
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-16
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EAU21631
Tires
To maximize the performance, durabil-
ity, and safe operation of your motor-
cycle, note the following points regard-
ing the specified tires.
Tire air pressure
The tire air pressure should be
checked and, if necessary, adjusted
before each ride.
EWA10501
WARNING0
Operation of this vehicle with im-
proper tire pressure may cause se-
vere injury or death from loss of
control.
●The tire air pressure must be
checked and adjusted on cold
tires (i.e., when the tempera-
ture of the tires equals the am-
bient temperature).
●The tire air pressure must be
adjusted in accordance with
the riding speed and with the
total weight of rider, passenger,
cargo, and accessories ap-
proved for this model.
EAU21382
Checking the throttle cable
free play
1. Throttle cable free play
The throttle cable free play should
measure 3.0-5.0 mm (0.12-0.20 in) at
the throttle grip. Periodically check the
throttle cable free play and, if neces-
sary, have a Yamaha dealer adjust it.
EAU21401
Valve clearance
The valve clearance changes with
use, resulting in improper air-fuel mix-
ture and/or engine noise. To prevent
this from occurring, the valve clear-
ance must be adjusted by a Yamaha
dealer at the intervals specified in the
periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart.
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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
8-1
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EAU26004
Care
While the open design of a motorcycle
reveals the attractiveness of the tech-
nology, it also makes it more vulnera-
ble. Rust and corrosion can develop
even if high-quality components are
used. A rusty exhaust pipe may go un-
noticed on a car, however, it detracts
from the overall appearance of a mo-
torcycle. Frequent and proper care
does not only comply with the terms of
the warranty, but it will also keep your
motorcycle looking good, extend its
life and optimize its performance.
Before cleaning
1. Cover the muffler outlet with a
plastic bag after the engine has
cooled down.
2. Make sure that all caps and cov-
ers as well as all electrical cou-
plers and connectors, including
the spark plug cap, are tightly in-
stalled.3. Remove extremely stubborn dirt,
like oil burnt onto the crankcase,
with a degreasing agent and a
brush, but never apply such prod-
ucts onto seals, gaskets, sprockets,
the drive chain and wheel axles. Al-
ways rinse the dirt and degreaser
off with water.
Cleaning
ECA10772
NOTICE
●Avoid using strong acidic
wheel cleaners, especially on
spoked wheels. If such prod-
ucts are used on hard-to-re-
move dirt, do not leave the
cleaner on the affected area
any longer than instructed. Al-
so, thoroughly rinse the area
off with water, immediately dry
it, and then apply a corrosion
protection spray.
●Improper cleaning can damage
plastic parts (such as cowlings,
panels, windshields, headlight
lenses, meter lenses, etc.) and
the mufflers. Use only a soft,
clean cloth or sponge with wa-ter to clean plastic. However, if
the plastic parts cannot be
thoroughly cleaned with water,
diluted mild detergent with wa-
ter may be used. Be sure to
rinse off any detergent residue
using plenty of water, as it is
harmful to plastic parts.
●Do not use any harsh chemical
products on plastic parts. Be
sure to avoid using cloths or
sponges which have been in
contact with strong or abrasive
cleaning products, solvent or
thinner, fuel (gasoline), rust re-
movers or inhibitors, brake flu-
id, antifreeze or electrolyte.
●Do not use high-pressure
washers or steam-jet cleaners
since they cause water seep-
age and deterioration in the fol-
lowing areas: seals (of wheel
and swingarm bearings, fork
and brakes), electric compo-
nents (couplers, connectors,
instruments, switches and
lights), breather hoses and
vents.
XT660Z 08-10 ING-AUS:MY03 07-10 ING 11-05-2009 10:10 Pagina 2

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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
8-4
Long-term
Before storing your motorcycle for sev-
eral months:
1. Follow all the instructions in the
“Care” section of this chapter.
2. Fill up the fuel tank and add fuel
stabilizer (if available) to prevent
the fuel tank from rusting and the
fuel from deteriorating.
3. Perform the following steps to
protect the cylinder, piston rings,
etc. from corrosion.
a. Remove the spark plug cap
and spark plug.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine
oil into the spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug cap onto
the spark plug, and then place
the spark plug on the cylinder
head so that the electrodes
are grounded. (This will limit
sparking during the next step.)
d. Turn the engine over several
times with the starter. (This will
coat the cylinder wall with oil.)
e. Remove the spark plug cap
from the spark plug, and then
install the spark plug and the
spark plug cap. WARNING! Toprevent damage or injury
from sparking, make sure to
ground the spark plug elec-
trodes while turning the en-
gine over.
4. Lubricate all control cables and
the pivoting points of all levers
and pedals as well as of the side-
stand/centerstand.
5. Check and, if necessary, correct
the tire air pressure, and then lift
the motorcycle so that both of its
wheels are off the ground. Alter-
natively, turn the wheels a little
every month in order to prevent
the tires from becoming degraded
in one spot.
6. Cover the muffler outlets with
plastic bags to prevent moisture
from entering them.7. Remove the battery and fully
charge it. Store it in a cool, dry
place and charge it once a month.
Do not store the battery in an ex-
cessively cold or warm place [less
than 0 °C (30 °F) or more than 30
°C (90 °F)]. For more information
on storing the battery, see
page 7-31.
TIP
Make any necessary repairs before
storing the motorcycle.
XT660Z 08-10 ING-AUS:MY03 07-10 ING 11-05-2009 10:10 Pagina 5

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INDEX
Specifications .....................................9-1
Spoke wheels ...................................7-19
Start switch ........................................4-9
Starting the engine.............................6-1
Steering, checking............................7-29
Steering lock ......................................4-2
Storage...............................................8-3
Supporting the motorcycle ...............7-36
Swingarm, lubricating the pivots ......7-28
T
Tachometer ........................................4-6
Throttle cable free play, checking.....7-16
Throttle grip and cable, checking
and lubricating ..............................7-26
Tips for reducing fuel consumption ....6-3
Tires .................................................7-16
Air pressure ..................................7-16
Tire information .............................7-18
Tire inspection ..............................7-18
Tool kit ................................................7-1
Tripmeter and tachometer modes ......4-6
Troubleshooting ................................7-39
Troubleshooting charts .................7-40
Engine overheating .......................7-41
Turn signal indicator light ...................4-3
Turn signal light bulb, replacing........7-34
Turn signal switch...............................4-9V
Valve clearance ................................7-16
Vehicle identification number ...........10-1
W
Warning lights ....................................4-3
Wheel bearings, checking ................7-29
Wheels, spoke..................................7-19
XT660Z 08-10 ING-AUS:MY03 07-10 ING 11-05-2009 10:10 Pagina 3