2008 YAMAHA YFM50R Owners Manual

EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 1-1
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1
Left view ..................................................... 3-1
Right view................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ........................... 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1
Main switch ............................................... 4-1
Indicator light ............................................. 4-1
Handlebar switches ................................... 4-2
Engine stop switch with lanyard ................ 4-2
Throttle lever ............................................. 4-4
Speed limiter ............................................. 4-5
Front brake lever ....................................... 4-6
Rear brake lever ........................................ 4-6
Parking brake ............................................ 4-6
Drive select lever ....................................... 4-7
Fuel tank cap ............................................. 4-7
Fuel ........................................................... 4-8
Fuel cock ................................................... 4-9Choke ...................................................... 4-10
Seat ......................................................... 4-11
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1
Pre-operation check list ............................. 5-1
Fuel ............................................................ 5-3
Engine oil ................................................... 5-3
Final gear oil .............................................. 5-3
Front and rear brakes ................................ 5-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 5-4
Tires ........................................................... 5-4
Measuring the tire pressure ....................... 5-5
Tire wear limit ............................................ 5-6
Chassis fasteners ...................................... 5-6
Instruments, lights and switches ................ 5-6
Battery ....................................................... 5-6
OPERATION...................................................6-1
Starting a cold engine ................................ 6-1
Starting a warm engine .............................. 6-3
Shifting ....................................................... 6-3
Engine break-in .......................................... 6-5
Parking ....................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope ..................................... 6-6
Accessories and loading ............................ 6-7

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................................. 7-16
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 ............................ 8-8
Engine oil .................................................. 8-9
Final gear oil ............................................ 8-12
Cleaning the air filter element ................. 8-13
Cleaning the spark arrester ..................... 8-17
Adjusting the carburetor .......................... 8-18Adjusting the engine idling speed ............ 8-18
Checking the throttle cable free play ....... 8-19
Valve clearance ....................................... 8-19
Checking the front and rear brake
shoes ..................................................... 8-20
Adjusting the front brake lever free play .. 8-21
Adjusting the rear brake lever free play ... 8-23
Checking and lubricating the cables ........ 8-24
Checking and lubricating the front and
rear brake levers .................................... 8-25
Checking the wheel hub bearings ............ 8-25
Lubricating the front knuckle pivots ......... 8-25
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-26
Battery ..................................................... 8-26
Replacing the fuse ................................... 8-28
Removing a wheel ................................... 8-29
Installing a wheel ..................................... 8-30
Troubleshooting ....................................... 8-31
Troubleshooting chart .............................. 8-32
CLEANING AND STORAGE ..........................9-1
Cleaning ..................................................... 9-1
Storage ...................................................... 9-2
SPECIFICATIONS .......................................10-1
CONSUMER INFORMATION.......................11-1
Identification numbers .............................. 11-1

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EBU17430
SAFETY INFORMATION

SAFETY INFORMATION
EBU17652
AN ATV IS NOT A TOY AND CAN BE HAZARD-
OUS TO OPERATE.

An ATV handles differently from other vehicles, in-
cluding motorcycles and cars. A collision or roll-
over can occur quickly, even during routine
maneuvers such as turning and riding on hills or
over obstacles, if you fail to take proper precau-
tions.
SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH can result if you do
not follow these instructions:

Read this manual and all labels carefully and fol-
low the operating procedures described.

Never operate an ATV without proper training or
instruction.

Always follow the age recommendation:
– A child under 6 years old should never operate
an ATV with engine size greater than 50 cc.
– A child under 12 years old should never oper-
ate an ATV with engine size greater than 70 cc.
– A child under 16 years old should never oper-ate an ATV with engine size greater than 90 cc.

Never allow a child under age 16 to operate an
ATV without adult supervision, and never allow
continued use of an ATV by a child if he or she
does not have the abilities to operate it safely.

Never carry a passenger on an ATV.

Always avoid operating an ATV on any paved
surfaces, including sidewalks, driveways, park-
ing lots and paved streets.

Never operate an ATV on any paved street,
paved road or motorway.

Watch carefully for other vehicles when operat-
ing on unpaved public streets or roads. Make
sure you know your country’s laws and regula-
tions before you ride on unpaved public streets
or roads.

Never operate an ATV without wearing an ap-
proved motorcycle helmet that fits properly. You
should also wear eye protection (goggles or face
shield), gloves, boots, a long-sleeved shirt or a
jacket, and long pants.

Never consume alcohol or drugs before or while

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operating this ATV.

Never operate at speeds too fast for your skills
or the riding conditions. Always go at a speed
that is proper for the terrain, visibility, operating
conditions, and your experience.

Never attempt wheelies, jumps, or other stunts.

Always inspect your ATV each time you use it to
make sure it is in safe operating condition. Al-
ways follow the inspection and maintenance
procedures and schedules described in this
manual.

Always keep both hands on the handlebars and
both feet on the footrests of the ATV during op-
eration.

Always go slowly and be extra careful when op-
erating on unfamiliar terrain. Always be alert to
changing terrain conditions when operating the
ATV.

Never operate on excessively rough, slippery or
loose terrain until you have learned and prac-
ticed the skills necessary to control the ATV on
such terrain. Always be especially cautious on
these kinds of terrain.

