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7-6
7 in the Owner’s Manual. Failure to inspect the
ATV before operating or failure to properly
maintain the ATV increases the possibility of
an accident or equipment damage.
WARNING
EWB01440Always use the size and type tires specified in
the Owner’s Manual for this ATV on page 5-5.
Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in the Owner’s Manual on page 5-6.
Use of improper tires on this ATV, or operation
of this ATV with improper or uneven tire pres-
sure, may cause loss of control, increasingyour risk of an accident.
Do not operate at speeds too fast for your skills
or the conditions.
WARNING
EWB01450Always go at a speed that is proper for the ter-
rain, visibility and operating conditions, and
your experience. Operating this ATV at speeds
too fast for your skills or the conditions in-
creases your chances of losing control of theATV, which can result in an accident.Speed limiter
For riders less experienced with this model, the
throttle lever housing is equipped with a speed lim-
iter. The speed limiter keeps the throttle from fully
opening, even when the throttle lever is pushed to
the maximum. Turning in the adjusting screw limits
the maximum engine power available and de-
creases the maximum speed of the ATV. Turning
in the adjusting screw decreases top speed, and
turning it out increases top speed. (See page
4-13.)
1. Adjusting screw
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7-12
7
WARNING
EWB01550Always mount a caution flag on the ATV to
make you more visible when operating in areas
where you might not be seen by other vehicles.Watch carefully for other vehicles.
Do not ride in areas posted “no trespassing”.
Do not ride on private property without getting per-
mission.Select a large, flat, unpaved area to become famil-
iar with your ATV. Make sure that this area is free
of obstacles and other riders. You should practice
control of the throttle, brakes, shifting procedures,
and turning techniques in this area before trying
more difficult terrain. Always avoid riding on paved
surfaces: the ATV is designed for use on unpaved
surfaces only, and handling maneuvers are more
difficult to perform on pavement.
Shift to the park position and follow the instruction
on page 6-1 to start the engine. Once it has
warmed up you are ready to begin riding your ATV.
Remember that the engine and exhaust pipe will
be hot when riding and afterwards; do not allow
skin or clothing to come in contact with these com-
ponents.U3B460E0.book Page 12 Friday, May 12, 2006 2:51 PM
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7-13
7With the engine idling, shift the drive select lever
into the low-range position or the high-range posi-
tion. Apply the throttle slowly and smoothly. The
centrifugal clutch will engage and you will start to
accelerate. If the throttle is applied too abruptly, the
front wheels may lift off the ground, resulting in a
loss of directional control. Avoid higher speeds un-
til you are thoroughly familiar with the operation of
your ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. Im-
proper use of the brakes can cause the tires to lose
traction, reducing control and increasing the possi-
bility of an accident.
CAUTION:ECB00250Do not shift from drive position low-range to
high-range or vice versa without coming to a
complete stop. Damage to the engine or drivetrain may occur.
TURNING YOUR ATV
To achieve maximum traction on unpaved surfac-
es in 2WD or 4WD, the two rear wheels turn to-
gether at the same speed. Furthermore, when
riding in 4WD-LOCK (“DIFF. LOCK”), the frontwheels also turn together at the same speed.
Therefore, unless the wheel on the inside of the
turn is allowed to slip or lose some traction, the
ATV will resist turning. A special turning technique
must be used to allow the ATV to make turns
quickly and easily. It is essential that this skill be
learned first at low speed.
WARNING
EWB01770Always 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 fast
for your skills or the conditions. Operate at a
slow speed and allow extra time and distance
for maneuvers when in 4WD-LOCK (“DIFF.LOCK”).
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.
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7-17
7could come off the ground. The ATV could easily
tip over backwards. Apply both the front and rear
brakes gradually, or dismount the ATV immediate-
ly on the uphill side.
WARNING
EWB01801Use the proper gear and maintain a steady
speed when climbing a hill.
If you lose all forward speed:Keep weight uphill.Apply the brakes.Shift into the park position after you are
stopped.
If you begin rolling backwards:Keep weight uphill.2WD: Never apply the rear brake while rolling
backwards. Apply the front brake.4WD or 4WD-LOCK: Apply both front and
rear brakes gradually.When fully stopped, shift into the park posi-
tion.
