2005 YAMAHA YFZ450 brake

5-5
EBU11670
Front and rear brakes
Brake lever and brake pedal

Check that there is no free play in the brake le-
ver. If there is free play, have a Yamaha dealer
inspect the brake system.


Check for correct brake pedal height. (See
page 8-91.) If the pedal height is incorrect,
have a Yamaha dealer adjust it.


Check the operation of the brake lever and
brake pedal. They should move smoothly and
there should be a firm feeling when the brakes
are applied. If not, have a Yamaha dealer in-
spect the brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See pages 8-83–8-87.)
Recommended brake fluid: DOT 4
U5TG61.book Page 5 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM

5-7
Brake fluid leakage
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
pipe joints or brake fluid reservoirs. Apply the
brakes firmly for one minute. If there is any leak-
age, have a Yamaha dealer inspect the brake sys-
tem.
Brake operation
Test the brakes at slow speed after starting out to
make sure they are working properly. If the brakes
do not provide proper braking performance, in-
spect the brake pads for wear. (See pages 8-79–
8-81.)
WARNING
_ Always check the brakes at the start of every
ride. Do not ride the ATV if you find any prob-
lem with the brakes or you could lose braking
ability, which could lead to an accident. If a
problem cannot be corrected by the adjust-
ment procedures provided in this manual,
have a Yamaha dealer check for the cause. _
U5TG61.book Page 7 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM

5-19
EBU11620
Fittings and fasteners
Always check the tightness of chassis fittings and
fasteners before a ride. Take the machine to a
Yamaha dealer or refer to the Service Manual for
correct tightening torque.
EBU10030
Lights
Check the headlights and tail/brake light to make
sure they are in working condition. Repair as nec-
essary for proper operation.
EBU11700
Switches
Check the operation of all switches. Have a
Yamaha dealer repair as necessary for proper op-
eration.
U5TG61.book Page 19 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM

6-3
EBU14120
Starting a cold engine
WARNING
_ Always make sure all control cables work
smoothly before you begin riding in cold
weather. If the control cables are frozen or do
not work smoothly, you could be unable to
control the ATV, which could lead to an acci-
dent or collision. _1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the main switch to “ON” and the engine
stop switch to “RUN”.
4. Shift the transmission into neutral.
U5TG61.book Page 3 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM

6-13
EBU14260
To start out and accelerate:
1. Release the throttle lever, and then release
the parking brake.CAUTION:_ Always close the throttle while shifting gears.
Otherwise, damage to the engine and drive
train may result. _2. Pull the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
3. Shift into first gear.
4. Open the throttle gradually and at the same
time, release the clutch lever slowly.
5. Once the machine has attained adequate
speed, release the throttle, and at the same
time, quickly pull in the clutch lever.
U5TG61.book Page 13 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM

6-17
EBU02080
To decelerate:
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shift-
ing can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing
control and increasing the possibility of an acci-
dent.
WARNING
_ Make sure the engine has sufficiently slowed
before shifting to a lower gear. Engaging a low-
er gear when the engine speed is too high
could make the wheels stop rotating. This
could cause loss of control, an accident and
injury. It could also cause engine or drive train
damage. _
U5TG61.book Page 17 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM

6-23 1. Locked position
1. Position verrou bloqué
1. Posición de bloqueo
EBU02110
Parking
When parking, stop the engine and shift into neu-
tral. Turn the fuel cock to “OFF” and apply the
parking brake.
U5TG61.book Page 23 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM

6-25
EBU14270
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, put the machine in low gear, 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
front brake.
2. With the front and rear brake applied, pull the
clutch lever, shift into the neutral position,
and then apply the parking brake.
3. Stop the engine by setting the engine stop
switch to “OFF”.
U5TG61.book Page 25 Friday, April 2, 2004 11:28 AM