2008 YAMAHA YZ450F key

FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of
a Yamaha YZ series. This model is
the culmination of Yamaha's vast ex-
perience in the production of paceset-
ting racing machines. It represents
the highest grade of craftsmanship
and reliability that have made
Yamaha a leader.
This manual explains operation, in-
spection, basic maintenance and tun-
ing of your machine. If you have any
questions about this manual or your
machine, please contact your
Yamaha dealer.
Yamaha continually seeks advance-
ments in product design and quality.
Therefore, while this manual contains
the most current product information
available at the time of printing, there
may be minor discrepancies between
your machine and this manual. If you
have any questions concerning this
manual, please consult your Yamaha
dealer.
PLEASE READ THIS MANUAL
CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY
BEFORE OPERATING THIS MA-
CHINE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OP-
ERATE THIS MACHINE UNTIL YOU
HAVE ATTAINED A SATISFACTO-
RY KNOWLEDGE OF ITS CON-
TROLS AND OPERATING
FEATURES AND UNTIL YOU HAVE
BEEN TRAINED IN SAFE AND
PROPER RIDING TECHNIQUES.
REGULAR INSPECTIONS AND
CAREFUL MAINTENANCE,
ALONG WITH GOOD RIDING
SKILLS, WILL ENSURE THAT YOU
SAFETY ENJOY THE CAPABILI-
TIES AND THE RELIABILITY OF
THIS MACHINE.
PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
The Safety Alert Symbol means AT-
TENTION! BECOME ALERT! YOUR
SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
Failure to follow WARNING instruc-
tions could result in severe injury or
death to the machine operator, a by-
stander, or a person inspecting or re-
pairing the machine.A CAUTION indicates special pre-
cautions that must be taken to avoid
damage to the machine.
A NOTE provides key information to
make procedures easier or clearer.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
THIS MACHINE IS DESIGNED
STRICTLY FOR COMPETITION
USE, ONLY ON A CLOSED
COURSE. It is illegal for this machine
to be operated on any public street,
road, or highway. Off-road use on
public lands may be illegal. Please
check local regulations before riding.
1. THIS MACHINE IS TO BE OP-
ERATED BY AN EXPERI-
ENCED RIDER ONLY.
Do not attempt to operate this
machine at maximum power
until you are totally familiar
with its characteristics.
2. THIS MACHINE IS DESIGNED
TO BE RIDDEN BY THE OP-
ERATOR ONLY.
Do not carry passengers on
this machine.
3. ALWAYS WEAR PROTEC-
TIVE APPAREL.
When operating this ma-
chine, always wear an ap-
proved helmet with goggles
or a face shield. Also wear
heavy boots, gloves, and pro-
tective clothing. Always wear
proper fitting clothing that
will not be caught in any of
the moving parts or controls
of the machine.
4. ALWAYS MAINTAIN YOUR
MACHINE IN PROPER
WORKING ORDER.
For safety and reliability, the
machine must be properly
maintained. Always perform
the pre-operation checks in-
dicated in this manual. Cor-
recting a mechanical problem
before you ride may prevent
an accident.
5. GASOLINE IS HIGHLY FLAM-
MABLE.
Always turn off the engine
while refueling. Take care to
not spill any gasoline on the
engine or exhaust system.
Never refuel in the vicinity of
an open flame, or while
smoking.
6. GASOLINE CAN CAUSE IN-
JURY.
If you should swallow some
gasoline, inhale excess gaso-
line vapors, or allow any gas-
oline to get into your eyes,
contact a doctor immediately.
If any gasoline spills onto
your skin or clothing, imme-
diately wash skin areas with
soap and water, and change
your clothes.
7. ONLY OPERATE THE MA-
CHINE IN AN AREA WITH AD-
EQUATE VENTILATION.
Never start the engine or let it
run for any length of time in
an enclosed area. Exhaust
fumes are poisonous. These
fumes contain carbon mon-
oxide, which by itself is odor-
less and colorless. Carbon
monoxide is a dangerous gas
which can cause uncon-
sciousness or can be lethal.
8. PARK THE MACHINE CARE-
FULLY; TURN OFF THE EN-
GINE.
Always turn off the engine if
you are going to leave the
machine. Do not park the ma-
chine on a slope or soft
ground as it may fall over.
9. THE ENGINE, EXHAUST
PIPE, MUFFLER, AND OIL
TANK WILL BE VERY HOT
AFTER THE ENGINE HAS
BEEN RUN.
Be careful not to touch them
or to allow any clothing item
to contact them during in-
spection or repair.

