2006 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 engine oil

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
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

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.
U3C260E0.book Page 3 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

8-5
8
15*Shock absorber as-
sembliesCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check for oil leakage and replace if necessary.√√√
16*Knuckle pivotsLubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√√
17*Knuckle shaftsLubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√√
18*Steering shaftLubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√√
19*Steering systemCheck operation and repair or replace if damaged.
Check toe-in and adjust if necessary.√√√√√
20*Engine mountCheck for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary.√√√
21*Axle bootsCheck for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary.Before each ride.
22*CarburetorCheck starter (choke) operation and correct if nec-
essary.
Check engine idling speed and adjust if neces-
sary.√√√√
23*Crankcase breather
systemCheck breather hose for cracks or other damage,
and replace if necessary.√√√
24 Engine oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√ √√√
25Engine oil filter car-
tridgeReplace.√√√
26*Engine oil strainerClean.√√√ 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 5 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

8-16
82. Clean the surface of the spark plug gasket
and its mating surface, and then wipe off any
grime from the spark plug threads.
3. Install the spark plug with the spark plug
wrench, and then tighten it to the specified
torque.
NOTE:If a torque wrench is not available when installing
a spark plug, a good estimate of the correct torque
is 1/4–1/2 turn past finger tight. However, the spark
plug should be tightened to the specified torque assoon as possible.
4. Install the spark plug cap.EBU26421Engine oil and oil filter cartridge The engine oil level should be checked before
each ride. In addition, the oil must be changed and
the oil filter cartridge replaced at the intervals spec-
ified in the periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart.
To check the engine oil level
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove panel D. (See page 8-8.)
3. Start the engine, warm it up for several min-
utes, and then turn it off.
4. Wait a few minutes until the oil settles before
checking.
5. Remove the engine oil filler cap, and then
wipe the dipstick off with a clean rag.
1. Spark plug gapTightening torque:
Spark plug:
17.5 Nm (1.75 m·kgf, 12.7 ft·lbf)
U3C260E0.book Page 16 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

8-17
8 6. Insert the dipstick in the filler hole (without
screwing it in), and then remove it again to
check the oil level.
NOTE:The engine oil should be between the minimumand maximum level marks.
7. If the engine oil is at or below the minimum
level mark, add sufficient oil of the recom-
mended type to raise it to the correct level.
8. Insert the dipstick into the oil filler hole, and
then tighten the engine oil filler cap.
9. Install the panel.
1. Engine oil filler cap
1. Dipstick
2. Maximum level mark
3. Minimum level mark
U3C260E0.book Page 17 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM