2008 YAMAHA RHINO 700 steering

5-27
EVU01230
Steering
Park on level ground. Turn the steering wheel right
and left. Check for excessive free play, abnormal
noises, or a rough feeling. Have a Yamaha dealer
repair as necessary for proper operation.
EVU00470
Fittings and fasteners
Always check the tightness of chassis fittings and
fasteners before a ride. Take the vehicle to a
Yamaha dealer or refer to the Service Manual for
correct tightening torque.
EVU00480
Lights
Check the headlights and tail/brake lights to make
sure they are in working condition. Repair as nec-
essary for proper operation.
EE.book Page 27 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM

6-21 1. On-Command differential gear lock switch “4WD”/“LOCK”
2. Differential gear lock lever
1. Commutateur de blocage du différentiel “4WD”/“LOCK”
2. Levier du système de blocage du différentiel
1. Conmutador de bloqueo del diferencial On-Command
“4WD”/“LOCK”
2. Palanca del bloqueo del diferencial
On-Command differential gear lock switch
“4WD”/“LOCK”
To lock the differential gear in 4WD, stop the vehi-
cle, make sure the On-Command four-wheel-drive
switch is set to “4WD”, move the differential gear
lock lever to positionb, and then set the switch to
“LOCK”. When the differential gear is locked, the
differential gear lock indicator light (“DIFF. LOCK”)
will come on along with the differential gear lock in-
dicator “” in the multi-function display. To re-
lease the differential gear lock, stop the vehicle
and set the switch to “4WD”.

When the switch is set to “LOCK”, the differen-
tial gear lock indicator and indicator light will
flash until the differential gear is locked.


When the indicator and indicator light are flash-
ing, turning the steering wheel back and forth
will help the differential gear lock to engage.


Driving before the differential gear lock is prop-
erly engaged (e.g., when the indicator and indi-
cator light are flashing) will cause the engine
speed to be limited until engagement is com-
plete.
DIFF.
LOCK
EE.book Page 21 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM

7-29 a. CORRECT GRIP EXAMPLE
b. INCORRECT GRIP EXAMPLE
a. EXEMPLE DE MAINTIEN CORRECT
b. EXEMPLE DE MAINTIEN INCORRECT
a. EJEMPLO DE SUJECIÓN CORRECTA
b. EJEMPLO DE SUJECIÓN INCORRECTA
a
b
Steering wheel
Keep both hands on the steering wheel. Do not
hold the steering wheel with your thumbs inside
the rim. Keep your palms on the outside of the
steering wheel. Similar to other off-road vehicles, if
the Rhino hits a deep rut or large obstacle, the
steering wheel could briefly jerk in one direction or
back and forth as the tires and vehicle respond to
the obstacle. This quick motion could injure your
thumbs or wrist if your thumbs or hand(s) are in-
side the steering wheel. Grip the steering wheel so
that your thumbs will not be hit by the spokes. As
an example, see the illustration.
EE.book Page 29 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM

7-33
Wear eye protection when operating or riding the
vehicle to reduce the risk of a serious accident or
injury. Eye protection, such as a face shield or
goggles, may reduce the risk of foreign material
getting in your eyes and help prevent loss of vi-
sion.
Practice for new Rhino users
You should become familiar with the performance
characteristics of the vehicle in a large, flat area
that is free of obstacles and other vehicles. Prac-
tice controlling the accelerator pedal, brakes,
steering, and drive select lever. Drive at slow
speeds with gradual acceleration and turning.
Practice smooth throttle application. Practice slow-
ing down before turning. Practice maintaining a
steady throttle through the turn. Avoid higher
speeds until you are thoroughly familiar with the
operation of your vehicle. Remember, driving ag-
gressively or making abrupt maneuvers even on
flat, open areas can cause side rollovers.
EE.book Page 33 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM

7-35
Become familiar with the way the vehicle feels in
low and high ranges, first in two-wheel drive
(2WD) and then in four-wheel drive (4WD) and
four-wheel drive with the differential locked (DIFF.
LOCK). Steering may take more effort in 4WD with
the differential locked (DIFF. LOCK). Also practice
driving in reverse.
Take the time to learn basic operation of the vehi-
cle before attempting more difficult maneuvers.
Getting ready to ride
Perform the Pre-Operation Checks on pages 5-1–
5-33. Follow the instructions starting on pages
6-7–6-9 to start the engine.
EE.book Page 35 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM

7-37
Turning
Use care in turns – turning the steering wheel too
far or too fast can result in loss of control or a roll-
over. Slow down before entering turns. When
making tight turns from a standstill or at slow
speeds, avoid sudden or hard acceleration. Driv-
ing aggressively or making abrupt maneuvers
even on flat, open areas can cause side rollovers.
Avoid sideways sliding, skidding, or back-wheel
sliding, and never do donuts. If you feel the Rhino
begin to slide sideways or the back wheels slide
during a turn, steer into the direction of the slide, if
possible, and gradually let off the accelerator ped-
al to regain directional control and avoid rollover.
For example, if you feel the back of the vehicle
start to slide to your right, steer to the right.
EE.book Page 37 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM

7-39
If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or roll,
keep your body completely inside the protective
structure of the vehicle:

Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly on
the floorboards and keep a firm grip on the
steering wheel or handholds.


Do not put your hands or feet outside of the ve-
hicle for any reason. Do not try to stop a tipover
using your arm or leg.
EE.book Page 39 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM

7-53
Hills
Choose carefully which hills you attempt to climb
or descend. Avoid hills with slippery surfaces or
those where you will not be able to see far enough
ahead of you. Use common sense and remember
that some hills are too steep for you to climb or de-
scend. Use proper driving techniques to avoid
rearward, forward, or sideways rollovers on hills
and slopes.
Drive straight up and down inclines, not across
them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable, drive slowly.
Turn downhill immediately if you feel the vehicle
may tip.
If you think or feel the Rhino may tip or roll:

Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly on
the floorboards and keep a firm grip on the
steering wheel or handholds.


Do not put your hands or feet outside of the ve-
hicle for any reason.
EE.book Page 53 Wednesday, November 7, 2007 2:40 PM