Yamaha VF115 User manual

Read this manual carefully before operating this
outboard motor.
OWNER’S MANUAL
VF115
LIT-18626-10-76
6FN-28199-30-E0
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©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.

ZMU07696
Les gaz d’échappement du moteur de ce produit
contiennent des substances chimiques connues
dans l’État de Californie pour provoquer le cancer,
des anomalies congénitales et des troubles de la
reproduction.
Read this manual carefully before operating this outboard motor. Keep this
manual onboard in a waterproof bag when boating. This manual should stay
with the outboard motor if it is sold.
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©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.

Important manual information
EMU44141
To the owner
Thank you for selecting a Yamaha outboard
motor. This Owner’s Manual contains infor-
mation needed for proper operation, mainte-
nance and care. A thorough understanding of
these simple instructions will help you obtain
maximum enjoyment from your new Yamaha.
If you have any question about the operation
or maintenance of your outboard motor,
please consult a Yamaha dealer.
In this Owner’s Manual particularly important
information 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
EWM00782
A WARNING indicates a hazardous situa-
tion which, if not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE
ECM00702
A NOTICE indicates special precautions
that must be taken to avoid damage to the
outboard motor or other property.
TIP:
A TIP provides key information to make pro-
cedures easier or clearer.
Yamaha continually seeks advancements in
product design and quality. Therefore, while
this manual contains the most current prod-
uct information available at the time of print-
ing, there may be minor discrepancies
between your machine and this manual. If
there is any question concerning this manual,
please consult your Yamaha dealer.
To ensure long product life, Yamaha recom-
mends that you use the product and perform
the specified periodic inspections and main-
tenance by correctly following the instruc-
tions in the owner’s manual. Any damage
resulting from neglect of these instructions is
not covered by warranty.
Some countries have laws or regulations re-
stricting users from taking the product out of
the country where it was purchased, and it
may be impossible to register the product in
the destination country. Additionally, the war-
ranty may not apply in certain regions. When
planning to take the product to another coun-
try, consult the dealer where the product was
purchased for further information.
If you purchased this outboard motor used,
see your Yamaha dealer to have it registered
in your name in Yamaha records.
TIP:
The VF115A and the standard accessories
are used as a base for the explanations and
illustrations in this manual. Therefore some
items may not apply to every model.
EMU44151
VF115
OWNER’S MANUAL
©2014 by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
1st Edition, November 2014
All rights reserved.
Any reprinting or unauthorized use
without the written permission of
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
is expressly prohibited.
Printed in Japan
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©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.

Table of contents
Safety information............................. 1
Outboard motor safety.................... 1
Propeller ............................................. 1
Rotating parts..................................... 1
Hot parts ............................................ 1
Electric shock..................................... 1
Power trim and tilt .............................. 1
Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)............ 1
Gasoline ............................................. 2
Gasoline exposure and spills ............. 2
Carbon monoxide .............................. 2
Modifications...................................... 2
Boating safety ................................. 2
Alcohol and drugs .............................. 2
Personal flotation devices (PFDs) ...... 2
People in the water ............................ 2
Passengers......................................... 2
Overloading........................................ 2
Avoid collisions .................................. 3
Weather.............................................. 3
Accident reporting.............................. 3
Boat education and training............... 3
Passenger training ............................. 4
Boating safety publications................ 4
Laws and regulations ......................... 4
Boating organizations ..................... 4
Basic boating rules
(Rules of the road)........................ 5
Steering and sailing rules and sound
signals............................................. 5
Rules when encountering vessels...... 5
Other special situations...................... 6
General information .......................... 9
Identification numbers record ......... 9
Outboard motor serial number........... 9
Key number........................................ 9
Compliance mark and
