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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-32
6
EAU02939
Front fork inspectionVisual check
EW000115
WARNING
@ Securely support the motorcycle so
there is no danger of it falling over. @Check for scratches or damage on the
inner tube and excessive oil leakage
from the front fork.
Operation check
1. Place the motorcycle on a level
place.
2. Hold the motorcycle in an upright
position and apply the front brake.
3. Push down hard on the handle-
bars several times and check if the
fork rebounds smoothly.
EC000098
CAUTION:@ If any damage or unsmooth move-
ment is found with the front fork,
consult a Yamaha dealer. @
EAU00794
Steering inspectionPeriodically inspect the condition of the
steering. Worn out or loose steering
bearings may be dangerous. Place a
stand under the engine to raise the
front wheel off the ground. Hold the
lower end of the front forks and try to
move them forward and backward. If
any free play can be felt, ask a Yamaha
dealer to inspect and adjust the steer-
ing. Inspection is easier if the front
wheel is removed.
EW000115
WARNING
@ Securely support the motorcycle so
there is no danger of it falling over. @
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-33
6
EAU01144
Wheel bearingsIf there is play in the front or rear wheel
hub or if the wheel does not turn
smoothly, have a Yamaha dealer in-
spect the wheel bearings.
EAU01291
BatteryThis motorcycle is equipped with a
sealed-type battery. Therefore it is not
necessary to check the electrolyte or fill
the battery with distilled water.l
If the battery seems to have dis-
charged, consult a Yamaha deal-
er.
l
If the motorcycle is equipped with
optional electrical accessories, the
battery tends to discharge more
quickly, so be sure to recharge it
periodically.
EW000116
WARNING
@ Battery electrolyte is poisonous and
dangerous, causing severe burns,
etc. It contains sulfuric acid. Avoid
contact with skin, eyes or clothing.
ANTIDOTE:l
EXTERNAL: Flush with water.
l
INTERNAL: Drink large quanti-
ties of water or milk. Follow with
milk of magnesia, beaten egg,
or vegetable oil. Call a physi-
cian immediately.
l
EYES: Flush with water for
15 minutes and get prompt
medical attention.
Batteries produce explosive gases.
Keep sparks, flame, cigarettes etc.,
away. Ventilate when charging or
using in an enclosed space. Always
shield your eyes when working near
batteries.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHIL-
DREN.
@
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-37
6
EAU01579
Supporting the motorcycleSince the Yamaha YZF-R6 has no cen-
terstand, follow these precautions
when removing the front and rear
wheel or performing other mainte-
nance requiring the motorcycle to
stand upright. Check that the motor-
cycle is in a stable and level position
before starting any maintenance. A
strong wooden box can be placed un-
der the engine for added stability.
Front wheel service
To stabilize the rear of the motorcycle,
either use a motorcycle stand or place
a motorcycle jack under the frame in
front of the rear wheel to prevent it from
moving from side to side. Then use a
motorcycle stand to elevate the front
wheel off of the ground.Rear wheel service
Use a motorcycle stand or motorcycle
jack to elevate the motorcycle so the
rear wheel is off the ground. Alterna-
tively, two jacks can be placed under
the frame or swingarm.
EAU01617
Front wheel removal
EW000122
WARNING
@ l
It is advisable to have a Yamaha
dealer service the wheel.
l
Securely support the motor-
cycle so there is no danger of it
falling over.
@1. Loosen the pinch bolt and caliper
bolts.
2. Loosen the wheel axle by using a
19-mm hexagon wrench.1. Wheel axle
2. Pinch bolt
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-38
6 3. Elevate the front wheel.
4. Remove the brake hose holders
and calipers.
NOTE:@ Do not depress the brake lever when
the calipers are off the discs as the
brake pads will be forced shut. @5. Pull out the wheel axle and re-
move the wheel by pulling it back-
wards.
EAU01638
Front wheel installation1. Lift up the wheel between the front
fork legs.
2. Install the wheel axle and let the
motorcycle down.
3. Push down hard on the handle-
bars several times to check for
proper fork operation.
4. Install the calipers, caliper bolts
and brake hose holders. Make
sure there is enough gap between
the brake pads before installing
the calipers onto the brake discs.
5. Tighten the wheel axle, pinch bolt
and caliper bolts to the specified
torques.
1. Brake hose holder bolt
2. Caliper bolt (´ 2)
Tightening torque:
Wheel axle:
72 Nm (7.2 m·kg)
Pinch bolt:
20 Nm (2.0 m·kg)
Caliper bolt:
40 Nm (4.0 m·kg)
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-39
6
EAU01247
Rear wheel removal
EW000122
WARNING
@ l
It is advisable to have a Yamaha
dealer service the wheel.
l
Securely support the motor-
cycle so there is no danger of it
falling over.
@1. Loosen the axle nut and caliper
bolts.
2. Elevate the rear wheel.3. Remove the axle nut, caliper bolts
and caliper.
4. Loosen the locknuts on each side
of the swingarm.
5. Turn the chain adjusting bolts fully
inward.
6. Push the wheel forward and re-
move the drive chain.
7. Pull out the wheel axle and re-
move the wheel assembly by pull-
ing backwards.
NOTE:@ l
Do not depress the brake pedal
when the caliper is off the disc as
the brake pads will be forced shut.
l
You do not have to disassemble
the chain in order to remove or in-
stall the rear wheel.
@
1. Axle nut
2. Adjusting bolt
3. Locknut
1. Caliper bolt (´ 2)
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-40
6
EAU01246
Rear wheel installation1. Install the wheel assembly and in-
sert the axle.
2. Install and adjust the drive chain.
(See page 6-28 for details about
adjusting the drive chain slack.)
3. Install the axle nut and let the
motorcycle down.
4. Install the caliper and caliper bolts.
Make sure there is enough gap
between the brake pads before in-
stalling the caliper onto the brake
disc.
5. Tighten the axle nut and caliper
bolts to the specified torques.
EAU01008
TroubleshootingAlthough Yamaha motorcycles receive
a rigid inspection before shipment from
the factory, trouble may occur during
operation.
Any problem in the fuel, compression,
or ignition systems can cause poor
starting and loss of power. The trouble-
shooting chart describes a quick, easy
procedure for making checks.
If your motorcycle requires any repair,
bring it to a Yamaha dealer. The skilled
technicians at a Yamaha dealership
have the tools, experience, and know-
how to properly service your motor-
cycle. Use only genuine Yamaha parts
on your motorcycle. Imitation parts may
look like Yamaha parts, but they are of-
ten inferior. Consequently, they have a
shorter service life and can lead to ex-
pensive repair bills. Tightening torque:
Axle nut:
150 Nm (15.0 m·kg)
Caliper bolt:
40 Nm (4.0 m·kg)
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7-1
7
EAU01637
7-MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGECareThe exposure of its technology makes
a motorcycle charming but also vulner-
able. Although high-quality compo-
nents are used, they are not all rust-
resistant. While a rusty exhaust pipe
may remain unnoticed on a car, it does
look unattractive on a motorcycle. Fre-
quent and proper care, however, will
keep your motorcycle looking good, ex-
tend its life and maintain its perfor-
mance. Moreover, the warranty states
that the vehicle must be properly taken
care of. For all these reasons, it is rec-
ommended that you observe the follow-
ing cleaning and storing precautions.Before cleaning
1. Cover up the muffler outlet with a
plastic bag.
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. There is a special
sponge included in the plastic bag con-
taining the owners manual. Use this
sponge to clean the muffler and to re-
move any discoloration from the muf-
fler.
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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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