2003 YAMAHA YZ450F engine oil

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
New
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 chain slack with
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 chain slack by turning the adjusters
3.
To tighten → Turn adjuster 3 counter-
clockwise.
To loosen → Turn adjuster 3 clockwise
and push wheel forward.
Turn each adjuster exactly the same
amount to maintain correct axle alignment.
(There are marks a on each side of chain
puller alignment.)
NOTE:
Turn the adjuster so that the chain is in line
with the sprocket, as viewed from the rear.
CAUTION:
Too small 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 during
a run, relieve the front fork internal pressure.
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.
T R..1 Nm (0.1 m · kg, 0.7 ft · lb)
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.)

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ENGCAMSHAFTS
CAMSHAFTS
CYLINDER HEAD COVER
Extent of removal:1 Cylinder head cover removal
Extent of removal Order Part name Q’ty Remarks
CYLINDER HEAD COVER
REMOVAL
Preparation for removal Seat and fuel tank Refer to “SEAT, FUEL TANK AND SIDE
COVERS” section.
Carburetor Refer to “CARBURETOR” section.
1 Spark plug 1
2 Engine upper bracket (right) 1
3 Engine upper bracket (left) 1
4 Cylinder head breather hose 1
5 Oil tank breather hose 1
6 Bolt (cylinder head cover) 2
7 Cylinder head cover 1
8 Gasket 1
9 Timing chain guide (upper) 1
1

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ENGCAMSHAFTS
Decompression system
1. Check:
Decompression system
Checking steps:
Check that the decompressor cam 1
moves smoothly.
Check that the decompressor 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
1. Install:
Exhaust camshaft 1
Intake camshaft 2
Installation steps:
Turn the crankshaft counterclockwise until
the “I” mark a on the rotor is aligned with
the stationary pointer b on the crankcase
cover.
NOTE:
Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil on the
camshafts.
Apply the engine oil on the decompression
system.

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 exhaust cam
sprocket punch mark c and the intake cam
sprocket punch mark d align with the sur-
face of the cylinder head.
CAUTION:
Do not turn the crankshaft during the
camshaft installation. Damage or
improper valve timing will result.
Install the clips and camshaft caps 4.
T R..
Bolt (camshaft cap):
10 Nm (1.0 m • kg, 7.2 ft • lb)
NOTE:
Apply the engine oil on the thread and con-
tact surface of the bolts (camshaft cap) 5.
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.
5
4
E
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.

4 - 41
ENGVALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
3. Install:
Valve cotters
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 engine oil on the valve lifters.
Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil on the
valve stem end.
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
1. Install:
Piston rings
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):
17.991 ~ 18.000 mm
(0.7083 ~ 0.7087 in)
Measure the inside diameter (piston) b.
Inside diameter (piston):
18.004 ~ 18.015 mm
(0.7088 ~ 0.7093 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:
0.004 ~ 0.024 mm
(0.00016 ~ 0.00094 in)
: 0.07 mm (0.003 in)