2008 YAMAHA YZ450F ignition

3-9
ENGINE
Replacement steps:
a. Remove the oil filter element cov-
er "1" and oil filter element "2".
b. Check the O-rings "3", if cracked
or damaged, replace them with a
new one.
c. Install the oil filter element and oil
filter element cover.
5. Install:
• Gaskets
• Oil filter drain bolt
• Drain bolt (right crankcase)
• Drain bolt (left crankcase)
6. Fill:
• Engine oil7. Install:
• Oil filler cap
8. Inspect:
• Engine (for oil leaks)
• Oil level
Refer to "ENGINE OIL LEVEL IN-
SPECTION".
CHECKING THE OIL PRESSURE
1. Check:
• Oil pressure
Checking steps:
a. Slightly loosen the oil pressure
check bolt "1".
b. Start the engine and keep it idling
until oil starts to seep from the oil
pressure check bolt. If no oil
comes out after one minute, turn
the engine off so it will not seize.
c. Check oil passages and oil pump
for damage or leakage.
d. Start the engine after solving the
problem(s) and recheck the oil
pressure.
e. Tighten the oil pressure check
bolt.
ADJUSTING THE PILOT SCREW
1. Adjust:
• Pilot screw "1"
Adjustment steps:
To optimize the fuel flow at a smaller
throttle opening, each machine's pilot
screw has been individually set at the
factory. Before adjusting the pilot
screw, turn it in fully and count the
number of turns. Record this number
as the factory-set number of turns
out.
a. Turn in the pilot screw until it is
lightly seated.
b. Turn out the pilot screw by the
factory-set number of turns.
ADJUSTING THE ENGINE IDLING
SPEED
1. Start the engine and thoroughly
warm it up.
2. Adjust:
• Engine idling speed
Adjustment steps:
a. Adjust the pilot screw.
Refer to "ADJUSTING THE PI-
LOT SCREW" section.
b. Turn the throttle stop screw "1"
until the specified engine idling
speed.
Using a digital engine tachometer for
idle speed adjustment, detect the en-
gine idling speed by bringing the
sensing element "c" of the engine ta-
chometer close to the ignition coil "2".
Oil filter element cover:
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)
Oil filter drain bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)
Drain bolt (right crank-
case):
20 Nm (2.0 m•kg, 14
ft•lb)
Drain bolt (left crank-
case):
20 Nm (2.0 m•kg, 14
ft•lb)
Oil quantity:
Periodic oil change:
0.95 L (0.84 Imp qt,
1.00 US qt)
With oil filter replace-
ment:
1.0 L (0.88 Imp qt, 1.06
US qt)
Total amount:
1.2 L (1.06 Imp qt, 1.27
US qt)
Oil pressure check bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)
Pilot screw (example):
1-1/2 turns out
Digital tachometer:
YU-39951-B/90890-
06760
To increase idle speed
→Turn the
throttle stop screw "1" in "a".
To decrease idle speed
→Turn
the throttle stop screw "1" out
"b".
Engine idling speed:
1,900–2,100 r/min

3-22
ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICAL
CHECKING THE SPARK PLUG
1. Remove:
• Spark plug
2. Inspect:
• Electrode "1"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
• Insulator color "2"
Normal condition is a medium to
light tan color.
Distinctly different color
→Check
the engine condition.
When the engine runs for many hours
at low speeds, the spark plug insula-
tor will become sooty, even if the en-
gine and carburetor are in good
operating condition.
3. Measure:
• Plug gap "a"
Use a wire gauge or thickness
gauge.
Out of specification
→Regap.
4. Clean the plug with a spark plug
cleaner if necessary.
5. Tighten:
• Spark plug
• Before installing a spark plug, clean
the gasket surface and plug sur-
face.
• Finger-tighten "a" the spark plug
before torquing to specification "b".
CHECKING THE IGNITION TIMING
1. Remove:
• Timing mark accessing screw "1"2. Attach:
• Timing light
• Inductive tachometer
To the ignition coil lead (orange
lead"1").
3. Adjust:
• Engine idling speed
Refer to "ADJUSTING THE EN-
GINE IDLING SPEED" section.
4. Check:
• Ignition timing
Visually check the stationary
pointer "a" is within the firing
range "b" on the rotor.
Incorrect firing range
→Check ro-
tor and pickup assembly.
5. Install:
• Timing mark accessing screw Spark plug gap:
0.7–0.8 mm (0.028–
0.031 in)
Spark plug:
13 Nm (1.3 m•kg, 9.4
ft•lb)
Timing light:
YM-33277-A/90890-
03141

