2008 YAMAHA YZ450F Owners Manual

5-16
FRONT FORK
FRONT FORK
REMOVING THE FRONT FORK
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
Hold the machine by placing the suitable stand
under the engine.Refer to "HANDLING NOTE".
Front wheel Refer to "FRONT WHEEL AND REAR
WHEEL" section.
Front brake caliper Refer to "FRONT BRAKE AND REAR
BRAKE" section.
Number plateRefer to "SEAT, FUEL TANK AND SIDE
COVERS" section in the CHAPTER 4.
1 Protector 1
2 Pinch bolt (upper bracket) 2 Only loosening.
3 Damper assembly 1Loosen when disassembling the front fork.
Refer to removal section.
4 Pinch bolt (lower bracket) 2 Only loosening.
5 Front fork 1
21 Nm (2.1 m kg, 15 ft lb)
21 Nm (2.1 m kg, 15 ft lb)
5 Nm (0.5 m kg, 3.6 ft lb)
5 Nm (0.5 m kg, 3.6 ft lb)
7 Nm (0.7 m kg, 5.1 ft lb)

5-17
FRONT FORK
DISASSEMBLING THE FRONT FORK
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
1 Adjuster 1 Drain the fork oil. Refer to removal section.
2 Fork spring 1 Drain the fork oil.
3 Dust seal 1 Refer to removal section.
4 Stopper ring 1 Refer to removal section.
5 Inner tube 1 Refer to removal section.
6 Outer tube 1
7 Piston metal 1
8 Slide metal 1
9 Oil seal washer 1
10 Oil seal 1
11 Base valve 1 Drain the fork oil. Refer to removal section.
12 Damper assembly 1 Drain the fork oil. Refer to removal section.
30 Nm (3.0 m kg, 22 ft lb)
29 Nm (2.9 m kg, 21 ft lb)
29 Nm (2.9 m kg, 21 ft lb)
1 Nm (0.1 m kg, 0.7 ft lb)
55 Nm (5.5 m kg, 40 ft lb)

5-18
FRONT FORK
HANDLING NOTE
Support the machine securely so
there is no danger of it falling over.
The front fork requires careful atten-
tion. So it is recommended that the
front fork be maintained at the deal-
ers.
To prevent an accidental explosion
of air, the following instructions
should be observed:
• The front fork with a built-in pis-
ton rod has a very sophisticated
internal construction and is par-
ticularly sensitive to foreign ma-
terial. Use enough care not to
allow any foreign material to
come in when the oil is replaced
or when the front fork is disas-
sembled and reassembled.
• Before removing the base valves
or front forks, be sure to extract
the air from the air chamber com-
pletely.
REMOVING THE DAMPER
ASSEMBLY
1. Loosen:
• Damper assembly "1"
Before removing the front fork from
the machine, loosen the damper as-
sembly with the cap bolt ring wrench
"2".
REMOVING THE ADJUSTER
1. Drain the outer tube of its front
fork oil at its top.
2. Loosen:
•Adjuster "1"3. Remove:
•Adjuster "1"
• While compressing the inner tube
"2", set the cap bolt ring wrench "4"
between the inner tube and locknut
"3".
• Hold the locknut and remove the
adjuster.
Do not remove the locknut as the
damper rod may go into the damp-
er assembly and not be taken out.
REMOVING THE INNER TUBE
1. Remove:
• Dust seal "1"
• Stopper ring "2"
Using slotted-head screwdriver.
Take care not to scratch the inner
tube.
2. Remove:
• Inner tube "1"
Oil seal removal steps:
a. Push in slowly "a" the inner tube
just before it bottoms out and then
pull it back quickly "b".
b. Repeat this step until the inner
tube can be pulled out from the
outer tube.
REMOVING THE BASE VALVE
1. Remove:
• Base valve "1"
From damper assembly "2".
Hold the damper assembly with the
cap bolt ring wrench "3" and use the
cap bolt wrench "4" to remove the
base valve.
CHECKING THE DAMPER
ASSEMBLY
1. Inspect:
• Damper assembly "1"
Bend/damage
→ Replace.
• O-ring "2"
Wear/damage
→ Replace.
The front fork with a built-in piston
rod has a very sophisticated inter-
nal construction and is particularly
sensitive to foreign material.
Use enough care not to allow any
foreign material to come in when
the oil is replaced or when the
front fork is disassembled and re-
assembled.
CHECKING THE BASE VALVE
1. Inspect:
• Base valve "1"
Wear/damage
→Replace. Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501
Cap bolt wrench:
YM-01500/90890-01500
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501

