2008 YAMAHA YFM250R valve clearance

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 ............ 7-8
TURNING YOUR ATV ............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL .................................. 7-14
RIDING DOWNHILL................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE.............................. 7-17
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW
WATER .................................................. 7-18
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN .......... 7-20
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ........................ 7-20
WHAT TO DO IF... ................................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO... ....................................... 7-21
PERIODIC 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
Checking the spark plug ............................ 8-9
Engine oil and oil filter element ............... 8-10
Cleaning the air filter element ................. 8-14
Cleaning the spark arrester ..................... 8-18
Adjusting the carburetor .......................... 8-19
Adjusting the engine idling speed ........... 8-20Adjusting the throttle cable free play ........ 8-20
Valve clearance ....................................... 8-21
Checking the front and rear brake
pads ....................................................... 8-22
Checking the brake fluid level .................. 8-23
Changing the brake fluid .......................... 8-25
Checking the front brake lever free
play ........................................................ 8-26
Checking the brake pedal position ........... 8-26
Adjusting the parking brake free play ...... 8-27
Brake light switches ................................. 8-29
Adjusting the clutch lever free play .......... 8-29
Drive chain slack ...................................... 8-30
Lubricating the drive chain ....................... 8-32
Checking and lubricating the cables ........ 8-33
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ........................................... 8-33
Checking and lubricating the brake and
shift pedals ............................................. 8-34
Checking the wheel hub bearings ............ 8-34
Lubricating the swingarm pivots .............. 8-34
Lubricating the upper and lower arm
pivots ..................................................... 8-35
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-36
Battery ..................................................... 8-36
Replacing the fuse ................................... 8-37
Replacing a headlight bulb ...................... 8-39
Adjusting a headlight beam ..................... 8-41
Replacing the tail/brake light bulb ............ 8-42

8-3
1
2
3
4
5
6
78
9
10
11

EBU21742
Periodic maintenance chart for the emission control system
NOTE:


For ATVs not equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the month maintenance intervals.

For ATVs equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the km (mi) or hours maintenance inter-
vals. However, keep in mind that if the ATV isn’t used for a long period of time, the month maintenance
intervals should be followed.

Items marked with an asterisk should be performed by a Yamaha dealer as they require special tools,
data and technical skills.
NO. ITEMCHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOBINITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes
firstmonth 1 3 6 6 12
km
(mi)320
(200)1300
(800)2500
(1600)2500
(1600)5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 3201
*
Fuel line


Check fuel hoses for cracks or other damage, and
replace if necessary.
√√√
2 Spark plug

Check condition and clean, regap, or replace if
necessary.
√√√√√
3
*
Valves


Check valve clearance and adjust if necessary.
√ √√√
4
*
Carburetor


Check starter (choke) operation and correct if nec-
essary.

Check engine idling speed and adjust if neces-
sary.
√√√√
5
*
Crankcase breather
system


Check breather hose for cracks or other damage,
and replace if necessary.
√√√

8-21
1
2
3
4
5
6
78
9
10
11

chart.
The throttle cable free play should measure 2.0–
4.0 mm (0.08–0.16 in) at the throttle lever. Period-
ically check the throttle cable free play and, if nec-
essary, adjust it as follows.
NOTE:

The engine idling speed must be checked, and ad-
justed if necessary, before adjusting the throttle ca-
ble free play.
1. Loosen the locknut.
2. To increase the throttle cable free play, turn
the adjusting bolt in direction (a). To decrease
the throttle cable free play, turn the adjusting
bolt in direction (b).
3. Tighten the locknut.
EBU24060
Valve clearance
The valve clearance changes with use, resulting in
improper air-fuel mixture and/or engine noise. To
prevent this from occurring, the valve clearance
must be adjusted by a Yamaha dealer at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.
1. Locknut
2. Throttle cable free play adjusting bolt
3. Throttle lever free play
3 2
1
(a)(b)

Light switch .................................................................... 4-2
M
Main switch .................................................................... 4-1
Maintenance and lubrication chart ................................. 8-5
Maintenance chart, emission control system ................. 8-3
Model label ................................................................... 11-2
N
Neutral indicator light ..................................................... 4-1
O
Owner’s manual and tool kit ........................................... 8-1
P
Parking ........................................................................... 6-5
Parking brake free play, adjusting ................................ 8-27
Parking brake lever ........................................................ 4-5
Parking on a slope ......................................................... 6-6
Part locations ................................................................. 3-1
Pre-operation check list.................................................. 5-1
R
Riding your ATV ............................................................. 7-1
S
Safety information .......................................................... 1-1
Seat .............................................................................. 4-10
Shifting ........................................................................... 6-3
Shift pedal ...................................................................... 4-6
Shock absorber assemblies, adjusting the front .......... 4-11
Spark arrester, cleaning ............................................... 8-18
Spark plug, checking ...................................................... 8-9
Specifications ............................................................... 10-1
Speed limiter .................................................................. 4-3
Starter (choke) ............................................................. 4-10
Start switch..................................................................... 4-2Steering shaft, lubricating............................................. 8-36
Storage........................................................................... 9-2
Suspension, lubricating the upper and lower arm
pivots.......................................................................... 8-35
Swingarm pivots, lubricating ........................................ 8-34
T
Tail/brake light bulb, replacing ..................................... 8-42
Throttle cable free play, adjusting ................................ 8-20
Throttle lever .......................................................... 4-2
,
5-4
Tire pressure, measuring ............................................... 5-5
Tires ............................................................................... 5-4
Tire wear limit ................................................................. 5-6
Troubleshooting ........................................................... 8-43
Troubleshooting chart .................................................. 8-44
V
Valve clearance............................................................ 8-21
Vehicle identification number ....................................... 11-1
W
Wheel hub bearings, checking ..................................... 8-34
Wheel, installing ........................................................... 8-42
Wheel, removing .......................................................... 8-42