4-49
ENGINE REMOVAL
ENGINE REMOVAL
REMOVING THE ENGINE
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
Hold the machine by placing the suitable stand
under the frame.Refer to "HANDLING NOTE".
Seat and fuel tank Refer to "SEAT, FUEL TANK AND SIDE
COVERS" section.
Rear shock absorber Refer to "REAR SHOCK ABSORBER" sec-
tion in the CHAPTER 5.
Carburetor Refer to "CARBURETOR" section.
Exhaust pipe and silencer Refer to "EXHAUST PIPE AND SILENCER"
section.
Clutch cable Disconnect at the engine side.
Radiator Refer to "RADIATOR" section.
Shift pedalRefer to "KICK SHAFT AND SHIFT SHAFT"
section.
Cylinder head breather hose Refer to "CAMSHAFTS" section.
Drain the engine oil.Refer to "CHANGING THE ENGINE OIL"
section in the CHAPTER 3.
Ignition coil
Disconnect the CDI magneto lead.

6-1
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND WIRING DIAGRAM
ELECTRICAL
ELECTRICAL
COMPONENTS AND
WIRING DIAGRAM
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
1. Engine stop switch
2. Throttle position sensor
3. Neutral switch4. CDI magneto
5. Ignition coil
6. Spark plug7. CDI unit
WIRING DIAGRAM
1. Engine stop switch
2. Throttle position sensor
3. Neutral switch
4. CDI magneto
5. Ignition coil
6. Spark plug
7. CDI unitCOLOR CODE
BBlack
Br Brown
GGreen
LBlue
O Orange
PPink
RRed
Sb Sky blue
WWhiteY Yellow
B/L Black/Blue
B/W Black/White
B/Y Black/Yellow
G/B Green/Black
L/W Blue/White
R/W Red/White
B/WB/W
B/L
B/Y
SbSb
G/B
LYLY
P
B
B
B
B
G
O
WR
P
GW
R P
B Br W
W
B/Y GBr
G RR
OB Sb Sb Y
Y
WY
W
GG
B
PP
Br BrR R
OL
B SbY LL
B/L B/W B/WG/B
B B
B/L L Sb
B/L
G/B
G/BB/Y
B/Y
B/W
O B/W
BrBrP
6

6-2
IGNITION SYSTEM
IGNITION SYSTEM
INSPECTION STEPS
Use the following steps for checking the possibility of the malfunctioning engine being attributable to ignition system failure
and for checking the spark plug which will not spark.
*marked: Only when the ignition checker is used.
• Remove the following parts before inspection.
1. Seat
2. Fuel tank
• Use the following special tools in this inspection.
Spark gap test Spark→*Clean or replace spark plug.
No spark
↓
Check entire ignition system for connection.
(couplers, leads and ignition coil)No good→Repair or replace.
OK
↓
Check engine stop switch. No good→Replace.
OK
↓
Check ignition coil. (primary coil and secondary
coil)No good→Replace.
OK
↓
Check CDI magneto. (pickup coil and charging
coil)No good→Replace.
OK
↓
Check neutral switch. No good→Repair or replace.
OK
↓
Replace CDI unit.
Dynamic spark tester:
YM-34487
Ignition checker:
90890-06754
Pocket tester:
YU-3112-C/90890-03112