manufactured date label .............. 9
Read manuals and labels.............. 11
Warning labels ................................. 11
Specifications and
requirements ................................... 14
Specifications ............................... 14
Installation requirements .............. 15
Boat horsepower rating.................... 15
Mounting outboard motor ................ 15
Remote control requirements ....... 15
Battery requirements .................... 15
Specifications of Battery .................. 15
Mounting battery .............................. 16
Propeller selection ........................ 16
Start-in-gear protection ................ 17
Engine oil requirements ................ 17
Fuel requirements ......................... 17
Gasoline ........................................... 17
Gasoline Additives............................ 19
Muddy or acidic water .................. 19
Anti-fouling paint .......................... 19
Outboard motor disposal
requirements.............................. 20
Emergency equipment.................. 20
Emission control information ....... 20
Star labels ........................................ 20
Components.................................... 22
Components diagram ................... 22
Remote control box.......................... 24
Remote control lever ........................ 25
Neutral interlock trigger.................... 25
Free accelerator ............................... 26
Throttle friction adjuster ................... 26
Engine shut-off cord (lanyard) and
clip ................................................ 27
Main switch ...................................... 28
Power trim and tilt switch on remote
control........................................... 28
Power trim and tilt switch on bottom
cowling.......................................... 29
Trim tab with anode ......................... 29
Tilt support lever for power trim and
tilt model ....................................... 30
Cowling lock lever ............................ 30
Flushing device ................................ 31
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Table of contents
Fuel filter........................................... 31
Instruments and indicators ............ 32
Digital tachometer ......................... 32
Tachometer ...................................... 32
Trim meter ........................................ 32
Hour meter ....................................... 32
Low oil pressure-alert indicator........ 32
Overheat-alert indicator ................... 33
Digital speedometer ...................... 33
Speedometer.................................... 33
Fuel gauge........................................ 34
Trip meter / Clock / Voltmeter.......... 34
Fuel level-alert indicator ................... 35
Low battery voltage-alert
indicator ........................................ 35
Fuel management meter ............... 35
Fuel flow meter................................. 36
Fuel consumption meter / Fuel
economy meter / Twin engine
speed synchronizer....................... 36
Water separator-alert indicator ........ 38
6Y8 Multifunction meters .............. 38
6Y8 Multifunction tachometers ..... 38
Start-up checks................................ 39
Low oil pressure-alert....................... 39
Overheat alert................................... 40
Water separator alert........................ 40
Engine trouble alert .......................... 41
Low battery voltage-alert ................. 41
6Y8 Multifunction speed & fuel
meters ........................................ 42
6Y8 Multifunction
speedometers ............................ 43
6Y8 Multifunction fuel
management meters .................. 43
Engine control system .................... 45
Alert system .................................. 45
Overheat alert................................... 45
Low oil pressure alert....................... 45
Water separator alert........................ 46
Installation ....................................... 48
Installation..................................... 48
Mounting the outboard motor .......... 48
Operation ......................................... 50
First-time operation ...................... 50
Fill engine oil..................................... 50
Breaking in engine............................ 50
Getting to know your boat ............... 50
Checks before starting engine...... 50
Fuel level .......................................... 51
Removing top cowling...................... 51
Fuel system ...................................... 51
Controls............................................ 52
Engine shut-off cord (lanyard) .......... 52
Engine oil.......................................... 52
Outboard motor................................ 53
Flushing device ................................ 53
Install cowling................................... 53
Power trim and tilt system................ 54
Battery.............................................. 54
Filling fuel ..................................... 55
Operating engine .......................... 55
Sending fuel ..................................... 55
Starting engine ................................. 56
Checks after starting engine......... 58
