2008 YAMAHA YZ85 Owners Manual

INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-4
3 Your Yamaha engine has been de-
signed to use premium unleaded gaso-
line with a pump octane number
[(R+M)/2] of 91 or higher, or a research
octane number of 95 or higher. If
knocking (or pinging) occurs, use a
gasoline of a different brand.
If the recommended 2-stroke engine oil
is not available, use an equivalent oil.
CAUTION:
ECA15551
Never mix two brands of 2-stroke en-
gine oil in the same batch. Always
use the same type of oil to ensure
maximum engine performance.
Should it be necessary to use a dif-
ferent oil brand, be sure to drain the
fuel tank and the carburetor float
chamber of the old premixed fuelprior to filling with the new type.Filling the fuel tank
Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in
the tank. Fill the fuel tank to the bottom
of the filler tube as shown.
WARNING
EWA10880


Do not overfill the fuel tank, oth-
erwise it may overflow when the
fuel warms up and expands.


Avoid spilling fuel on the hot en-gine.
CAUTION:
ECA10070
Immediately wipe off spilled fuel
with a clean, dry, soft cloth, since
fuel may deteriorate painted surfac-es or plastic parts.
1. Fuel level
2. Fuel tank filler tube
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-5
3
EAU41360
Fuel tank breather hose Before operating the motorcycle:

Check the fuel tank breather hose
connection.


Check the fuel tank breather hose
for cracks or damage, and replace
it if damaged.


Make sure that the end of the fuel
tank breather hose is not blocked,
and clean it if necessary.
NOTE:If the fuel tank breather hose falls out,
reinstall it on the fuel tank cap with the
arrow mark on the one-way valve point-ed downward as shown.
EAU41280
Fuel cock The fuel cock supplies fuel from the
tank to the carburetor while filtering it al-
so.
The fuel cock has two positions:
OFF
With the lever in this position, fuel will
not flow. Always return the lever to this
position when the engine is not running.ON
With the lever in this position, fuel flows
to the carburetor. Normal riding is done
with the lever in this position.
1. Fuel tank breather hose
2. One-way valve
1. Arrow mark positioned over “OFF”
1. Arrow mark positioned over “ON”
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-6
3
EAU13640
Starter (choke) knob Starting a cold engine requires a richer
air-fuel mixture, which is supplied by
the starter (choke).
Move the knob in direction (a) to turn on
the starter (choke).
Move the knob in direction (b) to turn off
the starter (choke).
EAU13650
Kickstarter To start the engine, fold out the kick-
starter lever, move it down lightly with
your foot until the gears engage, and
then push it down smoothly but force-
fully. This model is equipped with a pri-
mary kickstarter, allowing the engine to
be started in any gear if the clutch is
disengaged. However, shifting the
transmission into the neutral position
before starting is recommended.
EAU13960
Seat To remove the seat
Remove the bolts, and then pull the
seat off.
To install the seat
1. Insert the projections on the front
of the seat into the seat holders as
shown.
1. Starter (choke) knob
1. Kickstarter lever
1. Bolt
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-7
3
2. Place the seat in the original posi-
tion, and then tighten the bolts.
NOTE:Make sure that the seat is properly se-cured before riding.
EAU41470
Adjusting the front fork This front fork is equipped with rebound
damping force adjusting screws and
compression damping force adjusting
screws.
WARNING
EWA10180
Always adjust both fork legs equal-
ly, otherwise poor handling and lossof stability may result.
Rebound damping force
To increase the rebound damping force
and thereby harden the rebound damp-
ing, turn the adjusting screw on each
fork leg in direction (a). To decrease the
rebound damping force and therebysoften the rebound damping, turn the
adjusting screw on each fork leg in di-
rection (b).
Compression damping force
1. Remove the rubber cap by pulling
it out of the front fork leg.
1. Projection
2. Seat holder
1. Rebound damping force adjusting screw
Rebound damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
20 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:
7 click(s) in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned
in direction (a)1. Rubber cap
2. Compression damping force adjusting screw
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-8
3 2. To increase the compression
damping force and thereby harden
the compression damping, turn the
adjusting screw on each fork leg in
direction (a). To decrease the
compression damping force and
thereby soften the compression
damping, turn the adjusting screw
on each fork leg in direction (b).
3. Install the rubber cap.
CAUTION:
ECA10100
Never attempt to turn an adjusting
mechanism beyond the maximum orminimum settings.
NOTE:Although the total number of clicks of a
damping force adjusting mechanism
may not exactly match the above spec-
ifications due to small differences in
production, the actual number of clicks
always represents the entire adjusting
range. To obtain a precise adjustment,
it would be advisable to check the num-
ber of clicks of each damping force ad-
justing mechanism and to modify thespecifications as necessary.
EAU14790
Front fork bleeding When riding in extremely rough condi-
tions, the air temperature and pressure
in the front fork will rise. This will in-
crease the spring preload and harden
the front suspension. If this occurs,
bleed the front fork as follows.
1. Elevate the front wheel by placing
a suitable stand under the engine.NOTE:When bleeding the front fork, there
should be no weight on the front end ofthe vehicle.
2. Remove the bleed screws and al-
low all of the air to escape from
each fork leg.
Compression damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
20 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:
YZ85(X): 10 click(s) in direction
(b)*
YZ85LW(X): 9 click(s) in direction
(b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned
in direction (a)
1. Bleed screw
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-9
3
WARNING
EWA10200
Always bleed both fork legs, other-
wise poor handling and loss of sta-bility may result.
3. Install the bleed screws.
EAU41330
Adjusting the shock absorber
assembly This shock absorber assembly is
equipped with a spring preload adjust-
ing nut, a rebound damping force ad-
justing screw and a compression
damping force adjusting screw.CAUTION:
ECA10100
Never attempt to turn an adjusting
mechanism beyond the maximum orminimum settings.
Spring preload
Adjust the spring preload as follows.
1. Loosen the locknut.2. To increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension,
turn the adjusting nut in direction
(a). To decrease the spring pre-
load and thereby soften the sus-
pension, turn the adjusting nut in
direction (b).
NOTE:

