2002 YAMAHA XT500E engine

5-4
OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
5
EAU00424
Tips for reducing fuel
consumptionFuel consumption, tips for reducingFuel consumption depends largely on
your riding style. Consider the follow-
ing tips to reduce fuel consumption:
8Thoroughly warm up the engine.
8Turn the starter (choke) off as
soon as possible.
8Shift up swiftly, and avoid high
engine speeds during accelera-
tion.
8Do not rev the engine while shift-
ing down, and avoid high engine
speeds with no load on the
engine.
8Turn the engine off instead of let-
ting it idle for an extended length
of time (e.g., in traffic jams, at
traffic lights or at railroad cross-
ings).
EAU01128
Engine break-inEngine break-inThere is never a more important peri-
od in the life of your engine than the
period between 0 and 1,600 km. For
this reason, you should read the fol-
lowing material carefully.
Since the engine is brand new, do
not put an excessive load on it for the
first 1,600 km. The various parts in
the engine wear and polish them-
selves to the correct operating clear-
ances. During this period, prolonged
full-throttle operation or any condition
that might result in engine overheat-
ing must be avoided.
EAU04315
0–1,000 km
Avoid prolonged operation above
4,000 r/min.
1,000–1,600 km
Avoid prolonged operation above
5,000 r/min.
ECA00058
cCAfter 1,000 km of operation, the
engine oil must be changed, and
the oil filter element replaced.1,600 km and beyond
The vehicle can now be operated
normally.
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5-5
OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
5
EC000053
cC8Keep the engine speed out of
the tachometer red zone.
8If any engine trouble should
occur during the engine break-
in period, immediately have a
Yamaha dealer check the vehi-
cle.
EAU00457
ParkingParkingWhen parking, stop the engine,
remove the key from the main switch,
and then turn the fuel cock lever to
“OFF”.
EW000058
w8Since the engine and exhaust
system can become very hot,
park in a place where pedestri-
ans or children are not likely
to touch them.
8Do not park on a slope or on
soft ground, otherwise the
motorcycle may overturn.
4PT-E7 (English) 6/29/01 9:13 AM Page 36

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
Owner’s tool kit ................................................ 6-1
Periodic maintenance and lubrication chart ..... 6-3
Removing and installing the cowling
and panels .................................................... 6-6
Checking the spark plug .................................. 6-8
Engine oil and oil filter element ...................... 6-10
Cleaning the air filter element ........................ 6-13
Adjusting the carburetor ................................. 6-14
Adjusting the engine idling speed ................... 6-15
Adjusting the throttle cable free play .............. 6-16
Adjusting the valve clearance ........................ 6-16
Tires ............................................................... 6-16
Spoke wheels ................................................ 6-19
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ................ 6-20
Adjusting the brake lever free play ................. 6-21
Adjusting the brake pedal position ................. 6-21
Adjusting the rear brake light switch .............. 6-22
Checking the front and rear brake pads ........ 6-22
Checking the brake fluid level ........................ 6-23
Changing the brake fluid ................................ 6-24
Drive chain slack ............................................ 6-25
Lubricating the drive chain ............................. 6-26
Checking and lubricating the cables .............. 6-27Checking and lubricating the throttle grip
and cable .................................................... 6-27
Checking and lubricating the brake and
shift pedals .................................................. 6-28
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ................................................ 6-28
Checking and lubricating the sidestand ......... 6-28
Lubricating the rear suspension ..................... 6-29
Checking the front fork ................................... 6-29
Checking the steering .................................... 6-30
Checking the wheel bearings ......................... 6-30
Battery ............................................................ 6-31
Replacing the fuse ......................................... 6-32
Replacing the headlight bulb ......................... 6-33
Replacing a turn signal light bulb ................... 6-35
Replacing the tail/brake light bulb .................. 6-35
Supporting the motorcycle ............................. 6-36
Front wheel ................................................... 6-37
Rear wheel ..................................................... 6-39
Troubleshooting ............................................. 6-41
Troubleshooting chart .................................... 6-42
6
4PT-E7 (English) 6/29/01 9:13 AM Page 37

6-5
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6
EAU03884
NOTE:
8The air filter needs more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet or dusty areas.
8Hydraulic brake service
9Regularly check and, if necessary, correct the brake fluid level.
9Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and change the
brake fluid.
9Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.20
*Rear suspension relay
arm and connecting arm
pivoting points•Check operation.√√√√
•Lubricate with molybdenum disulfide grease.√√
21*Carburetor•Check starter (choke) operation.
•Adjust engine idling speed.√√√√√ √
22 Engine oil•Change.
•Check oil level and vehicle for oil leakage.√√√√√ √
23 Engine oil filter element•Replace.√√√
24*Front and rear brake
switches•Check operation.√√√√√ √
25 Moving parts and cables•Lubricate.√√√√ √
26*Lights, signals and
switches•Check operation.
•Adjust headlight beam.√√√√√ √ NO. ITEM CHECK OR MAINTENANCE JOBODOMETER READING (× 1,000 km)
ANNUAL
CHECK
1 10203040
4PT-E7 (English) 6/29/01 9:13 AM Page 42

