2003 YAMAHA YZ250F engine

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TUNSETTING
1Jet needle
2Pilot air jet
3Needle jet
4Main jet
5Pilot jet
6Pilot screw
Main jet adjustment
The richness of the air-fuel mixture at full throt-
tle can be set by changing the main jet 1.
If the air-fuel mixture is too rich or too lean, the
engine power will drop, resulting in poor accel-
eration.
Effects of changing the main jet (reference)
ÅIdle
ıFully open
Standard main jet #178
1/4 1/2 3/4
+10%
#178
–10%
#188
#168
Åı

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TUNSETTING
Pilot screw adjustment
The richness of the air-fuel mixture with the
throttle fully closed to 1/4 open can be set by
turning the pilot screw 1. Turning in the pilot
screw will make the mixture lean at low
speeds, and turning it out will enrich it.
NOTE:
If the engine idling speed fluctuates, turn the
pilot screw only 1/2 of a turn in either direc-
tion.
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.
Effects of adjusting the pilot screw (reference)
ÅIdle
ıFully open
12-1/8 turns out
21-1/8 turns out
31-5/8 turns out
Standard pilot
screw position1-5/8
(example)1
1/4 1/2 3/4
+5%
–5%
1
23
Åı
Pilot jet adjustment
The richness of the air-fuel mixture with the
throttle open 1/4 or less can be set by adjust-
ing the pilot jet 1.
Standard pilot jet #40

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TUNSETTING
Effects of adjusting the pilot jet (reference)
ÅIdle
ıFully open
1/4 1/2 3/4
+5%
–5%
#42
#38#40
Å
ı
Jet needle groove position adjustment
Adjusting the jet needle 1 position affects the
acceleration when the throttle is 1/8 to 3/4
open.
1. Too rich at intermediate speeds
Rough engine operation is felt and the
engine will not pick up speed smoothly. In
this case, step up the jet needle clip by
one groove and move down the needle to
lean out the mixture.
2. Too lean at intermediate speeds
The engine breathes hard and will not
pick up speed quickly.
Step down the jet needle clip by one
groove and move up the needle to enrich
the mixture.
Effects of changing the jet needle groove
position (reference)
ÅIdle
ıFully open
1No.5 groove
2No.3 groove
3No.4 groove
Standard clip position No.4 groove
1/4 1/2 3/4
+10%
–10%
1
23
ı Å

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TUN
Leak jet adjustment (accelerator pump
adjustment)
The leak jet 1 is a setting part that adjusts the
flow of fuel discharged by the accelerator
pump. Since the accelerator pump operates
only when throttle is open, the leak jet is used
to adjust a fuel mixture ratio for quick throttle
opening and is therefore different from other
setting parts that adjust a fuel mixture for each
throttle opening (each engine speed).
1. The engine breathes hard in quick throt-
tle opening.
Select a leak jet having lower calibrating
No. than standard to enrich the mixture.
#100 → #90
2. Rough engine operation is felt in quick
throttle opening.
Select a leak jet having higher calibrating
No. than standard to lean out the mixture.
#100 → #110
Standard leak jet #1001
Relationship with throttle opening
The flow of the fuel through the carburetor
main system is controlled by the main jet and
then, it is further regulated by the area
between the main nozzle and the jet needle.
The fuel flow relates to the diameter of the
straight portion of the jet needle with the throt-
tle 1/8 to 1/4 open and relates to the clip posi-
tion with the throttle 1/8 to 3/4 open.
Therefore, the fuel flow is balanced at each
stage of throttle opening by the combination of
the jet needle straight portion diameter and
clip position.
SETTING

