2011 YAMAHA GRIZZLY 550 coolant level

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
JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-13
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-17
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW
WATER ................................................... 7-18
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-21
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-23
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT ............................................... 8-1
Owner’s manual and tool kit ....................... 8-2
Periodic maintenance chart for
the emission control system ..................... 8-3
General maintenance and lubrication
chart ......................................................... 8-5Removing and installing panels ................8-10
Removing the radiator grills ......................8-21
Checking the spark plug ...........................8-22
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge ................8-24
Final gear oil .............................................8-28
Differential gear oil ....................................8-30
Coolant .....................................................8-33
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-38
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-42
V-belt case drain plug ...............................8-44
Adjusting the throttle cable free play .........8-44
Valve clearance ........................................8-45
Adjusting the drive select lever safety
system cable ...........................................8-45
Brakes .......................................................8-45
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-46
Checking the rear brake hose
protectors ................................................8-47
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-47
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-49
Checking the front and rear brake lever
free play ..................................................8-49
Adjusting the brake pedal free play ..........8-50
Axle boots .................................................8-52
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-52
Checking and lubricating the front and
rear brake levers .....................................8-53
U28P62E0.book Page 2 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM

5-1
5
EBU19201
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EBU19224Inspect your vehicle each time you use it to make sure the vehicle is in safe operating condition. Always
follow the inspection and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Owner’s Manual.
WARNING
EWB00481Failure to inspect or maintain the vehicle properly increases the possibility of an accident or equip-
ment damage. Do not operate the vehicle if you find any problem. If a problem cannot be corrected
by the procedures provided in this manual, have the vehicle inspected by a Yamaha dealer.Before using this vehicle, check the following points:
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
FuelCheck fuel level in fuel tank, and add recommended fuel if neces-
sary.
Check fuel line for leakage. Correct if necessary.4-16, 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, 8-24
Final gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-28
Differential gear oilCheck ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-30
CoolantCheck coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.
Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-33
U28P62E0.book Page 1 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM

5-3
5
EBU19541Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-16.)EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-24.)EBU19590Final gear oil Make sure that the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-28.)EBU19600Differential gear oil Make sure that the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See page
8-30.)EBU19631Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-33.)
TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.EBU29081Front and rear brakes Brake levers and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the front and
rear brake levers. If there is free play, have a
Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
Check for correct free play in the brake pedal. If
the free play is incorrect, adjust it. (See page
8-50.)
Check the operation of the brake levers and
pedal. They should move smoothly and there
should be a firm feeling when the brakes are ap-
plied. If not, have a Yamaha dealer check the
brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-47.)
U28P62E0.book Page 3 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM

8-8
8
20 Differential gear oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√√
21 Final gear oilChange.
Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary.√√
22 Cooling systemCheck coolant level and ATV for coolant leakage,
and correct if necessary.√√√√√
Replace coolant. Every 2 years
23*Moving parts and
cablesLubricate.√√√√
24*Drive select lever
safety system cableCheck operation and adjust or replace if neces-
sary.√√√
25*Throttle lever hous-
ing and cableCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Check throttle cable free play and adjust if neces-
sary.
Lubricate throttle lever housing and cable.√√√√√
26*Front and rear brake
switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.√√√√√
27*Lights and switchesCheck operation and correct if necessary.
Adjust headlight beams.√√√√√ NO. ITEMCHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOBINITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes
firstmonth136612
km
(mi)320
(200)1300
(800)2500
(1600)2500
(1600)5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320U28P62E0.book Page 8 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM

8-33
8 8. Check the differential gear case for oil leak-
age. If oil is leaking, check for the cause.
EBU23470Coolant The coolant level should be checked before each
ride. In addition, the coolant must be changed at
the intervals specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.EBU27125To check the coolant level
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.2. Check the coolant level in the coolant reser-
voir.TIPThe coolant should be between the minimum and
maximum level marks.
3. If the coolant is at or below the minimum level
mark, remove panel D to access the coolant
reservoir. (See page 8-10.)
4. Remove the coolant reservoir cap, add cool-
ant or distilled water to the maximum level
mark, install the reservoir cap, and then install
the panel. NOTICE: If coolant is not avail-
able, use distilled water or soft tap water
instead. Do not use hard water or salt wa-
ter since they are harmful to the engine. If
water has been used instead of coolant, re-
place it with coolant as soon as possible,
otherwise the cooling system will not be1. Maximum level mark
2. Minimum level mark
U28P62E0.book Page 33 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM

