Page 50 of 86

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-6
7
EAU42011
TIP
Hydraulic brake service
Regularly check and, if necessary, correct the brake fluid levels.
√ √√
√ 24*Drive chain roller and
support guideReplace if necessary. Check for wear or damage.
√
25*Rear suspensionCheck operation and tighten if necessary.
Lubricate with
lithium-soap-based grease
.
NO. ITEM ROUTINEAfter
break-inEvery
raceEvery
third raceEvery
fifth raceAs
required
√
√
√
√ √ √
√ √√ √
√
√
√
√
√ 26*Steering headCheck operation, free play, and tighten if necessary.
Clean and lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.
Replace bearings.
27*Tires and wheelsCheck tire air pressure, wheel runout, spokes for
looseness, and tires for wear.
Tighten sprocket bolts if necessary.
Check wheel bearings for looseness.
Lubricate wheel bearings with lithium-soap-based
grease.
Replace wheel bearings.
28*Moving parts and ca-
blesLubricate.
29*Throttle grip housing
and cableCheck operation and free play.
Adjust the throttle cable free play if necessary.
Lubricate the throttle grip housing and cable.
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Page 51 of 86
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-7
7 Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and change the brake
fluid.
Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-16
7
Be sure the valve stem is posi-
tioned straight. A tilted valve
stem indicates that the tire has
slipped from its original posi-
tion on the rim. Rotate the tire
so that the valve stem is posi-
tioned straight.
If the center tread depth reaches the
specified limit, if the tire has a nail or
glass fragments in it, or if the sidewall is
cracked, have a Yamaha dealer re-
place the tire immediately.
Tire information
This motorcycle is equipped with spoke
wheels and tube tires.
WARNING
EWA10461
The front and rear tires should be of
the same make and design, other-
wise the handling characteristics of
the vehicle may be different, which
could lead to an accident.
After extensive tests, only the tires list-
ed below have been approved for this
model by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
WARNING
EWA14390
Have a Yamaha dealer replace
excessively worn tires. Operat-
ing the motorcycle with exces-
sively worn tires decreases
riding stability and can lead to
loss of control.
The replacement of all wheel-
and brake-related parts, includ-
ing the tires, should be left to a
Yamaha dealer, who has the
necessary professional knowl-
edge and experience.
It is not recommended to patch
a punctured tube. If unavoid-
able, however, patch the tube
very carefully and replace it as
soon as possible with a high-
quality product.
Minimum tire tread depth (front and
rear):
4.0 mm (0.16 in)
Front tire:
Size:
YZ85 70/100-17 40M
YZ85LW 70/100-19 42M
YZ85LWZ 70/100-19 42M
YZ85Z 70/100-17 40M
Manufacturer/model:
YZ85 DUNLOP/D739FA (ZAF)
YZ85 DUNLOP/D756F
(AUT)(BEL)(CHE)(DEU)(DNK)(ES
P)(FIN)(FRA)(GBR)(GRC)(IRL)(IT
A)(NLD)(NOR)(POL)(PRT)(SVN)(
SWE)
YZ85LW DUNLOP/D739FA (ZAF)
YZ85LW DUNLOP/D756F
(AUT)(BEL)(CHE)(DEU)(DNK)(ES
P)(FIN)(FRA)(GBR)(GRC)(IRL)(IT
A)(NLD)(NOR)(POL)(PRT)(SVN)(
SWE)
YZ85LWZ DUNLOP/D756F
YZ85Z DUNLOP/D756F
Rear tire:
Size:
YZ85 90/100-14 49M
YZ85LW 90/100-16 52M
YZ85LWZ 90/100-16 52M
YZ85Z 90/100-14 49M
Manufacturer/model:
DUNLOP/D756
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Page 62 of 86
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-18
7decrease the clutch lever free play,
turn the adjusting nut in direction
(b).
7. Tighten the locknut at the clutch
cable.
8. Tighten the locknut at the clutch le-
ver, and then slide the rubber cov-
er to its original position.
EAU37912
Checking the front brake lever
free play There should be no free play at the
brake lever end. If there is free play,
have a Yamaha dealer inspect the
brake system.
WARNING
EWA14211
A soft or spongy feeling in the brake
lever can indicate the presence of air
in the hydraulic system. If there is air
in the hydraulic system, have a
Yamaha dealer bleed the system be-
fore operating the vehicle. Air in the
hydraulic system will diminish thebraking performance, which may re-
sult in loss of control and an acci-
dent.1. No brake lever free play
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-19
7
EAU44820
Checking the shift pedal The operation of the shift pedal should
be checked before each ride. If opera-
tion is not smooth, have a Yamaha
dealer check the vehicle.
