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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR REPAIR
6-25
EAU23022
Cleaning and lubricating
the drive chain
The drive chain must be cleaned and
lubricated at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart, otherwise it will quickly
wear out, especially when riding in
dusty or wet areas. Service the drive
chain as follows.
ECA10581CAUTION:
The drive chain must be lubricated
after washing the motorcycle and
riding in the rain.
1. Clean the drive chain with kerosene and a small soft brush.
ECA11120CAUTION:
To prevent damaging the O-rings,
do not clean the drive chain with
steam cleaners, high-pressure
washers or inappropriate solvents. 2. Wipe the drive chain dry.
3. Thoroughly lubricate the drive
chain with a special O-ring chain
lubricant.
ECA11110CAUTION:
Do not use engine oil or any other
lubricants for the drive chain, as
they may contain substances that
could damage the O-rings.
EAU23100
Checking and lubricating
the cables
The operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubri-
cated if necessary. If a cable is dam-
aged or does not move smoothly, have
a Yamaha dealer check or replace it.
Recommended lubricant: Engine oil
EWA10720
WARNING0
Damage to the outer sheath may in-
terfere with proper cable operation
and will cause the inner cable to
rust. Replace a damaged cable as
soon as possible to prevent unsafe
conditions.
XT660Z 04-06 ING 11-03-2008 8:31 Pagina 6-25
MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-1
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EAU26000
Care
While the open design of a motorcycle
reveals the attractiveness of the tech-
nology, it also makes it more vulnera-
ble. Rust and corrosion can develop
even if high-quality components are
used. A rusty exhaust pipe may go un-
noticed on a car, however, it detracts
from the overall appearance of a mo-
torcycle. Frequent and proper care
does not only comply with the terms of
the warranty, but it will also keep your
motorcycle looking good, extend its
life and optimize its performance.
Before cleaning 1. Cover the muffler outlet with a plastic bag after the engine has
cooled down.
2. Make sure that all caps and cov- ers as well as all electrical cou-
plers and connectors, including
the spark plug cap, are tightly in-
stalled. 3. Remove extremely stubborn dirt,
like oil burnt onto the crankcase,
with a degreasing agent and a
brush, but never apply such prod-
ucts onto seals, gaskets, sprock-
ets, the drive chain and wheel
axles. Always rinse the dirt and
degreaser off with water.
Cleaning
ECA10770CAUTION:
●Avoid using strong acidic
wheel cleaners, especially on
spoked wheels. If such prod-
ucts are used on hard-to-re-
move dirt, do not leave the
cleaner on the affected area
any longer than instructed. Al-
so, thoroughly rinse the area
off with water, immediately dry
it, and then apply a corrosion
protection spray.
●Improper cleaning can damage
windshields, cowlings, panels
and other plastic parts. Use on-
ly a soft, clean cloth or sponge
with mild detergent and water
to clean plastic.
●Do not use any harsh chemical
products on plastic parts. Be
sure to avoid using cloths or
sponges which have been in
contact with strong or abrasive
cleaning products, solvent or
thinner, fuel (gasoline), rust re-
movers or inhibitors, brake flu-
id, antifreeze or electrolyte.
●Do not use high-pressure
washers or steam-jet cleaners
since they cause water seep-
age and deterioration in the fol-
lowing areas: seals (of wheel
and swingarm bearings, fork
and brakes), electric compo-
nents (couplers, connectors,
instruments, switches and
lights), breather hoses and
vents.
XT660Z 07-10 ING 11-03-2008 8:33 Pagina 2
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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-4
Long-term
Before storing your motorcycle for sev-
eral months:1. Follow all the instructions in the “Care” section of this chapter.
2. Fill up the fuel tank and add fuel stabilizer (if available) to prevent
the fuel tank from rusting and the
fuel from deteriorating.
3. Perform the following steps to protect the cylinder, piston rings,
etc. from corrosion.a. Remove the spark plug cap and spark plug.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine oil into the spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug cap onto the spark plug, and then place
the spark plug on the cylinder
head so that the electrodes
are grounded. (This will limit
sparking during the next step.)
d. Turn the engine over several times with the starter. (This will
coat the cylinder wall with oil.)
e. Remove the spark plug cap from the spark plug, and then
install the spark plug and the
spark plug cap.EWA10950
WARNING0
To prevent damage or injury from
sparking, make sure to ground the
spark plug electrodes while turning
the engine over.
4. Lubricate all control cables and the pivoting points of all levers
and pedals as well as of the side-
stand/centerstand.
5. Check and, if necessary, correct the tire air pressure, and then lift
the motorcycle so that both of its
wheels are off the ground. Alter-
natively, turn the wheels a little
every month in order to prevent
the tires from becoming degraded
in one spot.
6. Cover the muffler outlets with plastic bags to prevent moisture
from entering them.
7. Remove the battery and fullycharge it. Store it in a cool, dry
place and charge it once a month.
Do not store the battery in an ex-
cessively cold or warm place [less
than 0 °C (30 °F) or more than 30
°C (90 °F)]. For more information
on storing the battery, see
page 6-31.
NOTE:
Make any necessary repairs before
storing the motorcycle.
XT660Z 07-10 ING 11-03-2008 8:33 Pagina 5