2006 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 steering

Axle boots ................................................ 8-42
Brake light switches ................................. 8-42
Checking and lubricating the cables ........ 8-43
Checking and lubricating the front and rear
brake levers .............................................. 8-43
Checking and lubricating the brake
pedal ........................................................ 8-44
Checking the wheel bearings ................... 8-44
Lubricating the drive shaft universal
joint ........................................................... 8-44
Lubricating the knuckle pivots .................. 8-45
Lubricating the knuckle shafts .................. 8-45
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-45
Battery ...................................................... 8-45
Replacing a fuse ...................................... 8-47
Replacing a headlight bulb ....................... 8-48
Adjusting a headlight beam ...................... 8-50
Replacing the tail/brake light bulb ............ 8-51
Removing a wheel .................................... 8-51
Installing a wheel ...................................... 8-52
Troubleshooting ....................................... 8-53
Troubleshooting charts ............................. 8-54
CLEANING AND STORAGE .......................... 9-1
Cleaning ..................................................... 9-1
Storage ....................................................... 9-2SPECIFICATIONS .......................................10-1
CONSUMER INFORMATION.......................11-1
Identification numbers ...............................11-1
U3C260E0.book Page 3 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

6-7
6 ity or suitability. Choose a genuine Yamaha ac-
cessory, or one that is equivalent in design and
quality.

Accessories should be rigidly and securely
mounted. An accessory which can shift position
or come off while you are riding could affect your
ability to control the ATV.
Do not mount an accessory where it could inter-
fere with your ability to control the ATV. Exam-
ples include (but are not limited to) a heavy or
bulky object attached to the handlebars which
could make steering difficult, an accessory that
limits your ability to move around on the seat, or
one that limits your view.
Use extra caution when riding an ATV with ac-
cessories. The ATV may handle differently than
it does without accessories.EBU26390Loading
As originally equipped, this ATV is not designed to
carry cargo or tow a trailer. If you choose to add ac-
cessories so that you can carry cargo or tow a trail-
er, you must use common sense and good
judgment as the stability and handling of an ATV
can be changed. When adding accessories, keep
the following points in mind:

Never exceed the weight limits shown. An over-
loaded ATV can be unstable.
If you are carrying cargo and towing a trailer, in-
clude the tongue weight in the maximum ATV
load limit.
Load cargo on the carriers as close to the center
of the ATV as possible. Put cargo at the rear of
the front carrier, at the front of the rear carrier,
and center it.
Tie down cargo securely to the carriers. Make
sure cargo in the trailer cannot move around. A
shifting load can cause an accident.
Make sure the load does not interfere with con-
trols or your ability to see where you are going.
Ride more slowly than you would without a load.
The more weight you carry, the slower you
should go.
Allow more braking distance. A heavier ATV
takes longer to stop.MAXIMUM LOADING LIMIT
ATV loading limit (total weight of rider, cargo,
accessories, and tongue):
100.0 kg (220 lb)
Storage compartment:
2.0 kg (4 lb)
U3C260E0.book Page 7 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

7-18
7

Avoid going down a hill at an angle that
would cause the ATV to lean sharply to one
side. Go straight down the hill where possi-ble.
CROSSING A SLOPE
Traversing a sloping surface on your ATV requires
you to properly position your weight to maintain
proper balance. Be sure that you have learned the
basic riding skills on flat ground before attemptingto cross a sloping surface. Avoid slopes with slip-
pery surfaces or rough terrain that may upset your
balance.
As you travel across a slope, lean your body in the
uphill direction. It may be necessary to correct the
steering when riding on loose surfaces by pointing
the front wheels slightly uphill. When riding on
slopes, be sure not to make sharp turns either up
or down hill.
If your ATV does begin to tip over, gradually steer
in the downhill direction if there are no obstacles in
your path. As you regain proper balance, gradually
steer again in the direction you wish to travel.
WARNING
EWB01631Never attempt to turn the ATV around on any
hill until you have mastered the turning tech-
nique as described in the Owner’s Manual on
level ground. Be very careful when turning on
any hill. Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill
if possible.
When crossing the side of a hill:
Always follow proper procedures as de-
scribed in the Owner’s Manual.
Avoid hills with excessively slippery or loose
surfaces.
U3C260E0.book Page 18 Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:52 AM

7-22
7RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN
Riding over rough terrain should be done with cau-
tion. Look out for obstacles which could cause
damage to the ATV or could lead to an upset or ac-
cident. Be sure to keep your feet firmly mounted on
the footboards at all times. Avoid jumping the ATV
as loss of control and damage to the ATV may re-
sult.
WARNING
EWB01650Before operating in a new area, check for ob-
stacles. Never attempt to ride over large obsta-
cles, such as large rocks or fallen trees. When
you go over obstacles, always follow proper
procedures as described in the Owner’s Manu-al.
SLIDING AND SKIDDING
Care should be used when riding on loose or slip-
pery surfaces since the ATV may slide. If unex-
pected and uncorrected, sliding could lead to an
accident.
To reduce the tendency for the front wheels to slide
in loose or slippery conditions, positioning your
weight over the front wheels will sometimes help.If the rear wheels of your ATV start to slide side-
ways, control can usually be regained (if there is
room to do so) by steering in the direction of the
slide. Applying the brakes or accelerating is not
recommended until you have corrected the slide.U3C260E0.book Page 22 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

8-45
8
EBU25060Lubricating the knuckle pivots The knuckle pivots must be lubricated at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.EBU25080Lubricating the knuckle shafts The knuckle shafts must be lubricated at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.EBU25100Lubricating the steering shaft The steering shaft must be lubricated at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.
EBU25221Battery This model is equipped with a sealed-type (MF)
battery, which does not require any maintenance.
There is no need to check the electrolyte or to add
distilled water. Check and, if necessary, tighten the
battery lead connections.CAUTION:ECB00620Never attempt to remove the battery cell seals,as this would permanently damage the battery.
WARNING
EWB02160Battery electrolyte is poisonous and danger-
ous, as it contains sulfuric acid, which can
cause severe burns. Avoid contact with skin,
eyes or clothing. Always shield your eyes
when working near batteries.
Antidote:
EXTERNAL: Flush with water.
INTERNAL: Drink large quantities of water or
milk. Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten egg
or vegetable oil. Call a physician immediately. Recommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
Recommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
Recommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based greaseRecommended lubricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
U3C260E0.book Page 45 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