2008 YAMAHA YZ250F engine

4-17
CAMSHAFTS
4. Measure:• Camshaft-to-cap clearanceOut of specification
→Measure
camshaft outside diameter.
Measurement steps:
a. Install the camshaft onto the cylin-
der head.
b. Position a strip of Plastigauge
®
"1" onto the camshaft.
c. Install the clip, dowel pins and camshaft caps.
• Tighten the bolts (camshaft cap) in a crisscross pattern from innermost
to outer caps.
• Do not turn the camshaft when measuring clearance with the Plas-
tigauge
®.
d. Remove the camshaft caps and measure the width of the Plasti-
gauge
® "1".
5. Measure:• Camshaft outside diameter "a"Out of specification
→Replace
the camshaft.
Within specification
→Replace
camshaft case and camshaft
caps as a set. CHECKING THE CAMSHAFT
SPROCKET
1. Inspect:
• Camshaft sprocket "1"
Wear/damage
→Replace the
camshaft assembly and timing
chain as a set.
CHECKING THE
DECOMPRESSION SYSTEM
1. Check: • Decompression system
Checking steps:
a. Check that the decompression mechanism cam "1" moves
smoothly.
b. Check that the decompression
mechanism cam lever pin "2"
projects from the camshaft.
CHECKING THE TIMING CHAIN
TENSIONER
1. Check:• While pressing the tensioner rod
lightly with fingers, use a thin
screwdriver "1" and wind the ten-
sioner rod up fully clockwise.
• When releasing the screwdriver by pressing lightly with fingers,
make sure that the tensioner rod
will come out smoothly.
• If not, replace the tensioner as- sembly. INSTALLING THE CAMSHAFT
1. Install:
• Exhaust camshaft "1"
• Intake camshaft "2"
Installation steps:
a. Turn the crankshaft counterclock- wise with a wrench.
• Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil
on the camshafts.
• Apply the engine oil on the decom- pression system.
• Squeezing the decompression le- ver allows the crankshaft to be
turned easily.
b. Align the T.D.C. mark "a" on the rotor with the align mark "b" on the
crankcase cover when piston is at
T.D.C. on compression stroke.
Camshaft-to-cap clear-
ance:
0.028–0.062 mm
(0.0011–0.0024 in)
:0.08 mm (0.003
in)
Bolt (camshaft cap): 10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)
Camshaft outside diame-
ter: 21.959–21.972 mm
(0.8645–0.8650 in)

4-19
CYLINDER HEAD
CYLINDER HEAD
REMOVING THE CYLINDER HEADOrder Part name Q'ty Remarks Seat and fuel tank Refer to "SEAT, FUEL TANK AND SIDE
COVERS" section.
Exhaust pipe and silencer Refer to "EXHAUST PIPE AND SILENCER"
section.
Radiator hose 1 Disconnect at cylinder head side.
Carburetor Refer to "CARBURETOR" section.
Camshaft Refer to "CAMSHAFTS" section.
Upper engine bracket Refer to "ENGINE REMOVAL" section.
1 Radiator pipe 1
2 Oil delivery pipe 1
3Nut 2
4 Bolt [L = 135 mm (5.31 in)] 2
5 Bolt [L = 145 mm (5.71 in)] 2
6 Cylinder head 1
7 Timing chain guard (exhaust side) 1

4-24
VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
2. Measure:• Compressed spring force "a"Out of specification
→Replace.
b. Installed length
3. Measure:
• Spring tilt "a"Out of specification
→Replace.
CHECKING THE VALVE LIFTERS
1. Inspect: • Valve lifterScratches/damage
→Replace
both lifters and cylinder head. INSTALLING THE VALVES
1. Apply:
• Molybdenum disulfide oilOnto the valve stem and valve
stem seal.
2. Install: •Valve "1"
• Valve spring seat "2"
• Valve stem seal "3"
• Valve spring "4"
• Valve spring retainer "5"
To cylinder head.
• Make sure that each valve is in-stalled in its original place, also re-
ferring to the painted color as
follows.
Intake (middle) "a": Orange
Intake (right/left) "b": Green
Exhaust "c": Purple
• Install the valve springs with the
larger pitch "d" facing upward.
e. Smaller pitch
3. Install:
• Valve cotter
While compressing the valve spring
with a valve spring compressor "1" in-
stall the valve cotters.
4. To secure the valve cotters onto the valve stem, lightly tap the
valve tip with a piece of wood.
Hitting the valve tip with excessive
force could damage the valve.
5. Install:• Adjusting pad "1"
• Valve lifter "2"
• Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil on the valve stem end.
• Apply the engine oil on the valve lift- ers.
• Valve lifter must turn smoothly when rotated with a finger.
• Be careful to reinstall valve lifters
and pads in their original place.
Compressed spring
force: Intake:99–114 N at 29.13 mm
(9.9–11.4 kg at 29.13
mm, 22.27–25.57 lb at
1.15 in)
Exhaust:
126–144 N at 29.30
mm (12.6–14.4 kg at
29.30 mm, 28.44–
32.41 lb at 1.15 in)
Spring tilt limit: Intake:
2.5°/1.7 mm (0.067 in)
Exhaust: 2.5°/1.6 mm (0.063 in)
Valve spring compres-
sor:
YM-4019/90890-04019