3-7
ENGINE
LUBRICATING THE THROTTLE
1. Remove:
• Cover (throttle cable cap) "1"
• Cover (grip cap) "2"
• Throttle grip cap "3"
2. Apply:
• Lithium soap base grease
On the throttle cable end "a".
3. Install:
• Throttle grip cap
• Screw (throttle grip cap)
• Cover (grip cap)
• Cover (throttle cable cap)
ADJUSTING THE HOT STARTER
LEVER FREE PLAY
1. Check:
• Hot starter lever free play "a"
Out of specification
→Adjust.
2. Adjust:
• Hot starter lever free play
Hot starter lever free play adjust-
ment steps:
a. Loosen the locknut "1".
b. Turn the adjuster "2" until free
play "a" is within the specified lim-
its.
c. Tighten the locknut.
After adjustment, check proper oper-
ation of hot starter.
CLEANING THE AIR FILTER
ELEMENT
Proper air filter maintenance is the
biggest key to preventing premature
engine wear and damage.
Never run the engine without the
air filter element in place; this
would allow dirt and dust to enter
the engine and cause rapid wear
and possible engine damage.
1. Remove:
•Seat
• Fitting bolt "1"
• Washer "2"
• Air filter element "3"
• Air filter guide "4"
2. Clean:
• Air filter element
Clean them with solvent.
After cleaning, remove the remaining
solvent by squeezing the element.
• Do not twist the element when
squeezing the element.
• Leaving too much of solvent in
the element may result in poor
starting.
3. Inspect:
• Air filter element
Damage
→Replace.
4. Apply:
• Foam-air-filter oil or equivalent oil
to the element
Squeeze out the excess oil. Element
should be wet but not dripping.
5. Install:
• Air filter guide "1"
Align the projection "a" on filter guide
with the hole "b" in air filter element.
6. Apply:
• Lithium soap base grease
On the matching surface "a" on air
filter element.
7. Install:
• Air filter element "1"
• Washer
• Fitting bolt
Align the projection "a" on filter guide
with the hole "b" in air filter case.
Screw (throttle grip cap):
4 Nm (0.4 m•kg, 2.9
ft•lb)
Hot starter lever free play
"a":
3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in)
Locknut:
4 Nm (0.4 m•kg, 2.9
ft•lb)
Fitting bolt:
2 Nm (0.2 m•kg, 1.4
ft•lb)

4-37
BALANCER
BALANCER
REMOVING THE BALANCER
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
Primary driven gear Refer to "CLUTCH" section.
Right crankcase cover Refer to "OIL FILTER ELEMENT AND WA-
TER PUMP" section.
Stator Refer to "CDI MAGNETO" section.
1 Nut (balancer) 1 Refer to removal section.
2 Nut (primary drive gear) 1 Refer to removal section.
3 Nut (balancer shaft driven gear) 1 Refer to removal section.
4 Lock washer 1
5 Balancer 1
6 Straight key 1
7 Conical washer 1
8 Primary drive gear 1
9 Balancer shaft drive gear 1
10 Lock washer 1
11 Balancer shaft driven gear 1

