2000 YAMAHA TDM 850 Owners Manual

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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7
Care ................................................................................................... 7-1
Storage............................................................................................... 7-4
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7-1
7
EAU01517
7-MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGECareThe exposure of its technology makes a
motorcycle charming but also vulnera-
ble. Although high-quality components
are used, they are not all rust-resistant.
While a rusty exhaust pipe may remain
unnoticed on a car, it does look unat-
tractive on a motorcycle. Frequent and
proper care, however, will keep your
motorcycle looking good, extend its life
and maintain its performance. More-
over, the warranty states that the vehi-
cle must be properly taken care of. For
all these reasons, it is recommended
that you observe the following cleaning
and storing precautions.Before cleaning
1. Cover up the muffler outlets with
plastic bags.
2. Make sure that all caps and covers
as well as all electrical couplers
and connectors, including the
spark plug caps, are tightly in-
stalled.
3. Remove extremely stubborn dirt,
like oil burnt onto the crankcase,
with a degreasing agent and a
brush, but never apply such prod-
ucts onto seals, gaskets, sprock-
ets, the drive chain and wheel
axles. Always rinse the dirt and
degreaser off with water.Cleaning
After normal use
Remove dirt with warm water, a neutral
detergent and a soft clean sponge,
then rinse with plenty of clean water.
Use a tooth or bottle brush for hard-to-
reach parts. Tougher dirt and insects
will come off more easily if the area is
covered with a wet cloth for a few min-
utes before cleaning.
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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-2
7
ECA00010
CAUTION:@ l
Avoid using strong acidic wheel
cleaners, especially on spoked
wheels. If you do use such
products for hard-to-remove
dirt, do not leave it on any long-
er than instructed, then thor-
oughly rinse it off with water,
immediately dry the area and
apply a corrosion protection
spray.
l
Improper cleaning can damage
windshields, cowlings, panels
and other plastic parts. Use
only a soft, clean cloth or
sponge with mild detergent and
water to clean plastic.
l
Do not use any harsh chemical
products on plastic parts. Be
sure to avoid using cloths or
sponges which have been in
contact with strong or abrasive
cleaning products, solvent or
thinner, fuel (gasoline), rust re-
movers or inhibitors, brake flu-
id, antifreeze or electrolyte.
l
Do not use high-pressure wash-
ers or steam-jet cleaners since
they cause water seepage and
deterioration in the following ar-
eas: seals (of wheel bearings,
swingarm bearings, forks and
brakes), electric components
(couplers, connectors, instru-
ments, switches and lights),
breather hoses and vents.
l
For motorcycles equipped with
a windshield: Do not use strong
cleaners or hard sponges as
they will cause dulling or
scratching. Some cleaning
compounds for plastic may
leave scratches on the wind-
shield. Test the product on a
small hidden part of the wind-
shield to make sure they do not
leave any marks. If the wind-
shield is scratched, use a quali-
ty plastic polishing compound
after washing.
@After riding in the rain, near the sea oron salt-sprayed roadsSince sea salt or salt sprayed on the
roads in the winter are extremely corro-
sive in combination with water, carry
out the following steps after each ride
in the rain, near the sea or on salt-
sprayed roads. (Salt sprayed in the
winter may remain on the roads well
into spring.)
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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-3
71. Clean your motorcycle with cold
water and soap after the engine
has cooled down.
ECA00012
CAUTION:@ Do not use warm water since it in-
creases the corrosive action of the
salt. @2. Be sure to apply a corrosion pro-
tection spray on all (even chrome-
and nickel-plated) metal surfaces
to prevent corrosion.After cleaning
1. Dry the motorcycle with a chamois
or an absorbing cloth.
2. Immediately dry the drive chain
and lubricate it to prevent it from
rusting.
3. Use a chrome polish to shine
chrome, aluminum and stainless-
steel parts, including the exhaust
system. (Even the thermally in-
duced discoloring of stainless-
steel exhaust systems can be re-
moved through polishing.)
4. To prevent corrosion, it is recom-
mended to apply a corrosion pro-
tection spray on all (even chrome-
and nickel-plated) metal surfaces.
5. Use spray oil as a universal clean-
er to remove any remaining dirt.
6. Touch up minor paint damage
caused by stones, etc.
7. Wax all painted surfaces.
8. Let the motorcycle dry completely
before storing it or covering it.
EWA00001
WARNING
@ Make sure that there is no oil or wax
on the brakes and tires. If neces-
sary, clean the brake discs and lin-
ings with a regular brake disc
cleaner or acetone, and wash the
tires with warm water and mild soap.
Then, carefully test the motorcycle
for its braking performance and cor-
nering behavior. @
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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-4
7
ECA00013
CAUTION:@ l
Apply spray oil and wax spar-
ingly and wipe off any excess.
l
Never apply oil or wax on rub-
ber and plastic parts, but treat
them with a suitable care prod-
uct.
l
Avoid using abrasive polishing
compounds as they wear away
the paint.
@NOTE:@ Consult a Yamaha dealer for advice on
what products to use. @
StorageShort-term
Always store your motorcycle in a cool,
dry place and, if necessary, protect it
against dust with a porous cover.
ECA00014
CAUTION:@ l
Storing the motorcycle in a
poorly ventilated room or cover-
ing it with a tarp while it is still
wet will allow water and humidi-
ty to seep in and cause rust.
l
To prevent corrosion, avoid
damp cellars, stables (because
of the presence of ammonia)
and areas where strong chemi-
cals are stored.
@
Long-term
Before storing your motorcycle for
several months:
1. Follow all the instructions in the
“Care” section of this chapter.
2. Drain the carburetor float cham-
bers by loosening the drain bolts;
this will prevent fuel deposits from
building up. Pour the drained fuel
into the fuel tank.
3. Only for motorcycles equipped
with a fuel cock which has an
“OFF” position: Turn the fuel cock
to “OFF”.
4. Fill up the fuel tank and add fuel
stabilizer (if available) to prevent
the fuel tank from rusting and the
fuel from deteriorating.
5. Perform the following steps to pro-
tect the cylinders, piston rings, etc.
from corrosion.
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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-5
7a. Remove the spark plug caps and
spark plugs.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine oil
into each spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug caps onto the
spark plugs and place the spark
plugs on the cylinder head so that
the electrodes are grounded. (This
will limit sparking during the next
step.)
d. Turn the engine over several times
with the starter. (This will coat the
cylinder walls with oil.)
e. Remove the spark plug caps from
the spark plugs, install the spark
plugs and then the spark plug
caps.
EWA00003
WARNING
@ When turning the engine over, be
sure to ground the spark plug elec-
trodes to prevent damage or injury
from sparking. @
6. Lubricate all control cables and
the pivoting points of all levers and
pedals as well as of the sidestand/
centerstand.
7. Check and, if necessary, correct
the tire air pressure, then raise the
motorcycle so that both of its
wheels are off the ground. Alterna-
tively, turn the wheels a little every
month in order to prevent the tires
from becoming degraded in one
spot.
8. Cover up the muffler outlets with
plastic bags to prevent moisture
from entering.9. Remove the battery and fully
charge it. Store it in a cool, dry
place and recharge it once a
month. Do not store the battery in
an excessively cold or warm place
(less than 0 °C or more than
30 °C). For more information, see
“Battery storage” in the chapter
“PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
MINOR REPAIRS”.
NOTE:@ Make any necessary repairs before
storing the motorcycle. @
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SPECIFICATIONS
8
Specifications ..................................................................................... 8-1
HOW TO USE THE CONVERSION TABLE ....................................... 8-5
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