2001 YAMAHA XVS250 engine

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-16
6
EAU00637
Adjusting the valve clearance The valve clearance changes with use,
resulting in improper air-fuel mixture
and/or engine noise. To prevent this
from occurring, the valve clearance
must be adjusted by a Yamaha dealer
at the intervals specified in the periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart.
EAU03362
Tires To maximize the performance, durabil-
ity, and safe operation of your motor-
cycle, note the following points
regarding the specified tires.
Tire air pressure
The tire air pressure should be
checked and, if necessary, adjusted
before each ride.
EW000082
WARNING
_ l
The tire air pressure must be
checked and adjusted on cold
tires (i.e., when the temperature
of the tires equals the ambient
temperature).
l
The tire air pressure must be
adjusted in accordance with the
riding speed and with the total
weight of rider, passenger, car-
go, and accessories approved
for this model.
_
CE-01E
CE-07E
Tire air pressure
(measured on cold tires)
Load* Front Rear
Up to 90 kg175 kPa
(1.75 kg/cm
2,
1.75 bar)200 kPa
(2.00 kg/cm
2,
2.00 bar)
90 kg–maximum225 kPa
(2.25 kg/cm
2,
2.25 bar)225 kPa
(2.25 kg/cm
2,
2.25 bar)
Maximum load* 180 kg
* Total weight of rider, passenger, cargo and
accessories
E_5kr.book Page 16 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-26
6
EC000096
CAUTION:_ Improper drive chain slack will over-
load the engine as well as other vital
parts of the motorcycle and can lead
to chain slippage or breakage. To
prevent this from occurring, keep
the drive chain slack within the
specified limits. _3. Tighten both locknuts, and then
tighten the axle nut to the specified
torque.
4. Adjust the brake pedal free play.
(See page 6-21 for brake pedal
free play adjustment procedures.)
EW000103
WARNING
_ After adjusting the brake pedal free
play, check the operation of the
brake light. _
EAU03006
Lubricating the drive chain The drive chain must be cleaned and
lubricated at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart, otherwise it will quickly wear
out, especially when riding in dusty or
wet areas. Service the drive chain as
follows.
EC000097
CAUTION:_ The drive chain must be lubricated
after washing the motorcycle or
riding in the rain. _1. Clean the drive chain with kero-
sene and a small soft brush.
ECA00053
CAUTION:_ To prevent damaging the O-rings,
do not clean the drive chain with
steam cleaners, high-pressure
washers or inappropriate solvents. _
2. Wipe the drive chain dry.
3. Thoroughly lubricate the drive
chain with a special O-ring chain
lubricant.
ECA00052
CAUTION:_ Do not use engine oil or any other
lubricants for the drive chain, as
they may contain substances that
could damage the O-rings. _
Tightening torque:
Axle nut:
104 Nm (10.4 m·kg)
E_5kr.book Page 26 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-27
6
EAU02962
Checking and lubricating the
cables The operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubricat-
ed if necessary. If a cable is damaged
or does not move smoothly, have a
Yamaha dealer check or replace it.
EW000112
WARNING
_ Damage to the outer sheath may in-
terfere with proper cable operation
and will cause the inner cable to
rust. Replace a damaged cable as
soon as possible to prevent unsafe
conditions. _
EAU03370
Checking and lubricating the
brake and shift pedals The operation of the brake and shift
pedals should be checked before each
ride, and the pedal pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
Recommended lubricant:
Engine oilRecommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
(all-purpose grease)
E_5kr.book Page 27 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-29
6 To check the operation
1. Place the motorcycle on a level
surface and hold it in an upright
position.
2. While applying the front brake,
push down hard on the handle-
bars several times to check if the
front fork compresses and re-
bounds smoothly.
EC000098
CAUTION:_ If any damage is found or the front
fork does not operate smoothly,
have a Yamaha dealer check or re-
pair it. _
EAU00794
Checking the steering Worn or loose steering bearings may
cause danger. Therefore, the operation
of the steering must be checked as fol-
lows at the intervals specified in the pe-
riodic maintenance and lubrication
chart.
1. Place a stand under the engine to
raise the front wheel off the
ground.
EW000115
WARNING
_ Securely support the motorcycle so
that there is no danger of it falling
over. _
2. Hold the lower ends of the front
fork legs and try to move them for-
ward and backward. If any free
play can be felt, have a Yamaha
dealer check or repair the
steering.
E_5kr.book Page 29 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-36
6
EAU03218
Replacing a turn signal light
bulb 1. Remove the turn signal lens by re-
moving the screws.2. Remove the defective bulb by
pushing it in and turning it counter-
clockwise.
3. Insert a new bulb into the socket,
push it in, and then turn it clock-
wise until it stops.
4. Install the lens by installing the
screws.
EC000108
CAUTION:_ Do not overtighten the screws, oth-
erwise the lens may break. _
EAU01579
Supporting the motorcycle Since this model is not equipped with a
centerstand, 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.
To service the front wheel
1. Stabilize the rear of the motorcycle
by using a motorcycle stand or, if
an additional motorcycle stand is
not available, by placing a jack un-
der the frame in front of the rear
wheel.
2. Raise the front wheel off the
ground by using a motorcycle
stand.
1. Screw (´ 2)
1. Turn signal light bulb
E_5kr.book Page 36 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-41
6
EAU01297
Troubleshooting chart
EW000125
WARNING
_ Keep away open flames and do not smoke while checking or working on the fuel system. _
Check the fuel level in
the fuel tank.1. Fuel
There is enough fuel.
There is no fuel.
Check the compression.
Supply fuel.
The engine does not start.
Check the compression.
Operate the electric starter.2. Compression
There is compression.
There is no compression.
Check the ignition.
Have a Yamaha dealer
check the vehicle.
Remove the spark plugs
and check the electrodes.3. Ignition
Wipe off with a dry cloth and correct the
spark plug gaps, or replace the spark plugs.
Have a Yamaha dealer check the vehicle.
The engine does not start.
Have a Yamaha dealer
check the vehicle.
The engine does not start.
Check the battery.
Operate the electric starter.4. Battery
The engine turns over
quickly.
The engine turns over
slowly.
The battery is good.Check the battery lead connections,
and charge the battery if necessary.
DryWet
Open the throttle halfway and operate
the electric starter.
E_5kr.book Page 41 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM

