2004 YAMAHA YZ250F fork

5 - 49
CHAS
9. Install:
Steering stem cap 1
10. After tightening the nut, check the steer-
ing for smooth movement. If not, adjust
the steering by loosening the steering
ring nut little by little.
11. Adjust:
Front fork top end a
Front fork top end (standard) a:
5 mm (0.20 in)
12. Tighten:
Pinch bolt (upper bracket) 1
Pinch bolt (lower bracket) 2
CAUTION:
Tighten the lower bracket to specified
torque. If torqued too much, it may cause
the front fork to malfunction.
T R..23 Nm (2.3 m · kg, 17 ft · lb)
T R..20 Nm (2.0 m · kg, 14 ft · lb)
STEERING

7 - 13
TUNSETTING
EC722011
Front fork setting
The front fork setting should be made depend-
ing on the rider’s feeling of an actual run and
the circuit conditions.
The front fork setting includes the following
three factors:
1. Setting of air spring characteristics
Change the fork oil level.
2. Setting of spring preload
Change the spring.
Install the adjustment washer.
3. Setting of damping force
Change the compression damping.
Change the rebound damping.
The spring acts on the load and the
damping force acts on the cushion
travel speed.
EC723001
Change in level and characteristics of fork
oil
Damping characteristic near the final stroke can
be changed by changing the fork oil amount.
CAUTION:
Adjust the oil level in 5 mm (0.2 in) incre-
ments or decrements. Too low oil level
causes the front fork to produce a noise at
full rebound or the rider to feel some pres-
sure on his hands or body. Alternatively,
too high oil level will develop unexpectedly
early oil lock with the consequent shorter
front fork travel and deteriorated perfor-
mance an characteristics. Therefore, adjust
the front fork within the specified range.
ÅAir spring characteristics in relation to oil level
change
ıLoad
ÇStroke
1Max. oil level
2Standard oil level
3Min. oil level
Standard oil level:
125 mm (4.92 in)
Extent of adjustment:
105 ~ 135 mm (4.13 ~ 5.31 in)
From top of outer tube with
inner tube and damper rod fully
compressed without spring.

7 - 14
TUNSETTING
EC727020
Spring preload adjustment
The spring preload is adjusted by installing the
adjustment washer 1 between the spring seat
2 and fork spring 3.
CAUTION:
Do not install three or more adjustment
washers for each front fork.
WARNING
Always adjust each front fork to the same
setting. Uneven adjustment can cause poor
handling and loss of stability.
ÅLoad
ıFork stroke
1Without adjustment washer (standard)
21 adjustment washer
32 adjustment washers
Standard washer quantity:
Zero adjustment washers
Extent of adjustment:
Zero ~ 2 adjustment washers
EC72A001
Setting of spring after replacement
As the front fork setting can be easily affected
by rear suspension, take care so that the
machine front and rear are balanced (in posi-
tion, etc.) when setting the front fork.
1. Use of soft spring
Generally a soft spring gives a soft riding
feeling. Rebound damping tends to
become stronger and the front fork may
sink deeply over a series of gaps.
To set a soft spring:
Change the rebound damping.
Turn out one or two clicks.
Change the compression damping.
Turn in one or two clicks.

7 - 16
TUN
EC72P000
Front fork setting parts
Adjustment washer 1
Front fork spring 2
[Equal pitch spring]
[Unequal pitch spring]
NOTE:
The unequal pitch spring is softer in initial
characteristic than the equal pitch spring and
is difficult to bottom out under full compres-
sion.
The I.D. mark (slits) a is proved on the end
of the spring.TYPE (thickness) PART NUMBER
T = 2.3 mm (0.09 in) 5XE-23364-00
TYPESPRING
RATESPRING
PART NUMBERI.D.
MARK
(slits)
SOFT0.398
0.408
0.4185XE-23141-00
5XE-23141-10
5XE-23141-20I
II
III
STD 0.428 5XC-23141-L0 –
STIFF0.438
0.449
0.459
0.469
0.4795XE-23141-40
5XE-23141-50
5XE-23141-60
5XE-23141-70
5XE-23141-80IIIII
I-I
I-II
I-III
I-IIII
TYPESPRING
RATE
(approx.)SPRING
PART NUMBERI.D.
MARK
(slits)
SOFT
STIFF0.398
0.418
0.438
0.459
0.4795XE-23141-A0
5XE-23141-B0
5XE-23141-C0
5XE-23141-D0
5XE-23141-E0V
V-I
V-II
V-III
V-IIII
SETTING

7 - 21
TUNSETTING
EC72H002
Suspension setting
Front fork
NOTE:
If any of the following symptoms is experienced with the standard position as the base, make
resetting by reference to the adjustment procedure given in the same chart.
Before any change, set the rear shock absorber sunken length to the standard figure 90 ~
100 mm (3.5 ~ 3.9 in).
SymptomSection
Check Adjust
JumpLarge
gapMedium
gapSmall
gap
Stiff over entire range

Compression damping
Oil level (oil amount)
SpringTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Decrease oil level by about 5 ~ 10 mm (0.2 ~ 0.4 in).
Replace with soft spring.
Unsmooth movement
over entire range

Outer tube
Inner tube
Under bracket tightening
torqueCheck for any bends, dents, and other noticeable
scars, etc. If any, replace affected parts.
Retighten to specified torque.
Poor initial
movement

Rebound damping
Oil sealTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Apply grease in oil seal wall.
Soft over entire range,
bottoming out

Compression damping
Oil level (oil amount)
SpringTurn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to increase
damping.
Increase oil level by about 5 ~ 10 mm (0.2 ~ 0.4 in).
Replace with stiff spring.
Stiff toward stroke end
Oil level (oil amount) Decrease oil level by about 5 mm (0.2 in).
Soft toward stroke end,
bottoming out
Oil level (oil amount) Increase oil level by about 5 mm (0.2 in).
Stiff initial movement
Compression dampingTurn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Low front, tending to
lower front posture

Compression damping
Rebound damping
Balance with rear end
Oil level (oil amount)Turn adjuster clockwise (about 2 clicks) to increase
damping.
Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Set sunken length for 95 ~ 100 mm (3.7 ~ 3.9 in) when
one passenger is astride seat (lower rear posture).
Increase oil level by about 5 mm (0.2 in).
“Obtrusive” front, tend-
ing to upper front pos-
ture

Compression damping
Balance with rear end
Spring
Oil lever (oil amount)Turn adjuster counterclockwise (about 2 clicks) to
decrease damping.
Set sunken length for 90 ~ 95 mm (3.5 ~ 3.7 in) when
one passenger is astride seat (upper rear posture).
Replace with soft spring.
Decrease oil level by about 5 ~ 10 mm (0.2 ~ 0.4 in).