5-19
FRONT FORK
Contamination →Clean.
• O-ring "2"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
• Piston metal "3"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
• Spring "4"
Damage/fatigue
→Replace base
valve.
• Air bleed screw "5"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
CHECKING THE COLLAR
1. Inspect:
• Piston metal "1"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
CHECKING THE FORK SPRING
1. Measure:
• Fork spring free length "a"
Out of specification
→Replace.
CHECKING THE INNER TUBE
1. Inspect:
• Inner tube surface "a"
Score marks
→Repair or replace.
Use #1,000 grit wet sandpaper.
Damaged oil lock piece
→Re-
place.
• Inner tube bends
Out of specification
→Replace.
Use the dial gauge "1".
The bending value is shown by one half of the dial gauge reading.
Do not attempt to straighten a bent
inner tube as this may dangerous-
ly weaken the tube.
CHECKING THE OUTER TUBE
1. Inspect:
• Outer tube "1"
Score marks/wear/damage
→Re-
place.
CHECKING THE ADJUSTER
1. Inspect:
•Adjuster "1"
• O-ring "2"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
ASSEMBLING THE FRONT FORK
1. Wash the all parts in a clean sol-
vent.
2. Stretch the damper assembly ful-
ly.
3. Fill:
• Front fork oil "1"
To damper assembly.
• Be sure to use recommended
fork oil. If other oils are used,
they may have an excessively ad-
verse effect on the front fork per-
formance.
• Never allow foreign materials to enter the front fork.
4. After filling, pump the damper as-
sembly "1" slowly up and down
(about 200 mm (7.9 in) stroke)
several times to bleed the damper
assembly of air.
Be careful not to excessive full stroke.
A stroke of 200 mm (7.9 in) or more
will cause air to enter. In this case, re-
peat the steps 2 to 4.
5. Measure:
• Oil level (left and right) "a"
Out of specification
→ Adjust.
6. Tighten:
• Locknut "1"
Fully finger tighten the locknut onto
the damper assembly.
Fork spring free length:
454 mm (17.9 in)
: 449 mm (17.7
in)
Inner tube bending limit:
0.2 mm (0.008 in)
Recommended oil:
Suspension oil "S1"
Oil capacity:
199 cm
3 (7.00 Imp oz,
6.73 US oz)
Standard oil level:
145-148 mm (5.71-5.83
in)
From top of fully
stretched damper as-
sembly.

5-20
FRONT FORK
7. Loosen:
• Compression damping adjuster
"1"
• Loosen the compression damping
adjuster finger tight.
• Record the set position of the ad-
juster (the amount of turning out the
fully turned in position).
8. Install:
• Base valve "1"
To damper assembly "2".
First bring the damper rod pressure to
a maximum. Then install the base
valve while releasing the damper rod
pressure.
9. Check:
• Damper assembly
Not fully stretched
→ Repeat the
steps 2 to 8.
10. Tighten:
• Base valve "1"
Hold the damper assembly with the
cap bolt ring wrench "2" and use the
cap bolt wrench "3" to tighten the
base valve with specified torque.
11. After filling, pump the damper as-
sembly "1" slowly up and down
more than 10 times to distribute
the fork oil.
12. While protecting the damper as-
sembly "1" with a rag and com-
pressing fully, allow excessive oil
to overflow on the base valve
side.
Take care not to damage the damp-
er assembly.
13. Allow the overflowing oil to es-
cape at the hole "a" in the damper
assembly.
14. Check:
• Damper assembly smooth move-
ment
Tightness/binding/rough spots

→
Repeat the steps 2 to 13.15. Install:
• Dust seal "1"
• Stopper ring "2"
• Oil seal "3"
• Oil seal washer "4"
• Slide metal "5"
To inner tube "6".
• Apply the fork oil on the inner tube.
• When installing the oil seal, use vi-
nyl seat "a" with fork oil applied to
protect the oil seal lip.
• Install the oil seal with its manufac-
ture's marks or number facing the
axle holder side.
16. Install:
• Piston metal "1"
Install the piston metal onto the slot
on inner tube.
17. Install:
• Outer tube "1"
To inner tube "2".
18. Install:
• Slide metal "1"
• Oil seal washer "2"
To outer tube slot.
Press the slide metal into the outer Base valve:
29 Nm (2.9 m•kg, 21 ft•
lb)
Cap bolt wrench:
YM-01500/90890-01500
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501

