2003 YAMAHA YZ250F engine oil

3 - 16
INSP
ADJ
ENGINE OIL REPLACEMENT
7. If the oil filter is to be replaced during this
oil change, remove the following parts
and reinstall them.
8. Install:
Copper washer 1
Oil strainer (frame) 2
Oil hose 3
Bolt (oil hose) 4
Oil hose clamp 5
Lower engine bracket
9. Install:
Copper washer
Oil filter element drain bolt
Crankcase oil drain bolt
Frame oil drain bolt
10. Fill:
Engine oil
11. Check:
Oil leakage
12. Install:
Oil tank cap
13. Check:
Engine oil level Replacement steps:
Remove the oil filter element cover 1 and
oil filter element 2.
Check the O-rings 3, if cracked or dam-
aged, replace them with a new one.
Install the oil filter element and oil filter ele-
ment cover.
T R..
Oil filter element cover:
10 Nm (1.0 m • kg, 7.2 ft • lb)
Oil quantity:
Total amount:
1.2 L (1.06 Imp qt, 1.27 US qt)
Periodic oil change:
1.0 L (0.88 Imp qt, 1.06 US qt)
With oil filter replacement:
1.1 L (0.97 Imp qt, 1.27 US qt)
T R..70 Nm (7.0 m · kg, 50 ft · lb)
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)
T R..2 Nm (0.2 m · kg, 1.4 ft · lb)
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)
T R..10 Nm (1.0 m · kg, 7.2 ft · lb)
T R..20 Nm (2.0 m · kg, 14 ft · lb)
T R..23 Nm (2.3 m · kg, 17 ft · lb)

3 - 17
INSP
ADJ
OIL PRESSURE INSPECTION
1. Check:
Oil pressure
Checking steps:
Slightly loosen the oil pressure check bolt
1.
Start the engine and keep it idling until oil
starts to seep from the oil pressure check
bolt. If no oil comes out after one minute,
turn the engine off so it will not seize.
Check oil passages and oil pump for dam-
age or leakage.
Start the engine after solving the prob-
lem(s) and recheck the oil pressure.
Tighten the oil pressure check bolt.
T R..
Oil pressure check bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m • kg, 7.2 ft • lb)
PILOT SCREW ADJUSTMENT
1. Adjust:
Pilot screw 1
Adjustment steps:
NOTE:
To optimize the fuel flow at a smaller throttle
opening, each machine’s pilot screw has
been individually set at the factory. Before
adjusting the pilot screw, turn it in fully and
count the number of turns. Record this num-
ber as the factory-set number of turns out.
Turn in the pilot screw until it is lightly
seated.
Turn out the pilot screw by the factory-set
number of turns.
Pilot screw:
1-5/8 turns out (example)
OIL PRESSURE INSPECTION/
PILOT SCREW ADJUSTMENT

3 - 22
INSP
ADJ
VALVE CLEARANCE INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT
Install the new pads 3 and the valve lift-
ers 4.
NOTE:
Apply the engine oil on the valve lifters.
Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil on the
valve stem ends.
Valve lifter must turn smoothly when
rotated with a finger.
Be careful to reinstall valve lifters and
pads in their original place.
Install the camshafts (exhaust and intake).
Refer to “CAMSHAFTS” section in the
CHAPTER 4.

3 - 32
INSP
ADJ
DRIVE CHAIN SLACK ADJUSTMENT
5. Install:
Drive chain 1
Joint 2
Master link clip 3
CAUTION:
Be sure to install the master link clip to the
direction as shown.
aTurning direction
6. Lubricate:
Drive chain
Drive chain lubricant:
SAE 10W-30 motor oil or suit-
able chain lubricants
DRIVE CHAIN SLACK ADJUSTMENT
1. Elevate the rear wheel by placing the
suitable stand under the engine.
2. Check:
Drive chain slack a
Above the seal guard installation bolt.
Out of specification → Adjust.
NOTE:
Before checking and/or adjusting, rotate the
rear wheel through several revolutions and
check the slack several times to find the tight-
est point. Check and/or adjust the drive chain
slack with the rear wheel in this “tight chain”
position.
Drive chain slack:
40 ~ 50 mm (1.6 ~ 2.0 in)

