a spe-
cial Yamaha diagnostic tool is attached to the
engine, such as when maintenance checks or
service procedures are performed. Engine
data uploaded will be handled appropriately
according to the following Privacy Policy.
Privacy Policy
Yamaha will not disclose this data to a third
party except in the following cases. In addi-
tion, Yamaha may provide engine data to a
contractor in order to outsource services re-
lated to the handling of the engine data. Even
in this case, Yamaha will require the contrac-
tor to properly handle the engine data we
provided and Yamaha will appropriately
manage the data.
With the consent of the boat owner
Where obligated by law
For use by Yamaha in litigation
For general Yamaha-conducted research
purposes when the data is not related to an
individual engine or owner
https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/eu/
privacy/privacy-policy.aspx
UF4G74E0.book Page 2 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM

Table of contents
Draining the bilge water ................ 55
Draining the bilge water on land ...... 55
Draining the bilge water on water .... 55
Transporting on a trailer ................ 56
First-time operation ........................ 57
Engine break-in ............................. 57
Pre-operation checks ..................... 58
Pre-operation checklist .................... 58
Pre-operation check points........... 60
Pre-launch checks ........................... 60
Post-launch checks ......................... 66
Operation ......................................... 68
Operating your watercraft ............. 68
Getting to know your watercraft ...... 68
Learning to operate your
watercraft ...................................... 68
Riding position ................................. 69
Launching the watercraft ................. 69
Starting the engine on water ............ 69
Stopping the engine ......................... 70
Leaving the watercraft...................... 70
Operating the watercraft .................. 70
Turning the watercraft ...................... 71
Stopping the watercraft ................... 73
Operating the watercraft in reverse
or neutral (VX / VX Deluxe /
VX Cruiser / VX Limited)................ 74
Boarding the watercraft ................... 74
Starting off........................................ 77
Capsized watercraft ......................... 78
Beaching and docking the
watercraft ...................................... 78
Operating in weeded areas .............. 79
After removing the watercraft from
the water ....................................... 80
Care and storage............................. 81
Post-operation care ...................... 81
Flushing the cooling water
passages....................................... 81
Cleaning the watercraft .................... 82Battery care ...................................... 82
Long-term storage ........................ 85
Cleaning ........................................... 85
Lubrication ....................................... 85
Rustproofing ..................................... 85
Maintenance .................................... 87
Maintenance ................................. 87
Periodic maintenance chart ............. 88
Engine oil and oil filter ...................... 90
Specifications .................................. 91
Specifications ............................... 91
Trouble recovery ............................. 92
Troubleshooting ............................ 92
Troubleshooting chart ...................... 92
Emergency procedures ................ 95
Cleaning the jet intake and
impeller ......................................... 95
Raising the reverse gate (VX /
VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser /
VX Limited) .................................... 96
Jumping the battery ......................... 96
Towing the watercraft....................... 97
Submerged watercraft ..................... 97
Index................................................. 99
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Safety information
19
EJU30992
Enjoy your watercraft
responsibly
You share the areas you enjoy when riding
your watercraft with others and with nature.
So your enjoyment includes a responsibility
to treat these other people, and the lands,
waters, and wildlife with respect and courte-
sy.
Whenever and wherever you ride, think of
yourself as the guest of those around you.
Remember, for example, that the sound of
your watercraft may be music to you, but it
could be just noise to others. And the exciting
splash of your wake can make waves others
won’t enjoy.
Avoid riding close to shoreline homes and
waterfowl nesting areas or other wildlife ar-
eas, and keep a respectful distance from fish-
ermen, other boats, swimmers, and
populated beaches. When travel in areas like
these is unavoidable, ride slowly and obey all
laws.
Proper maintenance is necessary to ensure
that the exhaust emission and sound levels of
your watercraft will continue to be within reg-
ulated limits. You have the responsibility to
make sure that the recommended mainte-
nance in this owner’s/operator’s manual is
carried out.
Remember, pollution can be harmful to the
environment. Do not refuel or add oil where a
spill could cause damage to nature. Remove
your watercraft from the water and move it
away from the shoreline before refueling. Dis-
pose of water and any fuel and oil residue in
the engine compartment according to local
regulations. And keep your surroundings
pleasant for the people and wildlife that share
the waterways: don’t litter.When you ride responsibly, with respect and
courtesy for others, you help ensure that our
waterways stay open for the enjoyment of a
variety of recreational opportunities.
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Care and storage
85
EJU33493
Long-term storage
WARNING
EWJ00331
Always place the watercraft upright in a
horizontal position when storing it, other-
wise fuel could leak out into the engine or
engine compartment, which could create
a fire hazard.
Storage for long periods of time, such as win-
ter storage, requires preventive maintenance
to ensure against deterioration. It is advisable
to have the watercraft serviced by a Yamaha
dealer prior to storage.
However, the following procedures can be
performed easily by the owner.
EJU40763Cleaning
(1) Flush the cooling water passages. (See
page 81 for information on flushing the
cooling water passages.)
TIP:
If you will be storing the watercraft for a pro-
longed period, such as winter storage, top off
the fuel tank with fresh gasoline and add fuel
stabilizer and conditioner to the fuel tank ac-
cording to the manufacturer’s instruction be-
fore starting the engine.
(2) Clean the watercraft. (See page 82 for in-
formation on cleaning the watercraft.)
