2006 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 cooling

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

5-1
5
EBU19200
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EBU19220Pre-operation check list Before operating this ATV, be sure to check the items listed in the following table.NOTE:The maintenance of some items in the table has to be performed by a Yamaha dealer. Refer to the “Periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart” on page 8-3 to determine which service should be performed by aYamaha dealer.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
FuelCheck fuel level in fuel tank, and add recommended fuel if neces-
sary.
Check fuel line for leakage. Correct if necessary.4-9, 5-3
Engine oilCheck oil level in engine, and add recommended oil to specified lev-
el if necessary.
Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-16
Final gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-21
Differential gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-23
CoolantCheck coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.
Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-25
Front brakeCheck operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add recommended brake
fluid to specified level if necessary.
Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-4, 8-36, 8-37, 8-39
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
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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

8-6
8
27 Differential gear oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√√
28 Final gear oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√√
29 Cooling systemCheck coolant level and ATV for coolant leakage,
and correct if necessary.√√√√√
Replace coolant. Every 2 years
30*Moving parts and
cablesLubricate.√√√√
31*Drive select lever
safety system cableCheck operation and adjust or replace if neces-
sary.√√√
32*Throttle lever hous-
ing and cableCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check throttle cable free play and adjust if neces-
sary.
Lubricate throttle lever housing and cable.√√√√√
33*Exhaust systemCheck for leakage and replace gasket(s) if neces-
sary.
Check for looseness and tighten all screw clamps
and joints if necessary.√√√
34*Front and rear brake
switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.√√√√√
35*Lights and switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Adjust headlight beams.√√√√√ NO. ITEMCHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOBINITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes
firstmonth136612
km
(mi)320
(200)1200
(750)2400
(1500)2400
(1500)4800
(3000)
hours 20 75 150 150 300U3C260E0.book Page 6 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

8-27
8

If water has been used instead of coolant, re-
place it with coolant as soon as possible,
otherwise the engine may not be sufficiently
cooled and the cooling system will not be
protected against frost and corrosion.
If water has been added to the coolant, have
a Yamaha dealer check the antifreeze con-
tent of the coolant as soon as possible, oth-
erwise the effectiveness of the coolant willbe reduced.
NOTE:If the engine overheats, see page 8-54 for furtherinstructions.EBU26440To change the coolant
WARNING
EWB01890Wait for the engine and radiator to cool before
removing the radiator cap. You could be
burned by hot fluid and steam blown out under
pressure. Always place a thick rag over the cap
when opening. Allow any remaining pressureto escape before completely removing the cap.
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.2. Remove panels C and D. (See page 8-8.)
3. Place a container under the engine, and then
remove the coolant drain bolt. (Use a trough
or a similar object as shown to prevent coolant
from spilling on the footrest.)
1. Coolant drain bolt
U3C260E0.book Page 27 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

8-28
84. Remove cowling A. (See page 8-8.)
5. Remove the radiator cap.6. Remove the coolant reservoir cap.
7. Disconnect the hose on the coolant reservoir
side, and then drain the coolant from the cool-
ant reservoir.
8. After draining the coolant, thoroughly flush the
cooling system with clean tap water.
9. Replace the coolant drain bolt washer if it is
damaged, install the coolant drain bolt, and
then tighten it to the specified torque.
1. Trough
1. Radiator cap
1. Coolant reservoir hoseTightening torque:
Coolant drain bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m·kgf, 7.2 ft·lbf)
U3C260E0.book Page 28 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM