2004 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 engine

6-21
EBU06761
Parking on a slope
WARNING
_ Avoid parking on hills or other inclines. Park-
ing on a hill or other incline could cause the
ATV to roll out of control, increasing the
chance of an accident. If you must park on an
incline, place the machine transversely across
the incline, apply the parking brake, and block
the front and rear wheels with rocks or other
objects.
Do not park the ATV at all on hills that are so
steep you could not walk up them easily. _1. Bring the machine to a stop by applying the
brakes.
2. Stop the engine.
3. With the brake pedal applied, shift the drive
select lever to the park position “P”.
U5ND61.book Page 21 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM

7-7
Riding your ATV requires skills acquired
through practice over a period of time.
Take the time to learn the basic techniques well
before attempting more difficult maneuvers.
Not recommended for children under 16 years
of age.
WARNING
_ A child under 16 should never operate an ATV
with engine size greater than 90cc. Use by chil-
dren of ATVs that are not recommended for
their age can lead to severe injury or death of
the child. _
U5ND61.book Page 7 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM

7-17 1. Locknut 2. Adjusting screw
1. Contre-écrou 2. Vis de réglage
1. Contratuerca 2. Tornillo de ajuste
Speed limiter
For riders less experienced with this model, this
model is equipped with a speed limiter in the throt-
tle lever housing. The speed limiter keeps the
throttle from fully opening, even when the throttle
lever is pushed to the maximum. Turning in the ad-
justing screw limits the maximum engine power
available and decreases the maximum speed of
the ATV. Turning the adjusting screw in decreases
top speed and turning it out increases top speed.
(See page 4-37 for details.)
Loading and accessories
Use extra caution when riding the ATV with addi-
tional loads, such as accessories or cargo. The
ATV’s handling may be adversely affected. Re-
duce your speed when adding additional loads.
U5ND61.book Page 17 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM

7-35
Select a large, flat area off-road to become familiar
with your ATV. Make sure that this area is free of
obstacles and other riders. You should practice
control of the throttle, brakes, shifting procedures,
and turning techniques in this area before trying
more difficult terrain.
Always avoid riding on paved surfaces: the ATV is
designed for off-road use only, and handling ma-
neuvers are more difficult to perform on pavement.
Shift to the parking position “P” and follow the in-
struction on page 6-3 to start the engine. Once it
has warmed up you are ready to begin riding your
ATV. Remember that the engine and exhaust pipe
will be hot when riding and afterwards; do not al-
low skin or clothing to come in contact with these
components.
U5ND61.book Page 35 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM

7-37
With the engine idling, shift the drive select lever to
the low position “L” or the high position “H”. Apply
the throttle slowly and smoothly. The centrifugal
clutch will engage and you will start to accelerate.
If the throttle is applied too abruptly, the front
wheels may lift off the ground resulting in a loss of
directional control. Avoid higher speeds until you
are thoroughly familiar with the operation of your
ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. Im-
proper use of the brakes can cause the tires to
lose traction, reducing control and increasing the
possibility of an accident.CAUTION:_ Do not shift from drive position low “L” to high
“H” or vice versa without coming to a com-
plete stop. Damage to the engine or drive train
may occur. _
U5ND61.book Page 37 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM

7-55
RIDING DOWNHILL
When riding your ATV downhill, shift your weight
as far to the rear and uphill side of the ATV as pos-
sible. Move back on the seat and sit with your
arms straight. Engine compression will do most of
the braking for you. For maximum engine com-
pression braking effect, select low range “L” and
change to 4WD or 4WD-LOCK before beginning
to descend the hill. Improper braking may cause a
loss of traction. Use caution while descending a hill
with loose or slippery surfaces. Braking ability and
traction may be adversely affected by these sur-
faces. Improper braking may also cause a loss of
traction.
When this ATV is in 4WD or 4WD-LOCK, all
wheels (front and rear) are interconnected by the
drive train. This means that applying either the
front brake or the rear brake will brake all wheels.
When descending hills, using either brake lever or
the brake pedal will brake the wheels on the down-
hill side. Avoid sudden application of either the
front or rear brake because the wheels on the up-
hill side could come off the ground. Apply both the
front and rear brakes gradually.
U5ND61.book Page 55 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM

8-1
EBU00516
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENTPeriodic inspection, adjustment and lubrication will
keep your machine in the safest and most efficient
condition possible. Safety is an obligation of the
machine owner. The most important points of ma-
chine inspection, adjustment and lubrication are
explained on the following pages.
WARNING
Never service an engine while it is running.
Moving parts can catch clothing or parts of the
body, causing injury. Electrical components
can cause shocks or can start fires. Turn off
the engine when performing maintenance un-
less otherwise specified. Have a Yamaha deal-
er perform service if you are not familiar with
machine service.
U5ND61.book Page 1 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM

8-7
EBU00262
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE/LUBRICATION
ITEM ROUTINEWhichever
comes firstINITIAL EVERY
km 320 1,200 2,400 2,400 4,800
hours 20 75 150 150 300
Valves*Check valve clearance.
Adjust if necessary.
Cooling systemCheck coolant leakage.
Repair if necessary.
Replace coolant every 24 months.Spark plugCheck condition.
Adjust gap and clean.
Replace if necessary.Air filter elementClean.
Replace if necessary.Every 20–40 hours
(More often in wet or dusty areas.)
Carburetor*Check and adjust idle speed/starter operation.
Adjust if necessary.Crankcase breather
system*Check breather hose for cracks or damage.
Replace if necessary.Exhaust system*Check for leakage.
Retighten if necessary.
Replace gasket(s) if necessary.Fuel line*Check fuel hose for cracks or damage.
Replace if necessary.Engine oil
Replace. (Warm engine before draining.)Engine oil filter cartridge
Replace.Engine oil strainer*
Clean.Final gear oil
Check oil level/oil leakage.
Replace every 12 month.Differential gear oil
Front brake*Check operation/fluid leakage. (See NOTE page 8-8.)
Correct if necessary.Rear brake*Check operation/fluid leakage.(See NOTE page 8-8.)
Correct if necessary.U5ND61.book Page 7 Thursday, June 5, 2003 7:02 PM