2004 YAMAHA YZ250F wheel

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)

3 - 37
INSP
ADJREAR SHOCK ABSORBER SPRING PRELOAD
ADJUSTMENT
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER SPRING
PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT
1. Elevate the rear wheel by placing the
suitable stand under the engine.
2. Remove:
Rear frame
3. Loosen:
Locknut 1
4. Adjust:
Spring preload
By turning the adjuster 2.
* For EUROPE
NOTE:
Be sure to remove all dirt and mud from
around the locknut and adjuster before
adjustment.
The length of the spring (installed) changes
1.5 mm (0.06 in) per turn of the adjuster.
CAUTION:
Never attempt to turn the adjuster beyond
the maximum or minimum setting.
5. Tighten:
Locknut
6. Install:
Rear frame (upper)
Rear frame (lower) Stiffer →Increase the spring preload.
(Turn the adjuster 2 in.)
Softer →Decrease the spring preload.
(Turn the adjuster 2 out.)
Spring length (installed) a:
Standard length Extent of adjustment
249 mm (9.80 in)
*264.5 mm (10.41 in)240.5 ~ 258.5 mm
(9.47 ~ 10.18 in)
*255.5 ~ 273.5 mm
(10.06 ~ 10.77 in)
T R..32 Nm (3.2 m · kg, 23 ft · lb)
T R..29 Nm (2.9 m · kg, 21 ft · lb)

3 - 41
INSP
ADJTIRE PRESSURE CHECK/SPOKES INSPECTION AND
TIGHTENING/WHEEL INSPECTION
EC36Q000
TIRE PRESSURE CHECK
1. Measure:
Tire pressure
Out of specification → Adjust.
NOTE:
Check the tire while it is cold.
Loose bead stoppers allow the tire to slip off
its position on the rim when the tire pressure
is low.
A tilted tire valve stem indicates that the tire
slips off its position on the rim.
If the tire valve stem is found tilted, the tire is
considered to be slipping off its position. Cor-
rect the tire position.
Standard tire pressure:
100 kPa (1.0 kgf/cm2, 15 psi)
EC36S002
SPOKES INSPECTION AND TIGHTENING
1. Inspect:
Spokes 1
Bend/damage → Replace.
Loose spoke → Retighten.
2. Tighten:
Spokes
NOTE:
Be sure to retighten these spokes before and
after break-in. After a practice or a race check
spokes for looseness.
T R..3 Nm (0.3 m · kg, 2.2 ft · lb)
EC36T000
WHEEL INSPECTION
1. Inspect:
Wheel runout
Elevate the wheel and turn it.
Abnormal runout → Replace.

3 - 42
INSP
ADJ
STEERING HEAD INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT
2. Inspect:
Bearing free play
Exist play → Replace.
EC36U013
STEERING HEAD INSPECTION AND
ADJUSTMENT
1. Elevate the front wheel by placing a suit-
able stand under the engine.
2. Check:
Steering stem
Grasp the bottom of the forks and gen-
tly rock the fork assembly back and
forth.
Free play → Adjust steering head.
3. Check:
Steering smooth action
Turn the handlebar lock to lock.
Unsmooth action → Adjust steering ring
nut.
4. Adjust:
Steering ring nut
Steering ring nut adjustment steps:
Remove the number plate.
Remove the handlebar and handlebar
upper bracket.
Loosen the steering ring nut 1 using the
steering nut wrench 2.
Steering nut wrench:
YU-33975/90890-01403

4 - 71
ENGKICK SHAFT AND SHIFT SHAFT
KICK SHAFT AND SHIFT SHAFT
Extent of removal:1 Kick shaft removal2 Kick shaft disassembly
3 Shift shaft removal4 Segment removal
Extent of removal Order Part name Q’ty Remarks
KICK SHAFT AND SHIFT
SHAFT REMOVAL
Preparation for removal Oil pump Refer to “OIL PUMP” section.
1 Kick idle gear 1
2 Kick shaft assembly 1 Refer to “REMOVAL POINTS”.
3 Spring guide 1
4 Torsion spring 1
5 Ratchet wheel 1
6 Kick gear 1
7 Kick shaft 1
8 Washer 1
9 Shift pedal 1
10 Shift shaft 1
11Collar
1
3
2
1
4
1

4 - 73
ENGKICK SHAFT AND SHIFT SHAFT
REMOVAL POINTS
Kick shaft assembly
1. Remove:
Kick shaft assembly 1
NOTE:
Unhook the torsion spring 2 from the hole a
in the crankcase.
EC4C3101
Shift guide and shift lever assembly
1. Remove:
Bolt (shift guide)
Shift guide 1
Shift lever assembly 2
NOTE:
The shift lever assembly is disassembled at
the same time as the shift guide.
EC4N3100
Segment
1. Remove:
Bolt (segment) 1
Segment 2
NOTE:
Turn the segment counterclockwise until it
stops and loosen the bolt.
INSPECTION
Kick shaft and ratchet wheel
1. Check:
Ratchet wheel 1 smooth movement
Unsmooth movement → Replace.
Kick shaft 2
Wear/damage → Replace.
Spring 3
Broken → Replace.
EC4C4300
Kick gear, kick idle gear and ratchet wheel
1. Inspect:
Kick gear 1
Kick idle gear 2
Ratchet wheel 3
Gear teeth a
Ratchet teeth b
Wear/damage → Replace.