2002 YAMAHA YZ250F engine

4 - 5
ENG

RADIATOR
EC456000
HANDLING NOTE
WARNING

Do not remove the radiator cap when the
engine and radiator are hot. Scalding hot
fluid and steam may be blown out under
pressure, which could cause serious
injury.
When the engine has cooled, open the radi-
ator cap by the following procedure:
Place a thick rag, like a towel, over the radi-
ator cap, slowly rotate the cap counter-
clockwise to the detent. This procedure
allows any residual pressure to escape.
When the hissing sound has stopped,
press down on the cap while turning coun-
terclockwise and remove it.
EC454000
INSPECTION
EC444100
Radiator
1. Inspect:

Radiator core
1

Obstruction
→
Blow out with com-
pressed air through rear of the radiator.
Bent fin
→
Repair/replace.
EC455000
ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION
Radiator
1. Install:

O-ring
1

Radiator pipe
2


Bolt (radiator pipe)
3

NOTE:

Apply the lithium soap base grease on the O-
ring.
2. Install:

Radiator breather hose
1
Radiator hose 4 (longer) 2
Radiator hose 2 (shorter) 3
To left radiator 4.
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)

4 - 10
ENGCARBURETOR
HANDLING NOTE
CAUTION:
Do not loosen the screws (throttle position
sensor) 1 except when changing the throt-
tle position sensor due to failure because it
will cause a drop in engine performance.
REMOVAL POINTS
Pilot screw
1. Remove:
Pilot screw 1
NOTE:
To optimize the fuel flow at a small throttle
opening, each machine’s pilot screw has been
individually set at the factory. Before removing
the pilot screw, turn it in fully and count the
number of turns. Record this number as the
factory-set number of turns out.
INSPECTION
Carburetor
1. Inspect:
Carburetor body
Contamination → Clean.
NOTE:
Use a petroleum based solvent for cleaning.
Blow out all passages and jets with com-
pressed air.
Never use a wire.

4 - 26
ENGCAMSHAFTS
CAUTION:
Do not turn the crankshaft during the
camshaft installation. Damage or
improper valve timing will result.
Install the clips, camshaft caps 4 and
bolts (camshaft cap) 5.
T R..
Bolt (camshaft cap):
10 Nm (1.0 m • kg, 7.2 ft • lb)
NOTE:
Before removing the clips, cover the cylin-
der head with a clean rag to prevent the
clips from into the cylinder head cavity.
Apply the engine oil on the thread and con-
tact surface of the bolts (camshaft cap).
Tighten the bolts (camshaft cap) 5 in a
crisscross pattern.
CAUTION:
The bolts (camshaft cap) must be tight-
ened evenly, or damage to the cylinder
head, camshaft caps, and camshaft will
result.
2. Install:
Timing chain tensioner
Installation steps:
While pressing the tensioner rod lightly
with fingers, use a thin screwdriver and
wind the tensioner rod up fully clockwise.
With the rod fully wound and the chain
tensioner UP mark a facing upward,
install the gasket 1 and the timing chain
tensioner 2, and tighten the bolt 3 to the
specified torque.
T R..
Bolt (timing chain tensioner):
10 Nm (1.0 m • kg, 7.2 ft • lb)

4 - 29
ENGCYLINDER HEAD
CYLINDER HEAD
Extent of removal:1 Cylinder head removal
Extent of removal Order Part name Q’ty Remarks
CYLINDER HEAD REMOVAL
Preparation for removal Seat and fuel tank Refer to “SEAT, FUEL TANK AND SIDE
COVERS” section.
Exhaust pipe and silencer Refer to “EXHAUST PIPE AND
SILENCER” section.
Radiator hose 1 Disconnect at cylinder head side.
Carburetor Refer to “CARBURETOR” section.
Camshaft Refer to “CAMSHAFTS” section.
Upper engine bracket Refer to “ENGINE REMOVAL” section.
1 Radiator pipe 1
2 Decompression cable guide 1
3 Oil delivery pipe 1
4 Nut 2
5 Bolt [L=135 mm (5.31 in)] 2
6 Bolt [L=145 mm (5.71 in)] 2
7 Cylinder head 1 Disconnect the decompression cable.
8 Timing chain guard (exhaust side) 1
9 Bolt (decompression shaft) 1
10 Decompression shaft 1
1

