2006 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 warning light

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

1-3
1 hill. If you stall or roll backwards, follow the spe-
cial procedure for braking described in this man-
ual. Dismount on the uphill side or to a side if
pointed straight uphill. Turn the ATV around and
remount, following the procedure described in
this manual.

Always check for obstacles before operating in a
new area.
Never attempt to operate over large obstacles,
such as large rocks or fallen trees. Always follow
proper procedures when operating over obsta-
cles as described in this manual.
Always be careful when skidding or sliding.
Learn to safely control skidding or sliding by
practicing at low speeds and on level, smooth
terrain. On extremely slippery surfaces, such as
ice, go slowly and be very cautious in order to re-
duce the chance of skidding or sliding out of con-
trol.
Never operate an ATV in fast flowing water or in
water deeper than that recommended in this
manual. Remember that wet brakes may have
reduced stopping ability. Test your brakes after
leaving water. If necessary, apply them several
times to let friction dry out the linings.

Always be sure there are no obstacles or people
behind you when you operate in reverse. When
it is safe to proceed in reverse, go slowly.
Always use the size and type of tires specified in
this manual.
Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in this manual.
Never modify an ATV through improper installa-
tion or use of accessories.
Never exceed the stated load capacity for an
ATV. Cargo should be properly distributed and
securely attached. Reduce speed and follow in-
structions in this manual for carrying cargo. Al-
low greater distance for braking.
WARNING
EWB00060
Always turn off the engine when refueling.
Do not refuel right after the engine has been
running and is still very hot.
Do not spill gasoline on the engine or ex-
haust pipe/muffler when refueling. Never re-
fuel while smoking, or in the vicinity of
sparks, open flames, or other sources of ig-
nition such as the pilot lights of water heat-
ers and clothes dryers. Gasoline can catch
fire and you could be burned.
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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

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5
WARNING
EWB00480Always inspect your ATV each time you use it to make sure it is in safe operating condition.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Owner’sManual. Failure to inspect increases the possibility of an accident or equipment damage.Rear brakeCheck operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary.
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, 8-40
Throttle leverMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
Check cable free play, and adjust if necessary.5-5, 8-35
Control cablesMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-43
Wheels and tiresCheck wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
Check air pressure. Correct if necessary.5-5, 5-6, 5-7
Brake pedal Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary.8-44
Brake leversMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary.8-43
Axle bootsCheck for cracks or damage, and replace if necessary. 8-42
Chassis fastenersMake sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-7
Instruments, lights and
switchesCheck operation, and correct if necessary. 5-7 ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
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EBU19880
OPERATION
EBU19900Read the Owner’s Manual carefully before riding
the ATV.
WARNING
EWB00630Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to become
familiar with all controls in order to help pre-
vent any loss of control, which could cause an
accident or injury. If there is a control or func-
tion you do not understand, ask your Yamahadealer.EBU26540Starting a cold engine
WARNING
EWB00640Always make sure all control cables work
smoothly before you begin riding in cold
weather. If the control cables are frozen or do
not work smoothly, you could be unable to
control the ATV, which could lead to an acci-dent or collision.
CAUTION:ECB00150See the “Engine break-in” section on page 6-5prior to operating the engine for the first time.
1. Apply the rear brake lever.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the main switch to “ON” and the engine
stop switch to “”.
4. Shift the drive select lever into the neutral or
park position. The corresponding indicator
light should come on, if it does not come on,
have a Yamaha dealer check the electrical cir-
cuit.NOTE:The engine can be started under the following con-
ditions:
The drive select lever is in the neutral or park po-
sition.
The rear brake lever is applied with the drive se-
lect lever in any position. However, it is recom-
mended to shift into the neutral or park positionbefore starting the engine.
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6

Due to the synchronizing mechanism in the en-
gine, the indicator light may not come on until theATV starts moving.
4. Check behind for people or obstacles, and
then release the brake pedal.
5. Open the throttle lever gradually and continue
to watch to the rear while backing.
WARNING
EWB00720Improper operation in reverse could make you
hit an obstacle or even a person behind you,
resulting in serious injury. When you shift into
reverse, make sure there are no people or ob-
stacles behind you. When it is safe to proceed,go slowly.EBU20680Engine break-in There is never a more important period in the life of
your engine than the first 20 hours of riding. For
this reason, you should read the following material
carefully.
Since the engine is brand new, do not put an ex-
cessive load on it for the first 20 hours. The various
parts in the engine wear and polish themselves to
the correct operating clearances. During this peri-od, prolonged full-throttle operation or any condi-
tion that might result in engine overheating must be
avoided.
0–10 hours
Avoid prolonged operation above 1/2 throttle. Vary
the speed of the ATV regularly. Do not operate it at
one set throttle position.
10–20 hours
Avoid prolonged operation above 3/4 throttle. Rev
the engine freely but, do not use full throttle at any
time.
20 hours and beyond
The ATV can now be operated normally.
CAUTION:ECB00220If any engine trouble should occur during the
engine break-in period, immediately have aYamaha dealer check the ATV.EBU20690Parking When parking the ATV, stop the engine, shift the
drive select lever into the park position, and then
turn the fuel cock to the “OFF” position.
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7
WARNING
EWB01570Always follow proper procedures for turning
as described in this Owner’s Manual. Practice
turning at low speeds before attempting to turn
at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fastfor your skills or the conditions.
As you approach a curve, slow down and begin to
turn the handlebars in the desired direction. As you
do so, put your weight on the footboard to the out-
side of the turn (opposite your desired direction)
and lean your upper body into the turn. Use the
throttle to maintain an even speed through the turn.
This maneuver will let the wheel on the inside of
the turn slip slightly, allowing the ATV to make the
turn properly.This procedure should be practiced at slow speed
many times in a large unpaved area with no obsta-
cles. If an incorrect technique is used, your ATV
may continue to go straight. If the ATV doesn’t
turn, come to a stop and then practice the proce-
dure again. If the riding surface is slippery or loose,
it may help to position more of your weight over the
front wheels by moving forward on the seat.
Once you have learned this technique, you should
be able to perform it at higher speeds or in tighter
curves.
1. Lean towards inside of turn.
2. Support your weight on the outer footboard.
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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.
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