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TUN
Examples of carburetor setting depending on symptom
This should be taken simply for an example. It is necessary to set the carburetor while checking
the operating conditions of the engine.
Symptom Setting Checking
At full throttle
Hard breathing
Shearing noise
Whitish spark plug
Lean mixtureIncrease main jet calibration no.
(Gradually)Discoloration of spark plug →
If tan color, it is in good condition.
If cannot be corrected:
Clogged float valve seat
Clogged fuel hose
Clogged fuel cock
Check that the accelerator pump oper-
ates smoothly.
At full throttle
Speed pick-up stops
Slow speed pick-up
Slow response
Sooty spark plug
Rich mixtureDecrease main jet calibration no.
(Gradually)Discoloration of spark plug →
If tan color, it is in good condition.
If cannot be corrected:
Clogged air filter
Fuel overflow from carburetor
Lean mixture Lower jet needle clip position.
(1 groove down)
The clip position is the jet needle
groove on which the clip is installed.
The positions are numbered from the
top.
Check that the accelerator pump oper-
ates smoothly. (except for rich mixture
symptom). Rich mixture Raise jet needle clip position.
(1 groove up)
1/4 ~ 3/4 throttle
Hard breathing
Lack of speedLower jet needle clip position.
(1 groove down)
1/4 ~ 1/2 throttle
Slow speed pick-up
Poor accelerationRaise jet needle clip position.
(1 groove up)
Closed to 1/4 throttle
Hard breathing
Speed downUse jet needle with a smaller diameter. Slow-speed-circuit passage
Clogged → Clean.
Overflow from carburetor
Closed to 1/4 throttle
Poor accelerationUse jet needle with a larger diameter.
Raise jet needle clip position. (1 groove
up)
Poor response in the low to
intermediate speedsRaise jet needle clip position.
If this has no effect, lower the jet needle
clip position.
Poor response when throttle
is opened quicklyCheck overall settings.
Use main jet with a lower calibration no.
Raise jet needle clip position.
(1 groove up)
If these have no effect, use a main jet
with a higher calibration no. and lower
the jet needle clip position.Check air filter for fouling.
Check that the accelerator pump oper-
ates smoothly.
Jet needleClip
Groobe 7 Groobe 6
Groobe 5
Groobe 4
Groobe 3
Groobe 2
Groobe 1
Leaner
↑
(Standard)
↓
Richer
*
SETTING

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EC720000
CHASSIS
Selection of the secondary reduction ratio
(Sprocket)
Secondary
reduction =
ratio
reduction ratio>
It is generally said that the secondary gear
ratio should be reduced for a longer straight
portion of a speed course and should be
increased for a course with many corners.
Actually, however, as the speed depends on
the ground condition of the day of the race,
be sure to run through the circuit to set the
machine suitable for the entire course.
In actuality, it is very difficult to achieve set-
tings suitable for the entire course and some
settings may be sacrificed. Thus, the settings
should be matched to the portion of the
course that has the greatest effect on the
race result. In such a case, run through the
entire course while making notes of lap times
to find the best balance; then, determine the
secondary reduction ratio.
If a course has a long straight portion where
a machine can run at maximum speed, the
machine is generally set such that it can
develop its maximum revolutions toward the
end of the straight line, with care taken to
avoid the engine over-revving.
NOTE:
Riding technique varies from rider to rider and
the performance of a machine also vary from
machine to machine. Therefore, do not imitate
other rider’s settings from the beginning but
choose your own setting according to the level
of your riding technique.Standard secondary
reduction ratio48/13 (3.692)
Number of rear wheel sprocket teeth
Number of drive sprocket teeth
SETTING

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EC72B000
Rear suspension setting
The rear suspension setting should be made
depending on the rider’s feeling of an actual
run and the circuit conditions.
The rear suspension setting includes the fol-
lowing two factors:
1. Setting of spring preload
Change the set length of the spring.
Change the spring.
2. Setting of damping force
Change the rebound damping.
Change the compression damping.
EC72C001
Choosing set length
1. Place a stand or block under the engine
to put the rear wheel above the floor, and
measure the length a between the rear
wheel axle center and the rear fender
holding bolt.
2. Remove the stand or block from the
engine and with a rider astride the seat,
measure the sunken length b between
the rear wheel axle center and the rear
fender holding bolt.
3. Loosen the locknut 1 and make adjust-
ment by turning the spring adjuster 2 to
achieve the standard figure from the sub-
traction of the length b from the length
a.
Standard figure:
90 ~ 100 mm (3.5 ~ 3.9 in)
SETTING