5-21
FRONT FORK
tube with fork seal driver "3".
19. Install:
• Oil seal "1"
Press the oil seal into the outer tube
with fork seal driver "2".
20. Install:
• Stopper ring "1"
Fit the stopper ring correctly in the
groove in the outer tube.
21. Install:
• Dust seal "1"
Apply the lithium soap base grease
on the inner tube.
22. Check:
• Inner tube smooth movement
Tightness/binding/rough spots

→
Repeat the steps 15 to 21.
23. Measure:
• Distance "a"
Out of specification
→ Turn into
the locknut.
24. Install:
• Collar "1"
• Fork spring "2"
To damper assembly "3".
Install the collar with its larger dia.
end "a" facing the fork spring.
25. Install:
• Damper assembly "1"
To inner tube "2".
To install the damper assembly
into the inner tube, hold the inner
tube aslant. If the inner tube is held vertically, the damper assembly
may fall into it, damaging the valve
inside.
26. Loosen:
• Rebound damping adjuster "1"
• Loosen the rebound damping ad-
juster finger tight.
• Record the set position of the ad-
juster (the amount of turning out the
fully turned in position).
27. Install:
• Push rod "1"
• Copper washer "2"
•Adjuster "3"
To damper assembly "4".
• While compressing the inner tube
"5", set the cap bolt ring wrench "7"
between the inner tube and locknut
"6".
• Fully finger tighten the adjuster onto
the damper assembly.
28. Inspect:
• Gap "a" between the adjuster "1"
and locknut "2".
Out of specification
→ Retighten
and readjust the locknut. Fork seal driver:
YM-A0948/90890-01502
Fork seal driver:
YM-A0948/90890-01502
Distance "a":
16 mm (0.63 in) or more
Between the damper
assembly "1" bottom
and locknut "2" bot-
tom.
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501
Gap "a" between the ad-
juster and locknut:
0.5–1.0 mm (0.02–0.04
in)

5-22
FRONT FORK
If the adjuster is installed out of spec-
ification, proper damping force can-
not be obtained.
29. Tighten:
• Adjuster (locknut) "1"
Hold the locknut "2" and tighten the
adjuster with specified torque.
30. Install:
• Adjuster "1"
To inner tube.
31. Fill:
• Front fork oil "1"
From outer tube top.
Never fail to make the oil amount
adjustment between the maximum
and minimum amount and always adjust each front fork to the same
setting. Uneven adjustment can
cause poor handling and loss of
stability.
• Be sure to use recommended
fork oil. If other oils are used,
they may have an excessively ad-
verse effect on the front fork per-
formance.
• Never allow foreign materials to
enter the front fork.
32. Install:
• Damper assembly "1"
To outer tube.
Temporarily tighten the damper as-
sembly.
33. Install:
• Protector guide "1"
INSTALLING THE FRONT FORK
1. Install:
• Front fork "1"
• Temporarily tighten the pinch bolts
(lower bracket).
• Do not tighten the pinch bolts (up-
per bracket) yet.
2. Tighten:
• Damper assembly "1"
Use the cap bolt ring wrench "2" to
tighten the damper assembly with
specified torque.
3. Adjust:
• Front fork top end "a"
4. Tighten:
• Pinch bolt (upper bracket) "1"
• Pinch bolt (lower bracket) "2"
Tighten the lower bracket to speci-
fied torque. If torqued too much, it
may cause the front fork to mal-
function.
Adjuster (locknut):
29 Nm (2.9 m•kg, 21
ft•lb)
Adjuster:
55 Nm (5.5 m•kg, 40
ft•lb)
Recommended oil:
Suspension oil "S1"
Standard oil amount:
350 cm
3 (12.3 Imp oz,
11.8 US oz)
Extent of adjustment:
300–375 cm
3
(10.6–13.2 Imp oz,10.1–
12.7 US oz)
Damper assembly:
30 Nm (3.0 m•kg, 22
ft•lb)
Cap bolt ring wrench:
YM-01501/90890-01501
Front fork top end (stan-
dard) "a":
5 mm (0.20 in)
Pinch bolt (upper brack-
et):
21 Nm (2.1 m•kg, 15
ft•lb)
Pinch bolt (lower brack-
et):
21 Nm (2.1 m•kg, 15
ft•lb)

5-23
FRONT FORK
5. Install:
• Protector "1"
• Bolt (protector) "2"
6. Adjust:
• Rebound damping force
Turn in the damping adjuster "1" fin-
ger-tight and then turn out to the orig-
inally set position.
7. Adjust:
• Compression damping force
Turn in the damping adjuster "1" fin-
ger-tight and then turn out to the orig-
inally set position.
Bolt (protector):
5 Nm (0.5 m•kg, 3.6
ft•lb)