3 - 33
INSP
ADJ
FRONT FORK INSPECTION
3. Adjust:
Drive chain slack
Drive chain slack adjustment steps:
Loosen the axle nut 1 and locknuts 2.
Adjust the drive chain slack by turning the
adjusters 3.
To tighten → Turn the adjuster 3 coun-
terclockwise.
To loosen → Turn the adjuster 3 clock-
wise and push wheel forward.
Turn each adjuster exactly the same
amount to maintain correct axle alignment.
(There are marks a on each side of the
drive chain puller alignment.)
NOTE:
Turn the adjuster so that the drive chain is in
line with the sprocket, as viewed from the
rear.
CAUTION:
Too small drive chain slack will overload
the engine and other vital parts; keep the
slack within the specified limits.
Tighten the axle nut while pushing down
the drive chain.
T R..
Axle nut:
125 Nm (12.5 m • kg, 90 ft • lb)
Tighten the locknuts.
T R..
Locknut:
16 Nm (1.6 m • kg, 11 ft • lb)
EC36C000
FRONT FORK INSPECTION
1. Inspect:
Front fork smooth action
Operate the front brake and stroke the
front fork.
Unsmooth action/oil leakage → Repair
or replace.

3 - 34
INSP
ADJFRONT FORK OIL SEAL AND DUST SEAL CLEANING/
FRONT FORK INTERNAL PRESSURE RELIEVING/
FRONT FORK REBOUND DAMPING FORCE ADJUSTMENT
EC36D001
FRONT FORK OIL SEAL AND DUST SEAL
CLEANING
1. Remove:
Protector
Dust seal 1
NOTE:
Use a thin screw driver, and be careful not to
damage the inner fork tube and dust seal.
2. Clean:
Dust seal a
Oil seal b
NOTE:
Clean the dust seal and oil seal after every
run.
Apply the lithium soap base grease on the
inner tube.
FRONT FORK INTERNAL PRESSURE
RELIEVING
NOTE:
If the front fork initial movement feels stiff dur-
ing a run, relieve the front fork internal pres-
sure.
1. Elevate the front wheel by placing a suit-
able stand under the engine.
2. Remove the air bleed screw 1 and
release the internal pressure from the
front fork.
3. Install:
Air bleed screw
EC36H002
FRONT FORK REBOUND DAMPING FORCE
ADJUSTMENT
1. Adjust:
Rebound damping force
By turning the adjuster 1.
Stiffer a → Increase the rebound damp-
ing force. (Turn the adjuster 1 in.)
Softer b → Decrease the rebound damp-
ing force. (Turn the adjuster 1 out.)
T R..1 Nm (0.1 m · kg, 0.7 ft · lb)

4 - 26
ENGCAMSHAFTS
Decompression system
1. Check:
Decompression system
Checking steps:
Check that the decompression mecha-
nism cam 1 moves smoothly.
Check that the decompression mechanism
cam lever pin 2 projects from the camshaft.
Timing chain tensioner
1. Check:
While pressing the tensioner rod lightly
with fingers, use a thin screwdriver 1
and wind the tensioner rod up fully
clockwise.
When releasing the screwdriver by
pressing lightly with fingers, make sure
that the tensioner rod will come out
smoothly.
If not, replace the tensioner assembly.
ASSEMBLY AND INSTALLATION
Camshaft
1. Install:
Exhaust camshaft 1
Intake camshaft 2
Installation steps:
Turn the crankshaft counterclockwise with
a wrench.
NOTE:
Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil on the
camshafts.
Apply the engine oil on the decompression
system.
Squeezing the decompression lever
allows the crankshaft to be turned easily.
Align the T.D.C. mark a on the rotor with the
align mark b on the crankcase cover when
piston is at T.D.C. on compression stroke.

4 - 27
ENGCAMSHAFTS
Fit the timing chain 3 onto both camshaft
sprockets and install the camshafts on the
cylinder head.
NOTE:
The camshafts should be installed onto the
cylinder head so that the punch mark c on
the exhaust camshaft and the punch mark
d on the intake camshaft must align with
the cylinder head surface, as shown in the
illustration.
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) in a criss-
cross 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.