Page 9 of 144

OPERATION .................................................. 6-1
Starting a cold engine  ................................ 6-1
Starting a warm engine  .............................. 6-3
Operating the drive select lever and 
driving in reverse  ...................................... 6-3
Engine break-in  .......................................... 6-4
Parking ....................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope  ..................................... 6-5
Accessories and loading  ............................ 6-6
RIDING YOUR ATV  ...................................... 7-1
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD 
JUDGEMENT ............................................ 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-13
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-14
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-17
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-18
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW 
WATER ................................................... 7-19
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-22
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-24
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-24PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND MINOR 
REPAIR ..........................................................8-1
Owner’s manual and tool kit  .......................8-1
Periodic maintenance chart for the 
emission control system  ...........................8-3
General maintenance and lubrication 
chart ..........................................................8-5
Removing and installing the panel  ..............8-9
Checking the spark plug  .............................8-9
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge ................8-11
Final gear oil  .............................................8-15
Differential gear oil  ....................................8-19
Cleaning the air filter element  ...................8-21
Cleaning the spark arrester  ......................8-24
V-belt cooling duct check hose  .................8-25
V-belt case drain plug  ...............................8-26
Adjusting the carburetor ............................8-26
Adjusting the engine idling speed  .............8-26
Adjusting the throttle cable free play .........8-28
Valve clearance  ........................................8-28
Adjusting the drive select lever safety 
system cable  ...........................................8-29
Checking the front brake pads and 
rear brake friction plates  .........................8-29
Checking the brake fluid level  ...................8-30
Changing the brake fluid  ...........................8-31
Checking the front brake lever free play  ...8-31U4S262E0.book  Page 2  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM 
     
        
        Page 19 of 144
3-1
3
EBU17680
DESCRIPTION 
EBU17690Left view
EBU17700Right view
1. Front shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting 
ring
2. Fuel cock
3. Throttle stop screw
4. Fuses
5. Battery
6. Rear shock absorber assembly spring preload adjusting 
ring
7. Recoil starter
8. Engine oil filler cap
9. Oil filter cartridge
10.V-belt cooling duct check hose
1. Spark arrester
2. Storage compartment and tool kit
3. Air filter case
4. Spark plug
5. Rear brake light switch
6. Brake pedal
7. V-belt case drain plug
U4S262E0.book  Page 1  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM 
     
        
        Page 75 of 144
7-20
7
WARNING
EWB01640Never operate this ATV in fast flowing water or
in water deeper than that specified in your
Owner’s Manual. Remember that wet brakes
may have reduced stopping ability. Test your
brakes after leaving water. If necessary, apply
them several times to let friction dry out the lin-
ings. If the ATV is operated through deep or
fast flowing water, the tires may float, causing
loss of traction and loss of control, whichcould lead to an accident.Test your brakes after leaving the water. Do not
continue to ride your ATV without verifying that you
have regained proper braking ability.
NOTICEECB00280After riding your ATV in water, be sure to drain
the trapped water by removing the check hose
at the bottom of the air filter case, the V-belt
cooling duct check hose, the drive select lever
box check hose and the storage compartment
check hose. Also, remove the V-belt case drain
U4S262E0.book  Page 20  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM 
     
        
        Page 76 of 144
7-21
7plug to drain any water that may have accumu-
lated. Wash the ATV in fresh water if it has been
operated in salt water or muddy conditions.1. Air filter case check hose
1. V-belt cooling duct check hose (left front side of ATV)
1. Drive select lever box check hose
U4S262E0.book  Page 21  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM 
     