6-3
IGNITION SYSTEM
SPARK GAP TEST
1. Disconnect the ignition coil from
spark plug.
2. Remove the ignition coil cap.
3. Connect the dynamic spark tester
"1" (ignition checker "2") as
shown.
• Ignition coil "3"
• Spark plug "4"
A. For USA and CDN
B. Except for USA and CDN
4. Kick the kickstarter crank.
5. Check the ignition spark gap.
6. Start engine, and increase spark
gap until misfire occurs. (for USA
and CDN only)
CHECKING THE COUPLERS,
LEADS AND IGNITION COIL
CONNECTION
1. Check:
• Couplers and leads connection
Rust/dust/looseness/short-circuit
→Repair or replace.
• Ignition coil and spark plug as
they are fitted
Push in the ignition coil until it
closely contacts the spark plug
hole in the cylinder head cover.
CHECKING THE ENGINE STOP
SWITCH
1. Inspect:
• Engine stop switch conductionNot conductive while it is pushed
→
Replace.
Conductive while it is freed
→Re-
place.
Set the tester selection position to
"
Ω × 1".
CHECKING THE IGNITION COIL
1. Remove the ignition coil cap.
2. Inspect:
• Primary coil resistance
Out of specification
→Replace.
3. Inspect:
• Secondary coil resistance
Out of specification
→Replace.4. Inspect:
• Sealed portion of ignition coil "a"
• Spark plug terminal pin "b"
• Threaded portion of spark plug "c"
Wear
→Replace.
CHECKING THE CDI MAGNETO
1. Inspect:
• Pickup coil resistance
Out of specification
→Replace.
2. Inspect:
• Charging coil 1 resistance
Out of specification
→Replace. Minimum spark gap:
6.0 mm (0.24 in)
Tester (+) lead
→Black/White
lead "1"
Tester (-) lead
→Black lead "2"
Result
Conductive (while the
engine stop switch is
pushed)
Tester (+) lead
→Orange lead "1"
Tester (-) lead
→Black lead "2"
Primary
coil resis-
tanceTester se-
lector posi-
tion
0.08–0.10
Ω at 20 °C
(68 °F) Ω × 1
Tester (+) lead
→Orange lead "1"
Tester (-) lead
→Spark plug termi-
nal "2"
Secondary
coil resis-
tanceTester se-
lector posi-
tion
4.6–6.8
k
Ωat 20 °C
(68 °F) kΩ × 1
Tester (+) lead→Red lead "1"
Tester (-) lead
→White lead "2"
Pickup coil
resistanceTester se-
lector posi-
tion
248-372
Ω
at 20 °C (68
°F)Ω ×100
Tester (+) lead
→Brown lead "1"
Tester (-) lead
→Green lead "2"
Charging
coil 1 resis-
tanceTester se-
lector posi-
tion
720-1,080
Ω at 20 °C
(68 °F)Ω ×100

6-4
IGNITION SYSTEM
3. Inspect:
• Charging coil 2 resistance
Out of specification
→Replace.
CHECKING THE NEUTRAL
SWITCH
1. Inspect:
• Neutral switch conduction
Not conductive while it is in neutral
→
Replace.
Conductive while it is engaged
→Re-
place.
Set the tester selection position to
"
Ω × 1".
CHECKING THE CDI UNIT
Check all electrical components. If no
fault is found, replace the CDI unit.
Then check the electrical compo-
nents again.Tester (+) lead
→Pink lead "1"
Tester (-) lead
→Black lead "2"
Charging
coil 2 resis-
tanceTester se-
lector posi-
tion
44-66
Ω at
20 °C (68
°F)
Ω ×10
Tester (+) lead
→Sky blue lead
"1"
Tester (-) lead
→Ground "2"
Result
Conductive (while gear
is in neutral)

6-5
THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR SYSTEM
THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR SYSTEM
INSPECTION STEPS
If the throttle position sensor will not operate, use the following inspection steps.
*marked: Refer to "IGNITION SYSTEM" section.
Use the following special tools in this inspection.
Check entire ignition system for connection. No good→Repair or replace.
OK
↓
Check throttle position sensor. (Throttle position
sensor coil)No good→Replace.
OK
↓
*Check CDI magneto. (Charging coil) No good→Replace.
OK
↓
Check CDI unit. (Throttle position sensor input
voltage)No good→Replace.
Pocket tester:
YU-3112-C/90890-03112