EAU22390
Checking the front and rear
brake pads The front and rear brake pads must be
checked for wear at the intervals spec-
ified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart.
EAU22410
Front brake pads
Each front brake pad is provided with a
wear indicator, which allows you to
check the brake pad wear without hav-
ing to disassemble the brake. To check
the brake pad wear, check the position
of the wear indicator while applying the
brake. If a brake pad has worn to thepoint that the wear indicator almost
touches the brake disc, have a Yamaha
dealer replace the brake pads as a set.
EAU46291
Rear brake pads
Each rear brake pad is provided with
wear indicator grooves, which allow
you to check the brake pad wear with-
out having to disassemble the brake.
To check the brake pad wear, check
the wear indicator grooves. If a brake
pad has worn to the point that a wear
indicator groove almost appears, have
a Yamaha dealer replace the brake
pads as a set.
1. Brake pad wear indicator
1. Brake pad wear indicator groove
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-20
7
EAU22580
Checking the brake fluid level Front brake
Rear brake
Insufficient brake fluid may allow air to
enter the brake system, possibly caus-
ing it to become ineffective.Before riding, check that the brake fluid
is above the minimum level mark and
replenish if necessary. A low brake fluid
level may indicate worn brake pads
and/or brake system leakage. If the
brake fluid level is low, be sure to check
the brake pads for wear and the brake
system for leakage.
Observe these precautions:
When checking the fluid level,
make sure that the top of the brake
fluid reservoir is level.
Use only the recommended quality
brake fluid, otherwise the rubber
seals may deteriorate, causing
leakage and poor braking perfor-
mance.
Refill with the same type of brake
fluid. Mixing fluids may result in a
harmful chemical reaction and
lead to poor braking performance.
Be careful that water does not en-
ter the brake fluid reservoir when
refilling. Water will significantly
lower the boiling point of the fluid
and may result in vapor lock.
Brake fluid may deteriorate paint-
ed surfaces or plastic parts. Al-
ways clean up spilled fluid
immediately.
As the brake pads wear, it is nor-
mal for the brake fluid level to grad-
ually go down. However, if the
brake fluid level goes down sud-
denly, have a Yamaha dealer
check the cause.
1. Minimum level mark
1. Minimum level mark
Recommended brake fluid:
DOT 4
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-21
7
EAU22731
Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the
brake fluid at the intervals specified in
the TIP after the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart. In addition, have
the oil seals of the master cylinders and
calipers as well as the brake hoses re-
placed at the intervals listed below or
whenever they are damaged or leak-
ing.
Oil seals: Replace every two
years.
Brake hoses: Replace every four
years.
EAU22760
Drive chain slack The drive chain slack should be
checked before each ride and adjusted
if necessary.
EAU41410
To check the drive chain slack
1. Install the removable sidestand
and place the motorcycle on it.TIPWhen checking and adjusting the drive
chain slack, there should be no weight
on the motorcycle.2. Shift the transmission into the neu-
tral position.
3. Move the rear wheel by pushing
the motorcycle to locate the tight-
est portion of the drive chain, and
then measure the drive chain slack
as shown.4. If the drive chain slack is incorrect,
adjust it as follows.
EAU41482
To adjust the drive chain slack
1. Loosen the axle nut and the lock-
nut on each side of the swingarm.
2. To tighten the drive chain, turn the
drive chain slack adjusting bolt on
each side of the swingarm in direc-
tion (a). To loosen the drive chain,
turn the adjusting bolt on each side
of the swingarm in direction (b),
and then push the rear wheel for-
ward. NOTICE: Improper drive
chain slack will overload the en-
gine as well as other vital parts
of the motorcycle and can lead
Drive chain slack:
35.0–45.0 mm (1.38–1.77 in)
1. Drive chain slack
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
7-23
7
EAU41842
Checking and lubricating the
cables The operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubricat-
ed if necessary. If a cable is damaged
or does not move smoothly, have a
Yamaha dealer check or replace it.
WARNING! Damage to the outer
housing of cables may result in in-
ternal rusting and cause interfer-
ence with cable movement. Replace
damaged cables as soon as possi-
ble to prevent unsafe conditions.[EWA10711]EAU23111
Checking and lubricating the
throttle grip and cable The operation of the throttle grip should
be checked before each ride. In addi-
tion, the cable should be lubricated at
the intervals specified in the periodic
maintenance chart.
EAU23142
Checking and lubricating the
brake and clutch levers Brake lever
Clutch lever
The operation of the brake and clutch
levers should be checked before each
ride, and the lever pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
Recommended lubricant:
Yamaha Chain and Cable Lube or 4-
stroke engine oil
U5PA88E0.book Page 23 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:44 AM