        
        Page 77 of 144

7-22
7 RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN
Riding over rough terrain should be done with cau-
tion. Look out for obstacles which could cause
damage to the ATV or could lead to an upset or ac-
cident. Be sure to keep your feet firmly mounted on
the footboards at all times. Avoid jumping the ATV
as loss of control and damage to the ATV may re-
sult.
WARNING
EWB01650Before operating in a new area, check for ob-
stacles. Never attempt to ride over large obsta-
cles, such as large rocks or fallen trees. When
you go over obstacles, always follow proper
procedures as described in the Owner’s Manu-al.
SLIDING AND SKIDDING
Care should be used when riding on loose or slip-
pery surfaces since the ATV may slide. If unex-
pected and uncorrected, sliding could lead to an
accident.
To reduce the tendency for the front wheels to slide
in loose or slippery conditions, positioning your
weight over the front wheels will sometimes help.
1. Storage compartment check hose
1. V-belt case drain plugU4S262E0.book  Page 22  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM 
     
        
        Page 104 of 144
8-25
83. Tap the tailpipe lightly, and then use a wire
brush to remove any carbon deposits from the
spark arrester portion of the tailpipe and inside
of the tailpipe housing.
4. Insert the tailpipe into the muffler and align the
bolt holes.
5. Install the bolts and tighten them to the speci-
fied torque.
WARNING
EWB02340Do not start the engine when cleaning the
spark arrester, otherwise it could cause injury
to the eyes, burns, carbon monoxide poison-
ing, possibly leading to death, and start a fire.
Always let the exhaust system cool prior totouching exhaust components.EBU23920V-belt cooling duct check hose If dust or water collects in the V-belt cooling duct
check hose, remove the hose and clean it.
1. Tailpipe
2. Spark arresterTightening torque:
Tailpipe bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m·kgf, 7.2 ft·lbf)
1. V-belt cooling duct check hose (left front side of ATV)
U4S262E0.book  Page 25  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM 
     
        
        Page 105 of 144

8-26
8
EBU23930V-belt case drain plug After riding in water deep enough to allow it to en-
ter the V-belt case, remove this plug to drain the
water from the case.TIPIf water drains from the V-belt case after removing
the plug, have a Yamaha dealer check the ATV asthe water may affect other engine parts.
EBU23940Adjusting the carburetor The carburetor should be checked and, if neces-
sary, adjusted at the intervals specified in the peri-
odic maintenance and lubrication chart. The
carburetor is an important part of the engine and
requires very sophisticated adjustment. Therefore,
most carburetor adjustments should be left to a
Yamaha dealer, who has the necessary profes-
sional knowledge and experience. The adjustment
described in the following section, however, may
be performed by the owner as part of routine main-
tenance.NOTICEECB00480The carburetor has been set and extensively
tested at the Yamaha factory. Changing these
settings without sufficient technical knowl-
edge may result in poor performance of ordamage to the engine.EBU24000Adjusting the engine idling speed The engine idling speed must be checked and, if
necessary, adjusted as follows at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart.
1. V-belt case drain plugU4S262E0.book  Page 26  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM 
     
        
        Page 135 of 144
10-3
10
Transmission:Primary reduction system:
V-belt
Secondary reduction system:
Shaft drive
Secondary reduction ratio:
41/21 × 24/18 × 33/9 (9.545)
Transmission type:
V-belt automatic
Operation:
Left hand operation
Forward gear:
35/20 (1.750)
Reverse gear:
26/15 (1.733)Chassis:Frame type:
Steel tube frame
Caster angle:
2.5 °
Trail:
8.5 mm (0.33 in)Front tire:Type:
Tubeless
Size:
AT25 x 8-12
Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M979
Rear tire:Type:
Tubeless
Size:
AT25 x 10-12
Manufacturer/model:
MAXXIS/M980Loading:Maximum loading limit:
210.0 kg (463 lb)
(Total weight of rider, cargo, accessories, and tongue)Tire air pressure (measured on cold tires):Recommended:
Front:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Rear:
25.0 kPa (0.250 kgf/cm², 3.6 psi)
Minimum:
Front:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)
Rear:
22.0 kPa (0.220 kgf/cm², 3.2 psi)Front wheel:Wheel type:
Panel wheel
Rim size:
12 x 6.0ATRear wheel:Wheel type:
Panel wheel
U4S262E0.book  Page 3  Tuesday, June 10, 2008  11:40 AM