6-8
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6
1
2
1. Panel B
2. Screw
2. Remove the spark plug as
shown, with the spark plug
wrench included in the owner’s
tool kit.
1
1. Spark plug wrench
EAU01833
Checking the spark plugSpark plug, checkingThe spark plug is an important
engine component, which is easy to
check. Since heat and deposits will
cause any spark plug to slowly erode,
the spark plug should be removed
and checked in accordance with the
periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart. In addition, the condition of the
spark plug can reveal the condition of
the engine.
To remove the spark plug
1. Remove the spark plug cap.
1
1. Spark plug cap
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6-9
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6To check the spark plug
1. Check that the porcelain insula-
tor around the center electrode
of the spark plug is a medium-to-
light tan (the ideal color when the
motorcycle is ridden normally).
NOTE:
If the spark plug shows a distinctly
different color, the engine could be
defective. Do not attempt to diagnose
such problems yourself. Instead,
have a Yamaha dealer check the
motorcycle.2. Check the spark plug for elec-
trode erosion and excessive car-
bon or other deposits, and
replace it if necessary.3. Install the spark plug with the
spark plug wrench, and then
tighten it to the specified torque.
NOTE:
If a torque wrench is not available
when installing a spark plug, a good
estimate of the correct torque is 1/4-
1/2 turn past finger tight. However,
the spark plug should be tightened to
the specified torque as soon as pos-
sible.4. Install the spark plug cap. To install the spark plug
1. Measure the spark plug gap with
a wire thickness gauge and, if
necessary, adjust the gap to
specification.
2. Clean the surface of the spark
plug gasket and its mating sur-
face, and then wipe off any grime
from the spark plug threads.
a
a. Spark plug gap
Specified spark plug:
DPR8EA-9 or
DPR9EA-9 (NGK)
Spark plug gap:
0.8–0.9 mm
Tightening torque:
Spark plug:
17.5 Nm (1.75 m0kgf)
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6-10
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6
EAU04354
Engine oil and oil filter
elementEngine oil and oil filter elementThe engine oil level should be
checked before each ride. In addition,
the oil must be changed and the oil
filter element replaced at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.
To check the engine oil level
1. Place the motorcycle on a level
surface and hold it in an upright
position.NOTE:
Make sure that the motorcycle is
positioned straight up when checking
the oil level. A slight tilt to the side
can result in a false reading.
4. Wait a few minutes until the oil
settles, remove the oil filler cap,
wipe the dipstick clean, insert it
back into the oil filler hole (with-
out screwing it in), and then
remove it again to check the oil
level.NOTE:
The engine oil should be between the
minimum and maximum level marks.
1
2
3
1. Oil filler cap
2. Maximum level mark
3. Minimum level mark
2. Remove the oil filler cap cover by
removing the screw.
3. Start the engine, warm it up for
at least 10 seconds, and then
turn it off.
2
1
1. Screw
2. Oil filler cap cover
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6-11
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6
EC000000
cCDo not operate the motorcycle
until you know that the engine oil
level is sufficient.
EW000065
wNever remove the engine oil tank
cap after high-speed operation,
otherwise hot engine oil could
spout out and cause damage or
injury. Always let the engine oil
cool down sufficiently before
removing the oil tank cap.5. If the engine oil is below the min-
imum level mark, add sufficient
oil of the recommended type to
raise it to the correct level.
6. Install the oil filler cap and the oil
filler cap cover.4. Check the washers for damage
and replace them if necessary.
NOTE:
Skip steps 5–8 if the oil filter element
is not being replaced.5. Remove the oil filter element
cover by removing the bolts.NOTE:
The oil filter element cover is secured
by two bolts and a drain bolt. First,
remove the drain bolt to drain the oil
filter element cavity.
1
32
1. Oil filter cover bolt (×2)
2. Oil filter cover
3. Oil filter drain bolt
To change the engine oil (with or
without oil filter element replace-
ment)
1. Start the engine, warm it up for
several minutes, and then turn it
off.
2. Place an oil pan under the
engine to collect the used oil.
3. Remove the oil filler cap cover,
the oil filler cap and the drain
bolts to drain the oil from the
crankcase and oil tank.1. Drain bolt (oil tank)
2. Drain bolt (crankcase)1
2
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