Cooling water ................................... 58
Warming up engine....................... 58
Procedure for warming up engine.... 58
Checks after engine warm up....... 58
Shifting ............................................. 58
Stop switches................................... 58
Shifting.......................................... 58
Stopping boat ............................... 60
Stopping engine............................ 60
Procedure for stopping engine......... 60
Trimming outboard motor............. 60
Adjusting trim angle ......................... 61
Adjusting boat trim ........................... 61
Tilting up and down ...................... 62
Procedure for tilting up
(power trim and tilt models) .......... 63
Procedure for tilting down................ 64
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Table of contents
Shallow water ............................... 64
Cruising in shallow water ................. 64
Operating in other conditions ....... 65
Maintenance .................................... 67
Transporting and storing outboard
motor.......................................... 67
Storing outboard motor.................... 67
Conditioning and stabilizing
gasoline......................................... 68
Procedure......................................... 68
Lubrication ....................................... 69
Cleaning and anticorrosion
measures ...................................... 69
Flushing cooling water passage....... 69
Cleaning the outboard motor ........... 70
Checking painted surface of
outboard motor............................. 70
Periodic maintenance ................... 71
Replacement parts........................... 71
Maintenance interval guidelines....... 71
Maintenance chart 1 ........................ 72
Maintenance chart 2 ........................ 74
Greasing........................................... 75
Inspecting spark plug....................... 76
Inspecting idle speed ....................... 77
Changing engine oil.......................... 77
Inspecting wiring and connectors .... 80
Inspecting propeller ......................... 80
Removing propeller .......................... 81
Installing propeller............................ 81
Changing gear oil ............................. 82
Inspecting and replacing anode(s) ... 83
Checking battery (for electric start
models) ......................................... 84
Connecting the battery..................... 84
Disconnecting the battery ................ 85
Trouble Recovery ............................ 86
Troubleshooting ............................ 86
Temporary action in emergency ... 89
Impact damage ................................ 89
Replacing fuse ................................. 89
Power trim and tilt unit will not
operate.......................................... 90
Water separator-alert is activated
after leaving port........................... 90
Treatment of submerged motor.... 92
Consumer information
(For North America) ........................ 93
YAMAHA FOUR-STROKE
OUTBOARD MOTOR
THREE-YEAR LIMITED
WARRANTY ............................... 93
IMPORTANT WARRANTY
INFORMATION IF YOU USE
YOUR YAMAHA OUTSIDE THE
U.S.A. OR CANADA................... 95
INDEX ............................................... 96
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1
Safety information
EMU33623
Outboard motor safety
Observe these precautions at all times.
EMU36502
Propeller
People can be injured or killed if they come in
contact with the propeller. The propeller can
keep moving even when the motor is in neu-
tral, and sharp edges of the propeller can cut
even when stationary.
Stop the engine when a person is in the
water near you.
Keep people out of reach of the propeller,
even when the engine is off.
EMU40272
Rotating parts
Hands, feet, hair, jewelry, clothing, personal
flotation device (PFD) straps, etc., can be-
come entangled with internal rotating parts of
the engine, resulting in serious injury or
death.
Keep the top cowling in place whenever pos-
sible. Do not remove or replace the top cowl-
ing with the engine running.
Only operate the engine with the top cowling
removed according to the specific instruc-
tions in the manual. Keep hands, feet, hair,
jewelry, clothing, PFD straps, etc., away from
any exposed moving parts.
EMU33641
Hot parts
During and after operation, engine parts are
hot enough to cause burns. Avoid touching
any parts under the top cowling until the en-
gine has cooled.
EMU33651
Electric shock
Do not touch any electrical parts while start-
ing or operating the engine. They can cause
shock or electrocution.
EMU33661
Power trim and tilt
Body parts can be crushed between the mo-
tor and the clamp bracket when the motor is
trimmed or tilted. Keep body parts out of this
area at all times. Be sure no one is in this area
before operating the power trim and tilt
mechanism.
The power trim and tilt switches operate even
when the main switch is off. Keep people be
away from the switches whenever working
around the motor.
Never get under the lower unit while it is tilted,
even when the tilt support lever is locked. Se-
vere injury could occur if the outboard motor
accidentally falls.
