2006 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 engine coolant

EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 1-1
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1
Left view ...................................................... 3-1
Right view.................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ............................ 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1
Main switch ................................................ 4-1
Indicator lights and warning light ................ 4-2
Speedometer unit ....................................... 4-3
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-4
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-6
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-6
Front brake lever ........................................ 4-7
Brake pedal and rear brake lever ............... 4-7
Drive select lever ........................................ 4-8
Fuel tank cap .............................................. 4-8
Fuel ............................................................ 4-9
Fuel cock .................................................. 4-10Starter (choke) ..........................................4-11
Seat ..........................................................4-12
Storage compartment ...............................4-13
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies ................................................4-14
Adjusting the rear shock absorber
assembly ...................................................4-15
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1
Pre-operation check list ..............................5-1
Fuel .............................................................5-3
Engine oil ....................................................5-3
Final gear oil ...............................................5-3
Differential gear oil ......................................5-3
Coolant .......................................................5-3
Front and rear brakes .................................5-4
Throttle lever ...............................................5-5
Tires ............................................................5-5
Measuring the tire pressure ........................5-6
Tire wear limit .............................................5-7
Chassis fasteners .......................................5-7
Instruments, lights and switches .................5-7U3C260E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

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
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4-2
4
EBU17810Indicator lights and warning light EBU17840Reverse indicator light “”
This indicator light comes on when the transmis-
sion is in the reverse position.NOTE:If the indicator light flashes or the speedometer
does not show the speed while riding, have aYamaha dealer check the speed sensor circuit.
EBU17860Neutral indicator light “”
This indicator light comes on when the transmis-
sion is in the neutral position.EBU17920Coolant temperature warning light “”
This warning light comes on when the engine over-
heats. When this occurs during operation, stop the
engine as soon as it is safe to do so and allow it to
cool down for about 10 minutes.CAUTION:ECB00010
The engine may overheat if the ATV is over-
loaded. In this case, reduce the load to spec-
ification.
Start the engine after making sure that the
warning light is out. Continuous use while
the warning light is on may cause damage tothe engine.EBU26590Four-wheel-drive indicator “”
This indicator comes on when the 2WD/4WD
switch is set to the 4WD position.
1. Coolant temperature warning light “”
2. Neutral indicator light “N”
3. Reverse indicator light “R”
4. Park indicator light “P”
5. Four-wheel-drive indicator “”U3C260E0.book Page 2 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

5-3
5
EBU19540Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-9.)
WARNING
EWB00520
Do not overfill the fuel tank. Fuel expands
when it heats up. If the fuel tank is overfilled,
fuel could spill out due to heat from the en-
gine or the sun.
Be careful not to spill fuel, especially on the
engine or exhaust pipe which can cause a
fire and severe injury. Wipe up any spilled
fuel immediately.
Do not refuel right after the engine has been
running and is still very hot.
Be sure the fuel tank cap is closed securely.EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-16.)EBU19590Final gear oil Make sure that the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-21.)
EBU19600Differential gear oil Make sure that the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See page
8-23.)EBU19630Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-25.)NOTE:The coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-ture.
WARNING
EWB00510Wait 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 put a thick rag over the cap
when opening. Allow any remaining pressureto escape before completely removing the cap.
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8-25
8

The differential gear case capacity is greater
than the recommended oil quantity, therefore
the oil level cannot be accurately checked fromthe oil filler hole.CAUTION:ECB00410Be sure no foreign material enters the differen-tial gear case.
6. Install the oil filler bolt, and then tighten it to the
specified torque.
7. Check the differential gear case for oil leak-
age. If oil is leaking, check for the cause.
EBU23470Coolant The coolant level should be checked before each
ride. In addition, the coolant must be changed at
the intervals specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.EBU23481To check the coolant level
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.NOTE:The coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-ture.
2. Check the coolant level in the coolant reser-
voir.NOTE:The coolant should be between the minimum andmaximum level marks. Recommended differential gear oil:
See page 10-1.
Oil quantity:
0.35 L (0.37 US qt) (0.31 Imp.qt)
Tightening torque:
Differential gear oil filler bolt:
23 Nm (2.3 m·kgf, 17 ft·lbf)
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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