Dismount on uphill side or to a side if pointed
straight uphill. Turn the ATV around and re-
mount, following the procedure described inthe Owner’s Manual.RIDING DOWNHILL
When riding your ATV downhill, shift your weight
as far to the rear and uphill side of the ATV as pos-
sible. Move back on the seat and sit with your arms
straight. Engine compression will do most of the
braking for you. For maximum engine compres-
sion braking effect, select the low-range position
and change to 4WD or 4WD-LOCK before begin-
ning to descend the hill. Improper braking may
cause a loss of traction.
Use caution while descending a hill with loose or
slippery surfaces. Braking ability and traction may
be adversely affected by these surfaces. Improper
braking may also cause a loss of traction.U3B460E0.book Page 17 Friday, May 12, 2006 2:51 PM
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8-1
8
EBU21653
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
EBU21670Safety is an obligation of the owner. Periodic in-
spection, adjustment and lubrication will keep your
ATV in the safest and best operating condition
possible. The most important points of inspection,
adjustment, and lubrication are explained on the
following pages.
The intervals given in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart should be considered as a
general guide under normal riding conditions.
However, DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER,
TERRAIN, GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, AND
INDIVIDUAL USE, THE MAINTENANCE INTER-
VALS MAY NEED TO BE SHORTENED.
WARNING
EWB01840Never service an engine while it is running.
Moving parts can catch clothing or parts of the
body, causing injury. Electrical components
can cause shocks or start fires. Turn off the en-
gine when performing maintenance unlessotherwise specified. Have a Yamaha dealer
perform the service if you are not familiar with
maintenance work.EBU27110Owner’s manual and tool kit Be sure to put this owner’s manual in the plastic
bag and to always carry it as well as the owner’s
tool kit and the low-pressure tire gauge in their re-
spective compartments under the seat.1. Owner’s manual
2. Low-pressure tire gauge
3. Owner’s tool kit
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8-5
8
15*Chassis fastenersMake sure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are
properly tightened.√√√√√
16*Shock absorber as-
sembliesCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check for oil leakage and replace if necessary.√√√
17*Stabilizer bushesCheck for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary.√√√
18*Knuckle pivotsLubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√√
19*Knuckle shaftsLubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√√
20*Steering shaftLubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.√√√
21*Steering systemCheck operation and repair or replace if damaged.
Check toe-in and adjust if necessary.√√√√√
22*Engine mountCheck for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary.√√√
23*Axle bootsCheck for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary.√√√√√
24*Fuel injectionCheck and adjust engine idle speed.√√√√√
25*Crankcase breather
systemCheck breather hose for cracks or other damage,
and replace if necessary.√√√
26 Engine oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√ √√√
27Engine oil filter car-
tridgeReplace.√√√ 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 300U3B460E0.book Page 5 Friday, May 12, 2006 2:51 PM
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8-20
8
EBU23211Checking the spark plug The spark plug is an important engine component,
which is easy to check. Since heat and deposits
will cause any spark plug to slowly erode, the spark
plug should be removed and checked in accor-
dance with the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart. In addition, the condition of the spark
plug can reveal the condition of the engine.
To remove the spark plug
1. Remove the spark plug cap.2. Remove the spark plug as shown, with the
spark plug wrench included in the owner’s tool
kit.
To check the spark plug
1. Check that the porcelain insulator around the
center electrode of the spark plug is a medi-
um-to-light tan (the ideal color when the ATV
is ridden normally).
NOTE:If the spark plug shows a distinctly different color,
the engine could be operating improperly. Do not
attempt to diagnose such problems yourself. In-stead, have a Yamaha dealer check the ATV.
1. Spark plug cap
1. Spark plug wrench
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8-22
8
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.EBU27460Engine 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. Check the engine oil level on a cold engine.NOTE:If the engine was started before checking the oil
level, be sure to warm up the engine sufficiently,
and then wait at least 10 minutes until the oil settlesfor an accurate reading.
3. Remove panel F. (See page 8-8.)4. Remove the dipstick, and then wipe it off with
a clean rag.
5. Insert the dipstick completely into the oil filler
hole, and then remove it again to check the oil
level.
1. Dipstick
U3B460E0.book Page 22 Friday, May 12, 2006 2:51 PM