2002 YAMAHA XVS250 oil

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-23
6
EAU00727
Rear brake shoes
The rear brake is provided with a wear
indicator, which allows you to check the
brake shoe wear without having to dis-
assemble the brake. To check the
brake shoe wear, check the position of
the wear indicator while applying the
brake. If a brake shoe has worn to the
point that the wear indicator reaches
the wear limit line, have a Yamaha
dealer replace the brake shoes as a
set.
EAU03294
Checking the brake fluid level Insufficient brake fluid may allow air to
enter the brake system, possibly caus-
ing it to become ineffective.
Before riding, check that the brake fluid
is above the minimum level mark and
replenish if necessary. A low brake flu-
id level may indicate worn brake pads
and/or brake system leakage. If the
brake level is low, be sure to check the
brake pads for wear and the brake sys-
tem for leakage.Observe these precautions:


When checking the fluid level,
make sure that the top of the brake
fluid reservoir is level.


Use only the recommended quali-
ty brake fluid, otherwise the rubber
seals may deteriorate, causing
leakage and poor braking
performance.


Refill with the same type of brake
fluid. Mixing fluids may result in a
harmful chemical reaction and
lead to poor braking performance.


Be careful that water does not en-
ter the brake fluid reservoir when
refilling. Water will significantly
lower the boiling point of the fluid
and may result in vapor lock.
1. Brake shoe wear limit line
2. Brake shoe wear indicatorRear
1. Minimum level mark
Recommended brake fluid: DOT 4
E_5kr.book Page 23 Friday, December 14, 2001 11:33 AM

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-24
6


Brake fluid may deteriorate paint-
ed surfaces or plastic parts. Al-
ways clean up spilled fluid
immediately.


As the brake pads wear, it is nor-
mal for the brake fluid level to
gradually go down. However, if the
brake fluid level goes down sud-
denly, have a Yamaha dealer
check the cause.
EAU03985
Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the
brake fluid at the intervals specified in
the NOTE after the periodic mainte-
nance and lubrication chart. In addition,
have the oil seals of the brake master
cylinder and caliper as well as the
brake hose replaced at the intervals
listed below or whenever they are dam-
aged or leaking.

Oil seals: Replace every two
years.


Brake hose: Replace every four
years.
EAU00744
Drive chain slack The drive chain slack should be
checked before each ride and adjusted
if necessary.
To check the drive chain slack
1. Place the motorcycle on a level
surface and hold it in an upright
position.NOTE:_ When checking and adjusting the drive
chain slack, the motorcycle should be
positioned straight up and there should
be no weight on it. _
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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 the axle
nut to the specified torques.
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 torques:
Locknut:
16 Nm (1.6 m·kgf)
Axle nut:
104 Nm (10.4 m·kgf)
E_5kr.book Page 26 Friday, December 14, 2001 11:33 AM

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. _
EAU04034
Checking and lubricating the
throttle grip and cable The operation of the throttle grip should
be checked before each ride. In addi-
tion, the cable should be lubricated or
replaced at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance chart.
Recommended lubricant:
Engine oil
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-29
6
EAU02939
Checking the front fork The condition and operation of the front
fork must be checked as follows at the
intervals specified in the periodic main-
tenance and lubrication chart.
To check the condition
EW000115
WARNING
_ Securely support the motorcycle so
that there is no danger of it falling
over. _Check the inner tubes for scratches,
damage and excessive oil leakage.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. _
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-34
63. Unhook the headlight bulb holder,
and then remove the defective
bulb.
EW000119
WARNING
_ Headlight bulbs get very hot. There-
fore, keep flammable products away
from a lit headlight bulb, and do not
touch the bulb until it has cooled
down. _4. Place a new headlight bulb into
position, and then secure it with
the bulb holder.
EC000105
CAUTION:_ Do not touch the glass part of the
headlight bulb to keep it free from
oil, otherwise the transparency of
the glass, the luminosity of the bulb,
and the bulb life will be adversely af-
fected. Thoroughly clean off any dirt
and fingerprints on the headlight
bulb using a cloth moistened with
alcohol or thinner. _5. Install the headlight bulb cover,
and then connect the coupler.
1. Headlight bulb cover
1. Headlight bulb holder
1. Do not touch this area.
E_5kr.book Page 34 Friday, December 14, 2001 11:33 AM

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:_

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.


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 Friday, December 14, 2001 11:33 AM

MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-3
7After 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 metal,
including chrome- and nickel-plat-
ed, 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 or covering it.
EWA00001
WARNING
_

Make sure that there is no oil or
wax on the brakes or tires. If
necessary, clean the brake
discs and brake linings with a
regular brake disc cleaner or ac-
etone, and wash the tires with
warm water and a mild deter-
gent.


Before operating the motor-
cycle test its braking perfor-
mance and cornering behavior.
_
ECA00013
CAUTION:_

Apply spray oil and wax spar-
ingly and make sure to wipe off
any excess.


Never apply oil or wax to any
rubber and plastic parts, but
treat them with a suitable care
product.


Avoid using abrasive polishing
compounds as they will wear
away the paint.
_NOTE:_ Consult a Yamaha dealer for advice on
what products to use. _
E_5kr.book Page 3 Friday, December 14, 2001 11:33 AM