Always follow proper procedures for turning as
described in this manual. Practice turning at low
speeds before attempting to turn at fasterspeeds and never turn at excessive speeds.

Never operate the ATV on hills too steep for the
ATV or for your abilities. Practice on smaller hills
before attempting larger hills.

Always follow proper procedures for climbing
hills as described in this manual. Check the ter-
rain carefully before you start up any hill. Never
climb hills with excessively slippery or loose sur-
faces. Shift your weight forward. Never open the
throttle suddenly or make sudden gear changes.
Never go over the top of a hill at high speed.

Always follow proper procedures for going down
hills and for braking on hills as described in this
manual. Check the terrain carefully before you
start down any hill. Shift your weight backward.
Never go down a hill at high speed. Avoid going
down a hill at an angle that would cause the ve-
hicle to lean sharply to one side. Go straight
down the hill where possible.

Always follow proper procedures for crossing
the side of a hill as described in this manual.
Avoid hills with excessively slippery or loose sur-
faces. Shift your weight to the uphill side of the
ATV. Never attempt to turn the ATV around on
any hill until you have mastered the turning tech-
nique described in this manual on level ground.

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Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill if possible.

Always use proper procedures if you stall or roll
backwards 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 severaltimes to let friction dry out the linings.

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.
TEACHING YOUR CHILD TO OPERATE THE
ATV
WARNING

EWB00080
Never let your child ride an ATV without close
adult supervision (a child under 6 should not
ride this ATV even with adult supervision).
Promptly correct your child if he or she begins
to ride beyond his or her abilities and, if neces-
sary, intervene by pulling the cord (lanyard) to
stop the engine.
If the child rides beyond his or her abilities, or
rides in terrain that is too difficult, he or she

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may lose control of the ATV, causing an acci-
dent.
Introduce new riding areas slowly and make
sure the riding area matches your child’s skill
level.
You must make the commitment to your child’s
proper use of the ATV. Your child must rely upon
you to be sure he or she has the development,
proper training, and proper equipment, as well as
an appropriately sized ATV and an appropriate
riding area.
Be sure your child is ready to learn how to ride
As a parent, your first step is to decide when your
child has the strength, skills, and judgment to learn
how to operate an ATV safely. Re-evaluate your
child’s readiness before every use; a child who is
too tired or distracted should not be allowed to op-
erate the ATV.
Be sure your child is properly trained
Your child should take a certified training course.
Training will continue with you as the instructor, so
you should be sure you thoroughly understand
proper riding techniques before continuing to in-
struct your child. Go through this Owner’s Manualpage by page with your child and be sure he or she
understands how to operate the ATV properly.
Be sure your child is wearing all the proper
safety equipment
Your child must always wear an approved motor-
cycle helmet that fits properly. Your child should
also wear the safety equipment described in the
Riding Your ATV section of this manual.
Choose an appropriate riding area
Select an area appropriate for your child to learn to
ride. (See page 7-9.) Follow the instructions in the
Riding Your ATV section of this manual. Choose a
large, flat, unpaved road or area that is free of ob-
stacles and away from other vehicles.
Supervise every use of the ATV
Because an adult must supervise every ATV oper-
ator under age 16, you should closely watch your
child every time he or she uses the ATV. Be ready
to intervene immediately if the child is not operat-
ing according to your guidelines. This ATV is fitted
with an engine stop switch cord (lanyard) device
that will let you stop the engine remotely as you
walk behind the vehicle.

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ENGINE STOP SWITCH CORD
This model has an engine stop switch cord (lan-
yard) designed for use by an adult supervising the
child operating the ATV. When using the engine
stop switch cord, be sure the speed limiter on the
handlebar is adjusted to limit the ATV to a walking
speed. (See page 4-5.)
1. Push the clip on the end of the engine stop
switch cord under the engine shut-off switch
(black button).
2. Put your fingers in the loop at the other end of
the cord.
3. As your child is riding, walk behind the ATV,
closely watching his or her actions as well as
the path ahead.
4. If there is a potential hazard ahead or if your
child is not riding correctly, pull firmly on the
cord (lanyard) to stop the engine. Because the
ATV will continue to roll for some distance, al-
low extra time and distance to pull the cord be-
fore a potentially hazardous situation might be
encountered.
When your child has developed sufficient skill to no
longer need you to follow with the cord, the cord
can be stowed under the seat of the ATV. Howev-
er, you must still closely supervise your child at alltimes during ATV operation.NOTE:
The ATV will not start without the clip in place. Be
sure to remove the cord and store it in a safe place
to prevent operation of the ATV when you are not
around to supervise.
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-
nition such as the pilot lights of water heat-
ers and clothes dryers. Gasoline can catch
fire and you could be burned.

When transporting the ATV in another vehi-
cle, be sure it is kept upright and that the fuel
cock is in the “OFF” position. Otherwise, fuel
may leak out of the carburetor or fuel tank.

Gasoline is poisonous. If you should swal-
low some gasoline or inhale a lot of gasoline
vapor, or get some gasoline in your eyes,

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seek medical help immediately. If gasoline
spills on your skin, wash with soap and wa-
ter. If gasoline spills on your clothing,
change your clothes.
WARNING

EWB00070
Always operate your ATV in an area with ade-
quate ventilation. Never start or run the engine
in a closed area. Exhaust fumes are poisonous
and may cause loss of consciousness and
death within a short time.