EMU33672
Engine shut-off cord (lanyard)
Attach the engine shut-off cord so that the
engine stops if the operator falls overboard or
leaves the helm. This prevents the boat from
running away under power and leaving peo-
ple stranded, or running over people or ob-
jects.
Always attach the engine shut-off cord to a
secure place on your clothing or your arm or
leg while operating. Do not remove it to leave
the helm while the boat is moving. Do not at-
tach the cord to clothing that could tear
loose, or route the cord where it could be-
come entangled, preventing it from function-
ing.
Do not route the cord where it is likely to be
accidentally pulled out. If the cord is pulled
during operation, the engine will shut off and
you will lose most steering control. The boat
could slow rapidly, throwing people and ob-
jects forward.
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Safety information
2
EMU33811
Gasoline
Gasoline and its vapors are highly flamma-
ble and explosive. Always, refuel according
to the procedure on page 55 to reduce the
risk of fire and explosion.
EMU33821
Gasoline exposure and spills
Take care not to spill gasoline. If gasoline
spills, wipe it up immediately with dry rags.
Dispose of rags properly.
If any gasoline spills onto your skin, immedi-
ately wash with soap and water. Change
clothing if gasoline spills on it.
If you swallow gasoline, inhale a lot of gaso-
line vapor, or get gasoline in your eyes, get
immediate medical attention. Never siphon
fuel by mouth.
EMU33901
Carbon monoxide
This product emits exhaust gases which con-
tain carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless
gas which may cause brain damage or death
when inhaled. Symptoms include nausea,
dizziness, and drowsiness. Keep cockpit and
cabin areas well ventilated. Avoid blocking
exhaust outlets.
EMU33781
Modifications
Do not attempt to modify this outboard mo-
tor. Modifications to your outboard motor
may reduce safety and reliability, and render
the outboard unsafe or illegal to use.
EMU33741
Boating safety
This section includes a few of the many im-
portant safety precautions that you should
follow when boating.
EMU33711
Alcohol and drugs
Never operate after drinking alcohol or taking
drugs. Intoxication is one of the most com-
mon factors contributing to boating fatalities.
EMU40281
Personal flotation devices (PFDs)
Have an approved PFD on board for every
occupant. Yamaha recommends that you
must wear a PFD whenever boating. At a
minimum, children and non-swimmers
should always wear PFDs, and everyone
should wear PFDs when there are potentially
hazardous boating conditions.
EMU33732
People in the water
Always watch carefully for people in the wa-
ter, such as swimmers, skiers, or divers,
whenever the engine is running. When some-
one is in the water near the boat, shift into
neutral and stop the engine.
Stay away from swimming areas. Swimmers
can be hard to see.
The propeller can keep moving even when
the motor is in neutral. Stop the engine when
a person is in the water near you.
EMU33752
Passengers
Consult your boat manufacturer’s instruc-
tions for details about appropriate passenger
locations in your boat and be sure all passen-
gers are positioned properly before acceler-
ating and when operating above an idle
speed. Standing or sitting in non-designated
locations may result in being thrown either
overboard or within the boat due to waves,
wakes, or sudden changes in speed or direc-
tion. Even when people are positioned prop-
erly, alert your passengers if you must make
any unusual maneuver. Always avoid jump-
ing waves or wakes.
EMU33762
Overloading
Do not overload the boat. Consult the boat
capacity plate or boat manufacturer for max-
imum weight and number of passengers. Be
sure that weight is properly distributed ac-
cording to the boat manufacturer’s instruc-
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Safety information
3
tions. Overloading or incorrect weight
distribution can compromise the boats han-
dling and lead to an accident, capsizing or
swamping.
EMU33773
Avoid collisions
Scan constantly for people, objects, and oth-
er boats. Be alert for conditions that limit your
visibility or block your vision of others.
Operate defensively at safe speeds and keep
a safe distance away from people, objects,
and other boats.
Do not follow directly behind other boats or
waterskiers.