4 - 31
ENG

CYLINDER HEAD
ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION
Cylinder head
1. Install:

Decompression shaft
1


Copper washer
2

Bolt (decompression shaft)
3

NOTE:

Apply the engine oil on the decompression
shaft.
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)

2. Install:

Dowel pin
1


Cylinder head gasket
2


Timing chain guide (exhaust side)
3


Decompression cable
4


Cylinder head
5

NOTE:


Install the decompression cable to the cylin-
der head, and then to the cylinder.

While pulling up the timing chain, install the
timing chain guide (exhaust side) and cylin-
der head.

4 - 41
ENGVALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
3. Install:
Valve cotter
NOTE:
While compressing the valve spring with a
valve spring compressor 1 install the valve
cotters.
4. To secure the valve cotters onto the
valve stem, lightly tap the valve tip with a
piece of wood.
CAUTION:
Hitting the valve tip with excessive force
could damage the valve.
Valve spring compressor:
YM-4019/90890-04019
5. Install:
Adjusting pad 1
Valve lifter 2
NOTE:
Apply the molybdenum disulfied oil on the
valve stem end.
Apply the engine oil on the valve lifters.
Valve lifter must turn smoothly when rotated
with a finger.
Be careful to reinstall valve lifters and pads
in their original place.

4 - 46
ENGCYLINDER AND PISTON
Piston pin
1. Inspect:
Piston pin
Blue discoloration/grooves → Replace,
then inspect the lubrication system.
2. Measure:
Piston pin-to-piston clearance
ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION
Piston ring and piston
1. Install:
Piston ring
Onto the piston.
NOTE:
Be sure to install the piston rings so that the
manufacturer’s marks or numbers are
located on the upper side of the rings.
Lubricate the piston and piston rings liberally
with engine oil. Measurement steps:
Measure the outside diameter (piston pin)
a.
If out of specification, replace the piston
pin.
Outside diameter (piston pin):
15.991 ~ 16.000 mm
(0.6296 ~ 0.6299 in)
Measure the inside diameter (piston) b.
Inside diameter (piston):
16.002 ~ 16.013 mm
(0.6300 ~ 0.6304 in)
Calculate the piston pin-to-piston clear-
ance with the following formula.
Piston pin-to-piston clearance =
Inside diameter (piston) b –
Outside diameter (piston pin) a
If out of specification, replace the piston.
Piston pin-to-piston clearance:
0.002 ~ 0.022 mm
(0.0001 ~ 0.0009 in)
: 0.07 mm (0.003 in)

4 - 47
ENG

CYLINDER AND PISTON
2. Position:

Top ring

2nd ring

Oil ring
Offset the piston ring end gaps as
shown.
a
Top ring end
b
2nd ring end
c
Oil ring end (upper)
d
Oil ring
e
Oil ring end (lower)
3. Install:

Piston
1


Piston pin
2


Piston pin clip
3
NOTE:


Apply engine oil onto the piston pin and pis-
ton.

Be sure that the arrow mark
a
on the piston
points to the exhaust side of the engine.

Before installing the piston pin clip, cover the
crankcase with a clean rag to prevent the
piston pin clip from falling into the crankcase.

Install the piston pin clips with their ends fac-
ing downward.
45°
135°135°
a
b ced

Cylinder
1. Lubricate:

Piston

Piston ring

Cylinder
NOTE:

Apply a liberal coating of engine oil.
2. Install:

Dowel pin
1


O-ring
2
NOTE:

Apply the lithium soap base grease on the O-
ring.