2008 YAMAHA YFM350R ECU

1-3
1 speed when climbing a hill. If you stall or roll
backwards, follow the special procedure for
braking described in this manual. Dismount on
the uphill side or to a side if pointed straight up-
hill. Turn the ATV around and remount, following
the procedure described in this manual.

Always check for obstacles before operating in a
new area.
Never attempt to operate over large obstacles,
such as large rocks or fallen trees. Always follow
proper procedures when operating over obsta-
cles as described in this manual.
Always be careful when skidding or sliding.
Learn to safely control skidding or sliding by
practicing at low speeds and on level, smooth
terrain. On extremely slippery surfaces, such as
ice, go slowly and be very cautious in order to re-
duce the chance of skidding or sliding out of con-
trol.
Never operate an ATV in fast flowing water or in
water deeper than that recommended in this
manual. Remember that wet brakes may have
reduced stopping ability. Test your brakes after
leaving water. If necessary, apply them several
times to let friction dry out the linings.

Always be sure there are no obstacles or people
behind you when you operate in reverse. When
it is safe to proceed in reverse, go slowly.
Always use the size and type of tires specified in
this manual.
Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in this manual.
Never modify an ATV through improper installa-
tion or use of accessories.
Never exceed the stated load capacity for an
ATV. Cargo should be properly distributed and
securely attached. Reduce speed and follow in-
structions in this manual for carrying cargo or
pulling a trailer. Allow greater distance for brak-
ing.
WARNING
EWB00061
Always turn off the engine when refueling.
Do not refuel right after the engine has been
running and is still very hot.
Do not spill gasoline on the engine or ex-
haust pipe/muffler when refueling. Never re-
fuel while smoking, or in the vicinity of
sparks, open flames, or other sources of ig-
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4-9
4
NOTE:If knocking or pinging occurs, use a different brandof gasoline or higher octane grade.
CAUTION:ECB00070Use only unleaded gasoline. The use of leaded
gasoline will cause severe damage to internal
engine parts, such as the valves and pistonrings, as well as to the exhaust system.
WARNING
EWB00310
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.EBU18820Fuel cock The fuel cock supplies fuel from the tank to the car-
buretor while also filtering it.
The fuel cock lever positions are explained as fol-
lows and shown in the illustrations.
1. Fuel tank filler tube
2. Fuel levelRecommended fuel:
UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY
For Europe: Regular unleaded gasoline only
with a research octane number of 91 or high-
er
Fuel tank capacity:
9.0 L (2.38 US gal) (1.98 Imp.gal)
Fuel reserve amount:
2.7 L (0.71 US gal) (0.59 Imp.gal)
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4-12
4
To install the seat
Insert the projections on the front of the seat into
the seat holders and push down on the seat at the
rear.
NOTE:Make sure that the seat is securely fitted.
EBU18990Adjusting the front shock absorber as-
semblies The spring preload can be adjusted to suit the rid-
er’s weight and the riding conditions.
Adjust the spring preload as follows.
Turn the adjusting ring in direction (a) to increase
the spring preload and thereby harden the suspen-
sion, and in direction (b) to decrease the spring
preload and thereby soften the suspension.
1. Seat lock lever
1. Projection
2. Seat holder
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5-3
5
EBU19540Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-8.)
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 8-11.)
EBU19710Front and rear brakes Brake lever and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the brake le-
ver. If there is free play, have a Yamaha dealer
check the brake system.
Check for correct brake pedal height. (See page
8-25.) If the pedal height is incorrect, have a
Yamaha dealer adjust it.
Check the operation of the lever and pedal. They
should move smoothly and there should be a
firm feeling when the brakes are applied. If not,
have a Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-23.)
Recommended brake fluid:
DOT 4
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6-8
6
EBU20910Accessories and loading EBU20920Accessories
Accessories can affect the handling and control of
your ATV. Keep the following in mind when consid-
ering an accessory or operating an ATV which has
accessories.
Choose only accessories designed for your
ATV. Your Yamaha dealer has a variety of gen-
uine Yamaha accessories. Other accessories
may also be available on the market. However,
it is not possible for Yamaha to test all non-
Yamaha accessories, nor control over their qual-ity or suitability. Choose a genuine Yamaha ac-
cessory, or one that is equivalent in design and
quality.