4-38
BALANCER
REMOVING THE BALANCER
1. Straighten the lock washer tab.
2. Loosen:
• Nut (balancer) "1"
• Nut (primary drive gear) "2"
• Nut (balancer shaft driven gear)
"3"
Place an aluminum plate "a" between
the teeth of the balancer shaft drive
gear "4" and driven gear "5".
CHECKING THE PRIMARY DRIVE
GEAR, BALANCER SHAFT DRIVE
GEAR AND BALANCER SHAFT
DRIVEN GEAR
1. Inspect:
• Primary drive gear "1"
• Balancer shaft drive gear "2"
• Balancer shaft driven gear "3"
Wear/damage
→Replace.
CHECKING THE BALANCER
1. Inspect:
• Balancer
Cracks/damage
→Replace.INSTALLING THE BALANCER
1. Install:
• Balancer shaft driven gear "1"
Install the balancer shaft driven gear
and balancer shaft with their lower
splines "a" aligning with each other.
2. Install:
• Balancer shaft driven gear "1"
• Align the punched mark "a" on the
balancer shaft drive gear with the
punched mark "b" on the balancer
shaft driven gear.
• Install the balancer shaft driven
gear and crankshaft with the lower
splines "c" aligning with each other.
3. Install:
• Lock washer "1"
• Nut (balancer shaft driven gear)
"2"
• Primary drive gear "3"
• Conical washer "4"
• Nut (primary drive gear) "5"
• Straight key "6"
• Balancer "7"
• Lock washer "8"• Nut (balancer) "9"
• Apply engine oil to the contact sur-
face and threaded portion of the nut
(primary drive gear).
• Place an aluminum plate "a" be-
tween the teeth of the balancer
shaft drive gear "10" and balancer
shaft driven gear "11".
• Install the conical washer with its
convex surface "b" outward.
4. Bend the lock washer tab.
Nut (balancer shaft driv-
en gear):
50 Nm (5.0 m•kg, 36
ft•lb)
Nut (primary drive gear):
110 Nm (11.0 m•kg, 80
ft•lb)
Nut (balancer):
45 Nm (4.5 m•kg, 33
ft•lb)

4-47
CDI MAGNETO
CDI MAGNETO
REMOVING THE CDI MAGNETO
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
Seat and fuel tank Refer to "SEAT, FUEL TANK AND SIDE
COVERS" section.
Disconnect the CDI magneto lead.
1 Left crankcase cover 1
2 Gasket 1
3 Dowel pin 2
4 Nut (rotor) 1 Refer to removal section.
5 Rotor 1 Refer to removal section.
6 Stator 1
7 Woodruff key 1

4-48
CDI MAGNETO
REMOVING THE ROTOR
1. Remove:
• Nut (rotor) "1"
• Washer
2. Remove:
• Rotor "1"
Use the rotor puller 2.
CHECKING THE CDI MAGNETO
1. Inspect:
• Rotor inner surface "a"
• Stator outer surface "b"
Damage
→Inspect the crankshaft
runout and crankshaft bearing.
If necessary, replace CDI magne-
to and/or stator.
CHECKING THE WOODRUFF KEY
1. Inspect:
• Woodruff key "1"
Damage
→Replace.
INSTALLING THE CDI MAGNETO
1. Install:
•Stator "1"
• Screw (stator) "2"
• Apply the sealant on the grommet
of the CDI magneto lead.
• Tighten the screws using the T30
bit.
2. Install:
• Woodruff key "1"
• Rotor "2"
• Degrease the contact surfaces of
the tapered portions of the crank-
shaft and rotor.
• When installing the woodruff key,
make sure that its flat surface "a" is
in parallel with the crankshaft center
line "b".
• When installing the rotor, align the
keyway "c" of the rotor with the
woodruff key.
3. Install:
• Washer
• Nut (rotor) "1"
4. Connect:
• CDI magneto lead
Refer to "CABLE ROUTING DIA-
GRAM" section in the CHAPTER
2.5. Install:
• Dowel pin
• O-ring
• Gasket (left crankcase cover)
• Left crankcase cover "1"
• Hose guide (cylinder head breath-
er hose) "2"
• Bolt (left crankcase cover)
• Apply the lithium soap base grease
on the O-ring.
• Tighten the bolts in stage, using a
crisscross pattern.
Rotor puller:
YM-04151/90890-04151
Screw (stator):
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg,
7.2ft•lb)
YAMAHA Bond No. 1215
(ThreeBond® No. 1215):
90890-85505
Nut (rotor):
56 Nm (5.6 m•kg, 40
ft•lb)
Bolt (left crankcase cov-
er):
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)