4-27
CYLINDER AND PISTON
3. Measure:• Ring end gapOut of specification
→Replace.
You cannot measure the end gap on
the expander spacer of the oil control
ring. If the oil control ring rails show
excessive gap, replace all three rings.
CHECKING THE PISTON PIN
1. Inspect:•Piston pin
Blue discoloration/grooves
→Re-
place, then inspect the lubrication
system.
2. Measure: • Piston pin-to-piston clearance
Measurement steps:
a. Measure the outside diameter (piston pin) "a".
If out of specification, replace the
piston pin.
b. Measure the inside diameter (pis- ton) "b". c. Calculate the piston pin-to-piston
clearance with the following for-
mula.
d. If out of specification, replace the piston.
INSTALLING THE PISTON RING
AND PISTON
1. Install:• Piston ringOnto the piston.
• Be sure to install the piston rings so that the manufacturer's marks or
numbers are located on the upper
side of the rings.
• Lubricate the piston and piston
rings liberally with engine oil.
2. Position:•Top ring
•2nd ring
• Oil ringOffset the piston ring end gaps as
shown.
a. Top ring end
b. 2nd ring end c. Oil ring end (upper)
d. Oil ring
e. Oil ring end (lower)
3. Install:
•Piston "1"
• Piston pin "2"
• Piston pin clip "3"
• Apply engine oil onto the piston pin and piston.
• Be sure that the arrow mark "a" on the piston points to the exhaust side
of the engine.
• Before installing the piston pin clip, cover the crankcase with a clean
rag to prevent the piston pin clip
from falling into the crankcase.
• Install the piston pin clips with their
ends facing downward.
INSTALLING THE CYLINDER
1. Lubricate:•Piston
• Piston ring
• Cylinder
Apply a liberal coating of engine oil.
2. Install:• Dowel pin "1"
• O-ring "2"
Apply the lithium soap base grease
on the O-ring.
3. Install:• Cylinder gasket "1"
• Cylinder "2"
End gap:
Standard it>
Top
ring 0.15–0.25 mm
(0.006–0.010 in) 0.50
mm
(0.020 in)
2nd
ring 0.30–0.45 mm
(0.012–0.018 in) 0.80
mm
(0.031 in)
Oil
ring 0.10–0.40 mm
(0.004–0.016 in) —
Outside diameter (piston
pin): 15.991–16.000 mm
(0.6296–0.6299 in)
Inside diameter (piston): 16.002–16.013 mm
(0.6300–0.6304 in)
Piston pin-to-piston clearance = Inside diameter (piston) "b" -
Outside diameter (piston pin)
"a"
Piston pin-to-piston
clearance:0.002–0.022 mm
(0.0001–0.0009 in)
:0.07 mm (0.003
in)
New

4-29
CLUTCH
CLUTCH
REMOVING THE CLUTCHOrder Part name Q'ty Remarks Drain the engine oil. Refer to "CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL"
section in the CHAPTER 3.
Brake pedal Refer to "ENGINE REMOVAL" section.
Clutch cable Disconnect at engine side.
1 Clutch cover 1
2 Clutch spring 5
3 Pressure plate 1
4 Push rod 1 1
5 Circlip 1
6 Washer 1
7 Bearing 1
8Ball 1
9 Push rod 2 1
10 Friction plate 9
11 Clutch plate 8
12 Cushion spring 1
13 Seat plate 1

