2006 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 belt

OPERATION .................................................. 6-1
Starting a cold engine ................................ 6-1
Starting a warm engine .............................. 6-3
Operating the drive select lever and driving
in reverse ................................................... 6-3
Engine break-in .......................................... 6-5
Parking ....................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope ..................................... 6-6
Accessories and loading ............................ 6-6
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD
JUDGEMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-14
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-17
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-18
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW
WATER ..................................................... 7-19
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-22
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-23
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-23PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR
REPAIR ..........................................................8-1
Owner’s manual and tool kit .......................8-1
Periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart ............................................................8-3
Removing and installing cowlings and
panels .........................................................8-8
Checking the spark plug ...........................8-14
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge ................8-16
Final gear oil .............................................8-21
Changing the differential gear oil ..............8-23
Coolant .....................................................8-25
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-30
V-belt cooling duct check hose .................8-32
V-belt case drain plug ...............................8-33
Adjusting the carburetor ............................8-33
Adjusting the engine idling speed .............8-34
Adjusting the throttle cable free play .........8-35
Valve clearance ........................................8-35
Adjusting the drive select lever safety
system cable .............................................8-36
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-36
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-37
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-39
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-39
Adjusting the rear brake lever free play and
checking the brake pedal position ............8-40U3C260E0.book Page 2 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

3-1
3
EBU17680
DESCRIPTION
EBU17690Left view
EBU17700Right view
1. Front shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting
ring
2. Fuel cock
3. Air filter case
4. Fuses
5. Storage compartment and tool kit
6. Seat lock lever
7. Rear shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting
ring
8. Engine oil dipstick
9. Oil filter cartridge
10.Coolant reservoir
11.V-belt cooling duct check hose
1. Tail/brake light
2. Spark plug
3. Rear brake fluid reservoir
4. Radiator cap
5. Front shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting
ring
6. Brake pedal
7. V-belt case
U3C260E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

7-20
7Test your brakes after leaving the water. Do not
continue to ride your ATV without verifying that you
have regained proper braking ability.
CAUTION:ECB00730After riding your ATV in water, be sure to drain
the trapped water by removing the check hose
at the bottom of the air filter case, the V-belt
cooling duct check hose, the drive select lever
box check hose and the storage compartment
drain plugs. Also, remove the V-belt case drainplug to drain any water that may have accumu-
lated. Wash the ATV in fresh water if it has been
operated in salt water or muddy conditions.1. Air filter case check hose
U3C260E0.book Page 20 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

7-21
7
1. V-belt cooling duct check hose (left front side of ATV)
1. Drive select lever box check hose
1. Storage compartment drain plug
1. V-belt case drain plug
U3C260E0.book Page 21 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

8-32
8
CAUTION:ECB00440Do not twist the sponge material when squeez-ing it.
7. Check the sponge material and replace it if
damaged.
8. Apply a quality foam air filter oil to the sponge
material.NOTE:The sponge material should be wet but not drip-ping.
9. Pull the sponge material over the air filter ele-
ment frame, and then install the lock plate.
10. Insert the air filter element into the air filter
case, and then install the air filter case cover
by hooking the holders onto the air filter case.
11. Install the seat.NOTE:The air filter element should be cleaned every 20–
40 hours. It should be cleaned and lubricated more
often if the ATV is operated in extremely dusty ar-
eas. Each time the air filter element maintenance
is performed, check the air inlet of the air filter case
for obstructions. Check the air filter case rubber
joint to the carburetor fittings and the rubber jointmanifold fittings for an air-tight seal. Tighten all fit-
tings securely to avoid the possibility of unfiltered
air entering the engine.CAUTION:ECB00460
Make sure that the air filter element is prop-
erly seated in the air filter case.
Never operate the engine with the air filter el-
ement removed. This will allow unfiltered air
to enter the engine, causing rapid engine
wear and possible engine damage. Addition-
ally, operation without the air filter element
will affect carburetor jetting with subsequent
poor performance and possible engine over-heating.EBU23920V-belt cooling duct check hose If dust or water collects in the V-belt cooling duct
check hose, remove the hose and clean it.
U3C260E0.book Page 32 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