Wax the hull with a non-abrasive wax.
EJU43663Lubrication
To keep moving parts sliding or rotating
smoothly, lubricate them with water-resistant
grease.
Steering cable (jet thrust nozzle end)
VX / VX Deluxe / VX Cruiser / VX Limited:
Shift rod (reverse gate end) and ball joint
TIP:
Disconnect the shift rod from the ball joint be-
fore lubricating.
EJU44140Rustproofing
Rustproofing the hull, deck, and engine
Spray metallic parts of the hull, deck, and en-
gine with a rust inhibitor.
Rustproofing the internal engine compo-
nents
Rustproof the internal engine components
with a rust inhibitor.
To rustproof the internal engine components:
(1) Remove the seats. (See page 43 for seat
removal and installation procedures.)
(2) Release the hooks on the port side of the
air filter case, and then lift up the air filter
case cover. NOTICE: Do not lift up the
air filter case cover forcefully. Other- Recommended water-resistant grease:
YAMALUBE MARINE GREASE /
Ya m a h a G r e a s e A
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Maintenance
87
EJU33769
Maintenance
Periodic checks and lubrication will keep
your watercraft in the safest and most effi-
cient condition possible. Therefore, make
sure to carry out the periodic maintenance.
Safety is an obligation of the watercraft own-
er. Proper maintenance must be carried out
to keep the exhaust emission and sound lev-
els within the regulated limits. The most im-
portant points of watercraft inspection and
lubrication are explained on the following pa-
ges.
See a Yamaha dealer for genuine Yamaha re-
placement parts and optional accessories
designed for your watercraft.
Remember, failures that are the result of the
installation of parts or accessories which are
not qualitatively equivalent to genuine
Yamaha parts are not covered by the limited
warranty.
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and system
may be performed by any marine SI engine
repair establishment or individual. War-
ranty repair, however, must be performed
at an authorized Yamaha marine dealer-
ship.
WARNING
EWJ00312
Be sure to turn off the engine when you
perform maintenance unless otherwise
specified. If you are not familiar with ma-
chine servicing, this work should be done
by a Yamaha dealer or other qualified me-
chanic.
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Maintenance
88
EJU43101Periodic maintenance chart
The periodic maintenance chart gives general guidelines for periodic maintenance. Have a
Yamaha dealer perform the checks in the following chart. However, maintenance may need
to be performed more frequently depending on your operating conditions. If you have any
questions, consult a Yamaha dealer.
This “√” mark indicates items to be checked and serviced by a Yamaha dealer.
Item OperationInitial Thereafter every
Page
10 hours50 hours
or 12
months
*1100
hours or
12
months
*1200
hours or
24
months
*1
Fuel lineCheck fuel hoses and
clamps√—
Fuel filler cap/Wa-
ter separatorCheck O-rings for cracks
and deformation√—
Fuel tankCheck installation and
straps√—
Water inlet strainerCheck for clogs and dam-
age√—
Cooling water hos-
esCheck for damage and
leakage, and check
clamps√—
Engine oilReplace√√90
Oil filterReplace√90
Intermediate hous-
ingLubricate√—
Spark plugsCheck√√—
BatteryCheck state of charge,
terminals, bands, and
breather hose√—
Battery leadsCheck terminals√—
Steering masterCheck operation and for
looseness√√—
Steering cableCheck exterior and con-
nections, and lubricate√—
Shift rod and re-
verse gate (VX /
VX Deluxe /
VX Cruiser / VX
Limited)Check exterior and con-
nections, and lubricate√—
Air filter elementCheck for damage and
dirt√—
Air intake hosesCheck for damage, and
check clamps√—
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Maintenance
89
*1: Whichever comes first.
*2: Check every 200 hours.
Perform the pre-operation checks and post-operation checks before performing periodic
maintenance.
Throttle bodyLubricate throttle valve√—
Exhaust systemCheck for exhaust leak-
age, and check hoses and
clamps√—
Breather hoseCheck breather hose and
clamps√—
ImpellerCheck for bends, dam-
age, and foreign material√—
Jet thrust nozzleCheck movement, and lu-
bricate√—
Jet vacuum bilgeCheck hoses for clogs
and damage, check
clamps, and clean bilge
strainer√—
Stern drain plugsCheck O-rings√—
AnodeCheck for corrosion, and
clean√ *2 —
Valve clearanceCheck and adjust√ *2 —
Rubber couplingCheck for cracks, inden-
tations, looseness, and
noise√—
Engine mountCheck for damage and
peeling√— Item OperationInitial Thereafter every
Page
10 hours50 hours
or 12
months
*1100
hours or
12
months
*1200
hours or
24
months
*1
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Maintenance
90
EJU36943Engine oil and oil filter
WARNING
EWJ00341
Engine oil is extremely hot immediately af-
ter the engine is turned off. Coming in con-
tact with or getting any engine oil on your
clothes could result in burns.
NOTICE
ECJ00992
Do not run the engine with too much or not
enough oil in the engine, otherwise the en-
gine could be damaged.
It is recommended to have a Yamaha dealer
change the engine oil and the engine oil filter.
However, if you choose to change the oil and
filter on your own, consult a Yamaha dealer.
UF4G74E0.book Page 90 Tuesday, July 16, 2019 10:27 AM