Avoid sharp turns or other maneuvers that
make it hard for others to avoid you or un-
derstand where you are going.
Avoid areas with submerged objects or
shallow water.
Ride within your limits and avoid aggres-
sive maneuvers to reduce the risk of loss of
control, ejection, and collision.
Take early action to avoid collisions. Re-
member, boats do not have brakes, and
stopping the engine or reducing throttle
can reduce the ability to steer. If you are not
sure that you can stop in time before hitting
an obstacle, apply throttle and turn in an-
other direction.
EMU33791
Weather
Stay informed about the weather. Check
weather forecasts before boating. Avoid
boating in hazardous weather.
EMU44161
Accident reporting
Boat operators are required by law to file a
Boating Accident Report with their boating
law enforcement agency if their boat is in-
volved in any of the following accidents:
1. There is loss of life or probable loss of
life.
2. There is personal injury that requires
medical attention beyond first aid.
3. There is property damage to boats or
other property over a certain amount.
4. There is complete loss of a boat.
Contact local law enforcement personnel if a
report is necessary.
EMU44171
Boat education and training
For U.S.A.
Operators should take a boating safety
course. This may be required in your state.
Many of the organizations listed in the next
section can provide information about cours-
es in your area.
You may also want to consider an Internet-
based program for basic boater education.
The Online Boating Safety Course provided
by the BoatU.S. Foundation, is approved by
the National Association of State Boating
Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recog-
nized by the United States Coast Guard.
Most, but not all, states accept this course to
meet their minimum requirements. While it
cannot replace an in-depth course such as
one offered by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S.
Power Squadron, or other organization, this
online course does provide a general over-
view of the basics in boating safety, require-
ments, navigation, and operation. Upon
ZMU06025
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Safety information
4
successful completion of the course, the user
can download a certificate of completion im-
mediately or, for a small charge, request one
by mail. To take this free course, go to boa-
tus.org.
For Canada
All operators of pleasure craft must illustrate
competency by means of a Pleasure Craft
Operators Card with the exception of Person-
al Water Craft used for rental purposes which
require a rental checklist be completed. Plea-
sure Craft Operators Cards can be obtained
following the completion of a competency
course, with an on-line option. Details can be
found on Transport Canada’s website.
www.tc.gc.ca
EMU33881
Passenger training
Make sure at least one other passenger is
trained to operate the boat in the event of an
emergency.
EMU33891
Boating safety publications
Be informed about boating safety. Additional
publications and information can be obtained
from many boating organizations.
EMU33591
Laws and regulations
Know the marine laws and regulations where
you will be boating- and obey them. Several
sets of rules prevail according to geographic
location, but all are basically the same as the
International Rules of the Road. The rules
presented in the following section are con-
densed- and have been provided for your
convenience only.
Contact the U.S. Coast Guard, the National
Association of State Boating Law Administra-
tors, or your local Power Squadron for a com-
plete set of rules governing the waters in
which you will be using your boat.
EMU44740
Boating organizations
The following organizations provide boating
safety training and information about boating
safety and laws.
In the U.S.A.
United States Coast Guard
Consumer Affairs Staff (G-BC)
Office of Boating, Public, and Consumer Af-
fairs
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
Washington, D.C. 20593-0001
http://www.uscgboating.org/
United States Power Squadrons
1-888-FOR-USPS (1-888-367-8777)
http://www.usps.org/
Boat Owners Association of The United
States
1-800-336-BOAT (1-800-336-2628)
http://www.boatus.com/
National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators (NASBLA)
1500 Leestown Road, Suite 330
Lexington, KY 40511 859-225-9497
http://www.nasbla.org/
National Marine Manufacturers Associa-
tion (NMMA)
200 East Randolph Drive
Suite 5100
Chicago, IL 60601
http://www.nmma.org/
Marine Retailers Association of America
155 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago,
IL 60304
http://www.mraa.com/
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©2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.