8-34
8protected against frost and corrosion. If
water has been added to the coolant, have
a Yamaha dealer check the antifreeze con-
tent of the coolant as soon as possible,
otherwise the effectiveness of the coolant
will be reduced.
[ECB01011]
TIP
The radiator fan is automatically switched on or
off according to the coolant temperature in the
radiator.
If the engine overheats, see page 8-66 for fur-
ther instructions.EBU27764To change the coolant
WARNING
EWB01890Wait for the engine and radiator to cool before
removing the radiator cap. You could be
burned by hot fluid and steam blown out under
pressure. Always place a thick rag over the cap
when opening. Allow any remaining pressure
to escape before completely removing the cap.1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove panels D and F. (See page 8-10.)
3. Place a container under the engine, and then
remove the coolant drain bolt and its gasket.
(Use a trough or a similar object as shown to
prevent coolant from spilling on the engine
guard.)
1. Coolant reservoir cap
2. Maximum level mark
3. Minimum level markCoolant reservoir capacity (up to the maxi-
mum level mark):
0.24 L (0.25 US qt, 0.21 Imp.qt)
U28P62E0.book Page 34 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM

8-36
88. After draining the coolant, thoroughly flush the
cooling system with clean tap water.
9. Install the coolant drain bolt and its new gas-
ket, and then tighten the bolt to the specified
torque.
10. Connect the coolant reservoir hose.
11. Pour the recommended coolant into the radia-
tor until it is full.12. Pour the recommended coolant into the reser-
voir to the maximum level mark, and then in-
stall the reservoir cap. NOTICE: Mix
antifreeze with distilled water only. Howev-
er, if distilled water is not available, soft
water may be used for refilling. Do not use
hard water or salt water since they are
harmful to the engine.
[ECB00991]
13. Loosen the water pump air bleed bolt, without
removing it, to allow all of the air to escape
from the air bleed bolt hole.
1. Coolant reservoir hoseTightening torque:
Coolant drain bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m·kgf, 7.2 ft·lbf)
Antifreeze/water mixture ratio:
1:1
Recommended antifreeze:
High-quality ethylene glycol antifreeze con-
taining corrosion inhibitors for aluminum en-
gines
Coolant quantity:
Radiator capacity (including all routes):
1.99 L (2.10 US qt, 1.75 Imp.qt)
Coolant reservoir capacity (up to the maxi-
mum level mark):
0.24 L (0.25 US qt, 0.21 Imp.qt)
U28P62E0.book Page 36 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM

8-38
818. When coolant begins to flow out of the bolt
hole, tighten the cylinder head air bleed bolt to
the specified torque.
19. Start the engine and let it idle for ten minutes.
20. Rev the engine five times.
21. Pour the recommended coolant into the radia-
tor until it is full.22. Stop the engine and allow it to cool. If the cool-
ant level has dropped after the engine has
cooled, add sufficient coolant until it reaches
the top of the radiator, and then install the ra-
diator cap.
23. Start the engine, and then check for coolant
leakage.
TIPIf any leakage is found, have a Yamaha dealer
check the cooling system.24. Install the V-belt cooling duct, and then tighten
the clamp screw.
25. Install the panels.EBU27805Cleaning the air filter element The air filter element should be cleaned at the in-
tervals specified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart. Clean or, if necessary, replace
the air filter element more frequently if you are
riding in unusually wet or dusty areas.TIPThere are two check hoses at the bottom of the air
filter case, which are located behind panels D and
E. (See page 8-10 for an explanation on removing
1. Cylinder head air bleed boltTightening torque:
Cylinder head air bleed bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m·kgf, 7.2 ft·lbf)
U28P62E0.book Page 38 Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:25 PM