Page 41 of 144
4-21
4
WARNING
EWB00400Always adjust the shock absorber assemblies
on the left and right side to the same setting.
Uneven adjustment can cause poor handling
and loss of stability, which could lead to an ac-cident.U4S262E0.book Page 21 Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:40 AM
Page 42 of 144

5-1
5
EBU19200
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EBU19223Pre-operation check list Before operating this ATV, be sure to check the items listed in the following table.
WARNING
EWB00480Always inspect your ATV each time you use it to make sure it is in safe operating condition.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Owner’sManual. Failure to inspect increases the possibility of an accident or equipment damage.TIPThe maintenance of some items in the table has to be performed by a Yamaha dealer. Refer to the periodicmaintenance charts on page 8-3 to determine which service should be performed by a Yamaha dealer.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
FuelCheck fuel level in fuel tank, and add recommended fuel if neces-
sary.
Check fuel line for leakage. Correct if necessary.4-14, 5-3
Engine oilCheck oil level in engine, and add recommended oil to specified lev-
el if necessary.
Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-11
Final gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-15
Differential gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-19
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5-2
5
Front brakeCheck operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add recommended brake
fluid to specified level if necessary.
Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-29, 8-30, 8-31
Rear brakeCheck operation, and correct if necessary.
Lubricate cables if necessary.
Check lever and pedal free play, and adjust if necessary.5-3, 8-29, 8-32
Throttle leverMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
Check cable free play, and adjust if necessary.5-4, 8-28
Control cablesMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-38
Wheels and tiresCheck wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
Check air pressure. Correct if necessary.5-4, 5-5, 5-6
Brake pedal Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary.8-39
Brake leversMake sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary.8-38
Axle bootsCheck for cracks or damage, and replace if necessary. 8-36
Chassis fastenersMake sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-6
Instruments, lights and
switchesCheck operation, and correct if necessary. 5-6 ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
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5-3
5
EBU19540Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-14.)
WARNING
EWB00520Do not overfill the fuel tank. Fuel expands
when it heats up. If the fuel tank is overfilled,
fuel could spill out due to heat from the en-
gine or the sun.Be careful not to spill fuel, especially on the
engine or exhaust pipe which can cause a
fire and severe injury. Wipe up any spilled
fuel immediately.Do not refuel right after the engine has been
running and is still very hot.Be sure the fuel tank cap is closed securely.EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-11.)EBU19590Final gear oil Make sure that the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-15.)
EBU19600Differential gear oil Make sure that the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See page
8-19.)EBU28530Front and rear brakes Brake levers and brake pedalCheck that there is no free play in the front brake
lever. If there is free play, have a Yamaha dealer
check the brake system.Check for correct free play in the rear brake lever
and brake pedal. If the free play is incorrect, ad-
just it. (See page 8-32.)Check operation of the levers and pedal. They
should move smoothly and there should be a
firm feeling when the brake is applied. If not,
have a Yamaha dealer check them.
Brake fluid level (front brake)
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-30.)
Recommended brake fluid:
DOT 4
U4S262E0.book Page 3 Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:40 AM
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5-4
5 Brake fluid leakage (front brake)
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
hose, joint or brake fluid reservoir of the front
brake. Apply the brake firmly for one minute. If the
lever moves slowly inward, there may be a leak in
the brake system. If there is any leakage, the brake
system should be checked by a Yamaha dealer.
Brake operation
Test the brakes at slow speed after starting out to
make sure they are working properly. If the brakes
do not provide proper braking performance, check
the brake pads and friction plates for wear. (See
page 8-29.)
WARNING
EWB00580Always check the brakes at the start of every
ride. Do not ride the ATV if you find any prob-
lem with the brakes or you could lose braking
ability, which could lead to an accident. If a
problem cannot be corrected by the adjust-
ment procedures provided in this manual, havea Yamaha dealer check for the cause.
EBU19761Throttle lever Check the operation of the throttle lever. It must
open smoothly and spring back to the idle position
when released. Have a Yamaha dealer correct if
necessary.EBU19812Tires
WARNING
EWB00592Use of improper tires on this ATV, or operation
of this ATV with improper or uneven tire pres-
sure, may cause loss of control, increasing
your risk of accident.
Pay attention to the following.The tires listed below have been approved
by Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corpora-
tion of America for this model. Other tire
combinations are not recommended.
Front:
Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M979
Size:
AT25 x 8-12
Type:
Tubeless
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5-5
5Rear:
Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M980
Size:
AT25 x 10-12
Type:
Tubeless
The tires should be set to the recommended
pressure:
Recommended tire pressure:
Front:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Rear:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Check and adjust tire pressures when the
tires are cold.
Tire pressures must be equal on both
sides.
Tire pressure below the minimum speci-
fied could cause the tire to dislodge from
the rim under severe riding conditions.
Minimum tire pressure:
Front:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
Rear:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)Use no more than the following pressures
when seating the tire beads.
Maximum tire seating pressure:
Front:
250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm², 36 psi)
Rear:
250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm², 36 psi)
Higher pressures and fast inflation may
cause a tire to burst. Inflate the tires very
slowly and carefully.EBU19821Measuring the tire pressure Use the low-pressure tire gauge.TIPThe low-pressure tire gauge is included as stan-
dard equipment. Make two measurements of the
tire pressure and use the second reading. Dust or
dirt in the gauge could cause the first reading to beincorrect.
U4S262E0.book Page 5 Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:40 AM
Page 47 of 144
5-6
5
Set the tire pressure when the tires are cold. Set
the tire pressures to the following specifications:
EBU19830Tire wear limit Replace the tire when the tire groove decreases to
3 mm (0.12 in).EBU19840Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are prop-
erly tightened.EBU19850Instruments, lights and switches Check that all instruments, lights and switches are
working properly. Correct if necessary.
1. Low-pressure tire gaugeRecommended pressure:
Fron t
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Rear
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Minimum:
Fron t
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
Rear
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
1. Tire wear limit
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6-1
6
EBU19880
OPERATION
EBU19900Read the Owner’s Manual carefully before riding
the ATV.
WARNING
EWB00630Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to become
familiar with all controls in order to help pre-
vent any loss of control, which could cause an
accident or injury. If there is a control or func-
tion you do not understand, ask your Yamahadealer.EBU20031Starting a cold engine
WARNING
EWB00640Always make sure all control cables work
smoothly before you begin riding in cold
weather. If the control cables are frozen or do
not work smoothly, you could be unable to
control the ATV, which could lead to an acci-dent or collision.
NOTICEECB00150See the “Engine break-in” section on page 6-4prior to operating the engine for the first time.
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the main switch to “ON” and the engine
stop switch to“”.
4. Shift the drive select lever into the neutral po-
sition. The neutral indicator light should come
on. If the indicator light does not come on,
have a Yamaha dealer check the electrical cir-
cuit.TIPThe engine can be started under the following con-
ditions:The drive select lever is in the neutral position.The rear brake lever is applied with the drive se-
lect lever in any position. However, it is recom-
mended to shift into the neutral position beforestarting the engine.
U4S262E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, June 10, 2008 11:40 AM