Accessories should be rigidly and securely
mounted. An accessory which can shift position
or come off while you are riding could affect your
ability to control the ATV.
Do not mount an accessory where it could inter-
fere with your ability to control the ATV. Exam-
ples include (but are not limited to) a heavy or
bulky object attached to the handlebars which
could make steering difficult, an accessory that
limits your ability to move around on the seat, or
one that limits your view.
Use extra caution when riding an ATV with ac-
cessories. The ATV may handle differently than
it does without accessories.EBU20940Loading
As originally equipped, this ATV is not designed to
carry cargo or tow a trailer. If you choose to add ac-
cessories so that you can carry cargo or tow a trail-
er, you must use common sense and good
judgment as the stability and handling of an ATV
can be changed. When adding accessories, keep
the following points in mind:
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6-9
6

Never exceed the weight limits shown. An over-
loaded ATV can be unstable.
If you are carrying cargo and towing a trailer, in-
clude the tongue weight in the maximum ATV
load limit.
Load cargo on the carriers as close to the center
of the ATV as possible. Put cargo at the rear of
the front carrier, at the front of the rear carrier,
and center it.
Tie down cargo securely to the carriers. Make
sure cargo in the trailer cannot move around. A
shifting load can cause an accident.
Make sure the load does not interfere with con-
trols or your ability to see where you are going.
Ride more slowly than you would without a load.
The more weight you carry, the slower you
should go. Although conditions vary, it is good
practice not to exceed 2nd gear whenever you
are carrying heavier loads or when towing a trail-
er.

Allow more braking distance. A heavier ATV
takes longer to stop.
Avoid making sharp turns unless at very slow
speeds.
Avoid hills and rough terrain. Choose terrain
carefully. Added weight affects the stability and
handling of the ATV.
WARNING
EWB00820Never exceed the stated load capacity for this
ATV. Overloading this ATV or carrying or tow-
ing cargo improperly could cause changes in
ATV handling which could lead to an accident.
Cargo should be properly distributed and se-
curely attached. Reduce speed when carrying
cargo or pulling a trailer. Allow greater dis-tance for braking. MAXIMUM LOADING LIMIT
ATV loading limit (total weight of rider, cargo,
accessories, and tongue):
100.0 kg (220 lb)
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8-17
8
CAUTION:ECB00440Do not twist the sponge material when squeez-ing it.
7. Check the sponge material and replace it if
damaged.
8. Apply a quality foam air filter oil to the sponge
material.NOTE:The sponge material should be wet but not drip-ping.
9. Pull the sponge material over the air filter ele-
ment frame.10. Apply all-purpose grease to the air filter ele-
ment seat.
11. Insert the air filter element into the air filter
case, and then install the air filter case cover
by hooking the holders onto the air filter case.
12. Install the seat.
NOTE:The air filter element should be cleaned every 20–
40 hours. It should be cleaned and lubricated more
often if the ATV is operated in extremely dusty ar-
eas. Each time the air filter element maintenance
is performed, check the air inlet of the air filter case
for obstructions. Check the air filter case rubber
joint to the carburetor fittings and the rubber joint
manifold fittings for an air-tight seal. Tighten all fit-
tings securely to avoid the possibility of unfilteredair entering the engine.CAUTION:ECB00460
Make sure that the air filter element is prop-
erly seated in the air filter case.
Never operate the engine with the air filter el-
ement removed. This will allow unfiltered air
to enter the engine, causing rapid engine
wear and possible engine damage. Addition-
ally, operation without the air filter element
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8-41
8 6. Install the headlight bulb holder cover at the
rear of the headlight.
CAUTION:ECB00670Make sure the headlight bulb holder cover is
securely fitted over the bulb holder and seatedproperly.
7. Adjust the headlight beam if necessary.EBU25560Adjusting a headlight beam CAUTION:ECB00690It is advisable to have a Yamaha dealer makethis adjustment.To raise a headlight beam, turn the adjusting bolt
in direction (a).
To lower a headlight beam, turn the adjusting bolt
in direction (b).
EBU25600Replacing the tail/brake light bulb If the tail/brake light bulb burns out, replace it as
follows.
1. Remove the lens by removing the screws.1. Headlight beam adjusting bolt
U5YT64E0.book Page 41 Monday, April 9, 2007 1:03 PM