4-31
CLUTCH
REMOVING THE CLUTCH BOSS
1. Remove:•Nut "1"
• Lock washer "2"
• Clutch boss "3"
Straighten the lock washer tab and
use the clutch holding tool "4" to hold
the clutch boss.
A. For USA and CDN
B. Except for USA and CDN
CHECKING THE CLUTCH
HOUSING AND BOSS
1. Inspect: • Clutch housing "1"Cracks/wear/damage
→Replace.
• Clutch boss "2"
Scoring/wear/damage
→Re-
place.
CHECKING THE PRIMARY DRIVEN
GEAR
1. Check: • Circumferential playFree play exists
→Replace.
• Gear teeth "a"
Wear/damage
→Replace. CHECKING THE CLUTCH
SPRINGS
1. Measure:
• Clutch spring free length "a"
Out of specification
→Replace
springs as a set.
CHECKING THE FRICTION
PLATES
1. Measure: • Friction plate thicknessOut of specification
→Replace
friction plate as a set.
Measure at all four points.
CHECKING THE CLUTCH PLATES
1. Measure: • Clutch plate warpageOut of specification
→Replace
clutch plate as a set.
Use a surface plate "1" and thick-
ness gauge "2". CHECKING THE PUSH LEVER
SHAFT
1. Inspect:
• Push lever shaft "1"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
CHECKING THE PUSH ROD
1. Inspect: • Push rod 1 "1"
• Bearing "2"
• Washer "3"
• Push rod 2 "4"
• Ball "5"Wear/damage/bend
→Replace.
INSTALLING THE PUSH LEVER
SHAFT
1. Install: • Push lever shaft "1"
• Bolt (push lever shaft) "2"
• Apply the lithium soap base grease on the oil seal lip.
• Apply the engine oil on the push le-
ver shaft.
• Fit the seat plate "3" in the groove "a" of the push lever shaft and tight-
en the bolt (seat plate).
Clutch holding tool:
YM-91042/90890-04086
Clutch spring free
length:35.7 mm (1.41 in)
: 34.7 mm (1.37
in)
Friction plate thickness: 2.9–3.1 mm (0.114–
0.122 in)
: 2.8 mm (0.110
in)
Warp limit: 0.1 mm (0.004 in)
Bolt (push lever shaft):10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)

4-32
CLUTCH
INSTALLING THE CLUTCH
1. Install:• Primary driven gear "1"
• Thrust washer "2"
• Clutch boss "3"
Apply the engine oil on the primary
driven gear inner circumference.
2. Install:• Lock washer "1"
• Nut (clutch boss) "2"
Use the clutch holding tool "3" to hold
the clutch boss.
A. For USA and CDN
B. Except for USA and CDN
3. Bend the lock washer "1" tab. 4. Install:
• Seat plate "1"
• Cushion spring "2"
• Install the seat plate with its cham-fered portion "a" facing the clutch
boss "3".
• Install the seat plate so that it is not caught on the step "b".
• Install the cushion spring with its concave surface "c" facing outward.
5. Install:• Friction plate "1"
• Clutch plate 1 "2"
• Clutch plate 2 "3"
• Install the clutch plates and friction plates alternately on the clutch
boss, starting with a friction plate
and ending with a friction plate.
• Apply the engine oil on the friction plates and clutch plates.
• Unlike the clutch plate 2, the clutch
plate 1 has no surface gloss. Use
the clutch plate 1 for the first while
paying attention to the difference in
surface gloss.
6. Install:• Bearing "1"
•Washer "2"
•Circlip "3" To push rod 1 "4".
Apply the engine oil on the bearing
and washer.
7. Install:• Push rod 2 "1"
• Ball "2"
• Push rod 1 "3"
Apply the engine oil on the push rod
1, 2 and ball.
8. Install:• Pressure plate "1"
9. Install: • Clutch spring "1"
• Bolt (clutch spring) "2"
Tighten the bolts in stage, using a
crisscross pattern.
10. Install:• Dowel pin "1"
• Gasket (clutch cover) "2"
Nut (clutch boss):
60 Nm (6.0 m•kg, 43
ft•lb)
Clutch holding tool: YM-91042/90890-04086
Bolt (clutch spring):
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)

4-34
OIL FILTER ELEMENT AND WATER PUMP
OIL FILTER ELEMENT AND WATER PUMP
REMOVING THE OIL FILTER ELEMENT AND WATER PUMPOrder Part name Q'ty Remarks Drain the engine oil. Refer to "CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL"
section in the CHAPTER 3.
Drain the coolant. Refer to "CHANGING THE COOLANT" sec-
tion in the CHAPTER 3.
Radiator hose 3 Disconnect at water pump side.
Exhaust pipe Refer to "EXHAUST PIPE AND SILENCER"
section.
Brake pedal Refer to "ENGINE REMOVAL" section.
Right engine guard
1 Oil filter element cover 1
2 Oil filter element 1
3 Water pump housing 1
4 Oil delivery pipe 1
5 Bolt (oil hose) 1
6 Kickstarter crank 1
7 Right crankcase cover 1
8 Impeller 1 Refer to removal section.