2008 YAMAHA WOLVERINE 450 oil level

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 ..................................... 6-5
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 chart for the
emission control system ...........................8-3
General maintenance and lubrication
chart ..........................................................8-5
Removing and installing cowlings and
panels .......................................................8-9
Checking the spark plug ...........................8-15
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge ................8-17
Final gear oil .............................................8-22
Changing the differential gear oil ..............8-24
Coolant .....................................................8-26
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-31
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-34
V-belt cooling duct check hose .................8-35
V-belt case drain plug ...............................8-35
Adjusting the carburetor ............................8-36
Adjusting the engine idling speed .............8-36
Adjusting the throttle cable free play .........8-37
Valve clearance ........................................8-38
Adjusting the drive select lever safety
system cable ...........................................8-38
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-38
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-39
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-41U3C262E0.book Page 2 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM

5-1
5
EBU19200
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EBU19222Pre-operation check list Before operating this ATV, be sure to check the items listed in the following table.
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.NOTE:The maintenance of some items in the table has to be performed by a Yamaha dealer. Refer to the periodicmaintenance charts on page 8-3 to determine which service should be performed by a Yamaha 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, 8-17
Final gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-22
Differential gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-24
CoolantCheck coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.
Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-26
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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 8-17.)EBU19590Final gear oil Make sure that the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-22.)
EBU19600Differential gear oil Make sure that the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See page
8-24.)EBU19630Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-26.)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.
U3C262E0.book Page 3 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM

8-7
8
EBU23070NOTE:
The air filter needs more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet or dusty areas.20 Final gear oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√√
21 Cooling systemCheck coolant level and ATV for coolant leakage,
and correct if necessary.√√√√√
Replace coolant. Every 2 years
22*Moving parts and
cablesLubricate.√√√√
23*Drive select lever
safety system cableCheck operation and adjust or replace if neces-
sary.√√√
24*Throttle lever hous-
ing and cableCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check throttle cable free play and adjust if neces-
sary.
Lubricate throttle lever housing and cable.√√√√√
25*Front and rear brake
switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.√√√√√
26*Lights and switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Adjust headlight beams.√√√√√ NO. ITEMCHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOBINITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes
firstmonth136612
km
(mi)320
(200)1300
(800)2500
(1600)2500
(1600)5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320U3C262E0.book Page 7 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM

8-17
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.EBU26425Engine 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 8-9.)
3. 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 ten minutes until the oil set-tles for an accurate reading.
1. Spark plug gapTightening torque:
Spark plug:
17.5 Nm (1.75 m·kgf, 12.7 ft·lbf)
U3C262E0.book Page 17 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM

8-18
8 4. Remove the engine oil filler cap, and then
wipe the dipstick off with a clean rag.
5. Insert the dipstick into 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.
6. 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.
7. Insert the dipstick into the oil filler hole, and
then tighten the engine oil filler cap.
8. Install the panel.
1. Engine oil filler cap
1. Dipstick
2. Maximum level mark
3. Minimum level mark
U3C262E0.book Page 18 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM

8-19
8To change the engine oil (with or without oil fil-
ter cartridge replacement)
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove panel D. (See page 8-9.)
3. Start the engine, warm it up for several min-
utes, and then turn it off.
4. Place an oil pan under the engine to collect
the used oil.
5. Remove the engine oil filler cap, and then re-
move the engine oil drain bolt to drain the oil
from the crankcase.
NOTE:Skip steps 6–10 if the oil filter cartridge is not beingreplaced.
6. Remove panel C. (See page 8-9.)
7. Remove the oil filter cartridge with an oil filter
wrench.
1. Engine oil drain bolt
1. Oil filter cartridge
U3C262E0.book Page 19 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM

8-22
8

Make sure that no foreign material enters thecrankcase.
13. Start the engine, and then let it idle for several
minutes while checking it for oil leakage. If oil
is leaking, immediately turn the engine off and
check for the cause.
14. Turn the engine off, wait at least ten minutes,
and then check the oil level and correct it if
necessary.
15. Install panel D.EBU23381Final gear oil The final gear case must be checked for oil leak-
age before each ride. If any leakage is found, have
a Yamaha dealer check and repair the ATV. In ad-
dition, the final gear oil level must be checked and
the oil changed as follows at the intervals specified
in the periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.
To check the final gear oil level
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.NOTE:The final gear oil level must be checked on a coldengine.2. Remove the final gear oil filler bolt, and then
check the oil level in the final gear case.
NOTE:The oil level should be at the brim of the filler hole.
3. If the oil is below the brim of the filler hole, add
sufficient oil of the recommended type to raise
it to the correct level.
4. Install the oil filler bolt, and then tighten it to the
specified torque.1. Final gear oil
2. Final gear oil filler bolt
3. Correct oil level
U3C262E0.book Page 22 Tuesday, June 26, 2007 3:36 PM