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1
Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill if possible.Always use proper procedures if you stall or roll
backwards when climbing a hill. To avoid stall-
ing, use the proper gear and maintain a steady
speed when climbing a hill. If you stall or roll
backwards, follow the special procedure for
braking described in this manual. Dismount on
the uphill side or to a side if pointed straight up-
hill. Turn the ATV around and remount, following
the procedure described in this manual.Always check for obstacles before operating in a
new area.Never attempt to operate over large obstacles,
such as large rocks or fallen trees. Always follow
proper procedures when operating over obsta-
cles as described in this manual.Always be careful when skidding or sliding.
Learn to safely control skidding or sliding by
practicing at low speeds and on level, smooth
terrain. On extremely slippery surfaces, such as
ice, go slowly and be very cautious in order to re-
duce the chance of skidding or sliding out of con-
trol.Never operate an ATV in fast flowing water or in
water deeper than that recommended in this
manual. Remember that wet brakes may havereduced stopping ability. Test your brakes after
leaving water. If necessary, apply them several
times to let friction dry out the linings.
Always use the size and type of tires specified in
this manual.Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in this manual.Never modify an ATV through improper installa-
tion or use of accessories.Never exceed the stated load capacity for an
ATV. Cargo should be properly distributed and
securely attached. Reduce speed and follow in-
structions in this manual for carrying cargo or
pulling a trailer. Allow greater distance for brak-
ing.
WARNING
Always turn off the engine when refueling.Do not refuel right after the engine has been
running and is still very hot.Do not spill gasoline on the engine or ex-
haust pipe/muffler when refueling. Never re-
fuel while smoking, or in the vicinity of
sparks, open flames, or other sources of ig-
nition such as the pilot lights of water heat-
ers and clothes dryers. Gasoline can catch
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6
crank the engine more than 10 seconds on eachattempt.6. If the engine is started with the choke in posi- tion (1), the choke should be returned to posi-
tion (2) to warm up the engine. If the engine is
started with the choke in position (2), keep the
choke in this position to warm up the engine.
N O T I C E
For maximum engine life, always warm the en-
gine up before starting off. Never acceleratehard when the engine is cold!
7. Continue warming up the engine until it idles smoothly, then return the choke to position (3)
before riding.TIPThe engine is warm when it responds normally tothe throttle with the choke turned off. Starting a warm engine Follow the same procedure as for starting a cold
engine, with the exception that the choke is not re-
quired when the engine is warm. Instead, start the
engine with the throttle slightly open.
To start out and accelerate1. Squeeze the front brake lever to release the parking brake.
2. Gradually open the throttle while slowly re- leasing the rear brake lever. To decelerate
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. Im-
proper use of the brakes can cause the tires to lose
traction, reducing control and increasing the possi-
bility of an accident.
WARNING
Opening the throttle abruptly or releasing the
clutch lever too quickly could make the ATV
wheelie, which would increase the chance ofan accident, including an overturn.
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low speed.
As you approach a curve, slow down and begin to
turn the handlebars in the desired direction. As you
do so, put your weight on the footboard to the out-
side of the turn (opposite your desired direction)
and lean your upper body into the turn. Use the
throttle to maintain an even speed through the
turn. This maneuver will let the wheel on the inside
of the turn slip slightly, allowing the ATV to make
the turn properly.This procedure should be practiced at slow speed
many times in a large off-road area with no obsta-
cles. If an incorrect technique is used, your ATV
may continue to go straight. If the ATV doesn’t
turn, come to a stop and then practice the proce-
dure again. If the riding surface is slippery or loose,
it may help to position more of your weight over the
front wheels by moving forward on the seat.
Once you have learned this technique, you should
be able to perform it at higher speeds or in tighter
1. Lean towards inside of turn.
2. Support your weight on the outer footboard.
1
2
7
WARNING
Always follow proper procedures for turning
as described in this Owner’s Manual. Practice
turning at low speeds before attempting to turn
at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fastfor your skills or the conditions.
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hill. Avoid sharp angles which could allow the ATV
to tip or roll over. Carefully choose your path and
ride no faster than you will be able to react to ob-
stacles which may appear.CROSSING A SLOPE
Traversing a sloping surface on your ATV requires
you to properly position your weight to maintain
proper balance. Be sure that you have learned the
basic riding skills on flat ground before attempting
to cross a sloping surface. Avoid slopes with slip-
pery surfaces or rough terrain that may upset your
balance.
As you travel across a slope, lean your body in the
uphill direction. It may be necessary to correct the
steering when riding on loose surfaces by pointing
the front wheels slightly uphill. When riding on
OK
7
WARNING
Always follow proper procedures for going
down hills as described in this Owner’s Manu-
al.
Note: a special technique is required when
braking as you go down a hill.Always check the terrain carefully before
you start down any hill.Shift your weight backward.Never go down a hill at high speed.Avoid going down a hill at an angle that
would cause the ATV to lean sharply to one
side. Go straight down the hill where possi-ble.
Page 107 of 120
8-34
TroubleshootingAlthough Yamaha ATVs receive a thorough in-
spection before shipment from the factory, trouble
may occur during operation. Any problem in the fu-
el, compression, or ignition systems, for example,
can cause poor starting and loss of power.
The following troubleshooting chart represents a
quick and easy procedure for checking these vital
systems yourself. However, should your ATV re-
quire any repair, take it to a Yamaha dealer, whose
skilled technicians have the necessary tools, expe-
rience, and know-how to service the ATV properly.
Use only genuine Yamaha replacement parts. Im-
itation parts may look like Yamaha parts, but they
are often inferior, have a shorter service life and
can lead to expensive repair bills.
8
WARNING
Do not smoke when checking the fuel system.
Fuel can ignite or explode, causing severe inju-
ry or property damage. Make sure there are no
open flames or sparks in the area, including pi-lot lights from water heaters or furnaces.