A special wrench can be obtained
at a Yamaha dealer to make this
adjustment.


The spring preload setting is deter-
mined by measuring distance A,
shown in the illustration. The long-
er distance A is, the lower the
spring preload; the shorter dis-
tance A is, the higher the spring
preload. With each complete turn
of the adjusting nut, distance A ischanged by 1.5 mm (0.06 in).
1. Locknut
2. Spring preload adjusting nut
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-10
3
3. Tighten the locknut to the specified
torque.
CAUTION:
ECA10120
Always tighten the locknut against
the adjusting nut, and then tightenthe locknut to the specified torque.
Rebound damping force
To increase the rebound damping force
and thereby harden the rebound damp-
ing, turn the adjusting screw in direction
(a). To decrease the rebound damping
force and thereby soften the rebound
damping, turn the adjusting screw in di-
rection (b).
Compression damping force
To increase the compression damping
force and thereby harden the compres-
sion damping, turn the adjusting screw
in direction (a). To decrease the com-
pression damping force and thereby
soften the compression damping, turn
the adjusting screw in direction (b).
1. Distance ASpring preload:
Minimum (soft):
Distance A = 218.5 mm (8.60 in)
Standard:YZ85(X)
Distance A = 215.0 mm (8.46 in)
For Europe only: Distance A =
212.0 mm (8.35 in)
Standard:YZ85LW(X)
Distance A = 207.0 mm (8.15 in)
For Europe only: Distance A =
212.0 mm (8.35 in)
Maximum (hard):
Distance A = 202.5 mm (7.97 in)
Tightening torque:
Locknut:
35 Nm (3.5 m·kgf, 25 ft·lbf)
1. Rebound damping force adjusting screw
Rebound damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
20 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:YZ85(X)
6 click(s) in direction (b)*
For Europe only: 12 click(s) in di-
rection (b)*
Standard:YZ85LW(X)
7 click(s) in direction (b)*
For Europe only: 12 click(s) in di-
rection (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned
in direction (a)
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INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3-11
3
NOTE:Although the total number of clicks of a
damping force adjusting mechanism
may not exactly match the above spec-ifications due to small differences in
production, the actual number of clicks
always represents the entire adjusting
range. To obtain a precise adjustment,
it would be advisable to check the num-
ber of clicks of each damping force ad-
justing mechanism and to modify the
specifications as necessary.
WARNING
EWA10220
This shock absorber contains highly
pressurized nitrogen gas. For prop-
er handling, read and understand
the following information before
handling the shock absorber. The
manufacturer cannot be held re-
sponsible for property damage or
personal injury that may result from
improper handling.

Do not tamper with or attempt to
open the gas cylinder.


Do not subject the shock ab-
sorber to an open flame or other
high heat sources, otherwise it
may explode due to excessive
gas pressure.


Do not deform or damage the
gas cylinder in any way, as this
will result in poor damping per-
formance.


Always have a Yamaha dealerservice the shock absorber.
1. Compression damping force adjusting screwCompression damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
20 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard:YZ85(X)
9 click(s) in direction (b)*
For Europe only: 12 click(s) in di-
rection (b)*
Standard:YZ85LW(X)
7 click(s) in direction (b)*
For Europe only: 12 click(s) in di-
rection (b)*
Maximum (hard):
1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned
in direction (a)
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