7-1
7
EAU03430
7-MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGECare While the open design of a motorcycle
reveals the attractiveness of the tech-
nology, it also makes it more vulnera-
ble. Rust and corrosion can develop
even if high-quality components are
used. A rusty exhaust pipe may go un-
noticed on a car, however, it detracts
from the overall appearance of a
motorcycle. Frequent and proper care
does not only comply with the terms of
the warranty, but it will also keep your
motorcycle looking good, extend its life
and optimize its performance.Before cleaning
1. Cover the muffler outlets with plas-
tic bags after the engine has
cooled down.
2. Make sure that all caps and covers
as well as all electrical couplers
and connectors, including the
spark plug caps, are tightly
installed.
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
ECA00010
CAUTION:_ l
Avoid using strong acidic wheel
cleaners, especially on spoked
wheels. If such products are
used on hard-to-remove dirt, do
not leave the cleaner on the af-
fected area any longer than in-
structed. Also, thoroughly rinse
the area off with water, immedi-
ately dry it, and then 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.
E_5kr.book Page 1 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM

MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-2
7
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 and swing-
arm bearings, fork and brakes),
electric components (couplers,
connectors, instruments, switch-
es 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 that it does
not leave any marks. If the wind-
shield is scratched, use a quali-
ty plastic polishing compound
after washing.
_After normal useRemove dirt with warm water, a mild
detergent, and a soft, clean sponge,
and then rinse thoroughly with clean
water. Use a toothbrush or bottlebrush
for hard-to-reach areas. Stubborn dirt
and insects will come off more easily if
the area is covered with a wet cloth for
a few minutes before cleaning.After riding in the rain, near the sea or
on salt-sprayed roadsSince sea salt or salt sprayed on roads
during winter are extremely corrosive in
combination with water, carry out the
following steps after each ride in the
rain, near the sea or on salt-sprayed
roads.NOTE:_ Salt sprayed on roads in the winter may
remain well into spring. _1. Clean the motorcycle with cold
water and a mild detergent, after
the engine has cooled down.
ECA00012
CAUTION:_ Do not use warm water since it in-
creases the corrosive action of the
salt. _2. After drying the motorcycle, apply
a corrosion protection spray on all
metal, including chrome- and nick-
el-plated, surfaces to prevent
corrosion.
E_5kr.book Page 2 Tuesday, September 12, 2000 4:46 PM