8-33
8
EBU23930V-belt case drain plug After riding in water deep enough to allow it to en-
ter the V-belt case, remove this plug to drain the
water from the case.NOTE:If water drains from the V-belt case after removing
the plug, have a Yamaha dealer check the ATV asthe water may affect other engine parts.
EBU23940Adjusting the carburetor The carburetor should be checked and, if neces-
sary, adjusted at the intervals specified in the peri-
odic maintenance and lubrication chart. The
carburetor is an important part of the engine and
requires very sophisticated adjustment. Therefore,
most carburetor adjustments should be left to a
Yamaha dealer, who has the necessary profes-
sional knowledge and experience. The adjustment
described in the following section, however, may
be performed by the owner as part of routine main-
tenance.
1. V-belt cooling duct check hose (left front side of ATV)
1. V-belt case drain plug
U3C260E0.book Page 33 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

10-3
10
Clutch:Clutch type:
Wet, centrifugal automaticTransmission:Primary reduction system:
V-belt
Secondary reduction system:
Shaft drive
Secondary reduction ratio:
39/24 × 24/18 × 33/9 (7.944)
Transmission type:
V-belt automatic
Operation:
Left hand operation
Forward gear:
38/23 (1.652)
Reverse gear:
29/17 (1.706)Chassis:Frame type:
Steel tube frame
Caster angle:
4.0 °
Trail:
19.3 mm (0.76 in)Front tire:Type:
Tubeless
Size:
AT23 x 8R12Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M937
Rear tire:Type:
Tubeless
Size:
AT23 x 10R12
Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M938Loading:Maximum load:
100.0 kg (220 lb)
(Total weight of rider, cargo, accessories, and tongue)Tire air pressure (measured on cold tires):Recommended:
Front:
40 kPa (5.8 psi) (0.40 kgf/cm²)
Rear:
40 kPa (5.8 psi) (0.40 kgf/cm²)
Minimum:
Front:
37 kPa (5.3 psi) (0.37 kgf/cm²)
Rear:
37 kPa (5.3 psi) (0.37 kgf/cm²)
Maximum:
Front:
43 kPa (6.2 psi) (0.43 kgf/cm²)
Rear:
43 kPa (6.2 psi) (0.43 kgf/cm²)
U3C260E0.book Page 3 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

KKey identification number ............................................. 11-1
Knuckle pivots, lubricating ........................................... 8-45
Knuckle shafts, lubricating ........................................... 8-45LLabel locations ............................................................... 2-1
Light switch .................................................................... 4-4MMain switch .................................................................... 4-1
Model label ................................................................... 11-2NNeutral indicator light ..................................................... 4-2OOn-Command four-wheel-drive switch ........................... 4-5
Owner’s manual and tool kit ........................................... 8-1PPark indicator light ......................................................... 4-3
Parking ........................................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope ......................................................... 6-6
Part locations ................................................................. 3-1
Periodic maintenance and lubrication chart ................... 8-3
Pre-operation check list ................................................. 5-1RReverse indicator light ................................................... 4-2
RIDING YOUR ATV ....................................................... 7-1SSafety information .......................................................... 1-1
Seat .............................................................................. 4-12
Shock absorber assemblies, adjusting the front .......... 4-14
Shock absorber assembly, adjusting the rear .............. 4-15
Spark plug, checking .................................................... 8-14Specifications ............................................................... 10-1
Speed limiter .................................................................. 4-6
Speedometer unit .......................................................... 4-3
Starter (choke) ............................................................. 4-11
Start switch .................................................................... 4-4
Steering shaft, lubricating ............................................ 8-45
Storage .......................................................................... 9-2
Storage compartment .................................................. 4-13
TTail/brake light bulb, replacing ..................................... 8-51
Throttle cable free play, adjusting ................................ 8-35
Throttle lever ........................................................... 4-6, 5-5
Tire pressure, measuring ............................................... 5-6
Tires ............................................................................... 5-5
Tire wear limit ................................................................ 5-7
Troubleshooting ........................................................... 8-53
Troubleshooting charts ................................................ 8-54VValve clearance ........................................................... 8-35
V-belt case drain plug .................................................. 8-33
V-belt cooling duct check hose .................................... 8-32
Vehicle identification number ....................................... 11-1WWheel bearings, checking ............................................ 8-44
Wheel, installing ........................................................... 8-52
Wheel, removing .......................................................... 8-51
U3C260E0.book Page 2 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM