2011 YAMAHA YFM250R-W stop start

7-23
7
WARNING
EWB01661Learn 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 ofcontrol.
WHAT TO DO IF...
This section is designed to be a reference guide
only. Be sure to read each section on riding tech-
niques completely.
WHAT TO DO...
If your ATV doesn’t turn when you want it to:
Bring the ATV to a stop and practice the turning
maneuvers again. Be sure you are putting your
weight on the footboard to the outside of the
turn. Position your weight over the front wheels
for better control. (See page 7-13.)
If your ATV begins to tip while turning:
Lean more into the turn to regain balance. If nec-
essary, gradually let off the throttle and/or steer
to the outside of the turn. (See page 7-13.)

If your ATV starts to slide sideways:
Steer in the direction of the slide if you have the
room. Applying the brakes or accelerating is not
recommended until you have corrected the
slide. (See page 7-22.)
If your ATV can’t make it up a hill you are trying
to climb:
Turn the ATV around if you still have forward
speed. If not, stop, dismount on the uphill side of
the ATV and physically turn the ATV around. If
the ATV starts to slip backwards, DO NOT USE
THE BRAKE PEDAL – the ATV may tip over on
top of you. Dismount the ATV on the uphill side.
(See page 7-14.)
If your ATV is traversing a sloping surface:
Be sure to ride with your weight positioned to-
wards the uphill side of the ATV to maintain
proper balance. If the ATV starts to tip, steer
down the hill (if there are no obstacles in your
way) to regain balance. If you discover that the
ATV is going to tip over, dismount on the uphill
side. (See page 7-18.)
If your ATV encounters shallow water:
Ride slowly and carefully through slow moving
water, watching for obstacles. Be sure to let wa-
ter drain from the ATV and CHECK YOUR
U33B70E0.book Page 23 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

8-19
8
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.TIPA diagnostic tachometer is needed to make thisadjustment.
1. Start the engine and warm it up.TIPThe engine is warm when it quickly responds to thethrottle.
2. Attach the tachometer to the spark plug lead.
3. Check the engine idling speed and, if neces-
sary, adjust it to specification by turning the
throttle stop screw at the carburetor. To in-
crease the engine idling speed, turn the throt-
tle stop screw in direction (a), and to decrease
it, turn the screw in direction (b).
TIPIf the specified idling speed cannot be obtained as
described above, have a Yamaha dealer make theadjustment.1. Throttle stop screwEngine idling speed:
1500–1600 r/min
1
(a)
(b)
U33B70E0.book Page 19 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

9-2
9abrasives which may mar the paint or protec-
tive finish. When finished cleaning, start the
engine and let it idle for several minutes.
WARNING
EWB02310Wet brakes may have reduced stopping ability,
increasing the chance of an accident. Test the
brakes after washing. Apply the brakes several
times at slow speeds to let friction dry out thelinings.EBU25932Storage Short-term
Always store your ATV in a cool, dry place and, if
necessary, protect it against dust with a porous
cover.NOTICEECB00720
Storing the ATV in a poorly ventilated room
or covering it with a tarp while it is still wet,
will allow water and humidity to seep in and
cause rust.

To prevent corrosion, avoid damp cellars,
stables (because of the presence of ammo-
nia) and areas where strong chemicals arestored.
Long-term
Before storing your ATV for several months:
1. Follow all the instructions in the “Cleaning”
section of this chapter.
2. Turn the fuel cock lever to “OFF”.
3. Drain the carburetor float chamber by loosen-
ing the drain bolt; this will prevent fuel deposits
from building up. Pour the drained fuel into the
fuel tank.
4. Fill up the fuel tank and add fuel stabilizer (if
available) to prevent the fuel from deteriorat-
ing.
5. Perform the following steps to protect the cyl-
inder, piston rings, etc. from corrosion.
a. Remove the spark plug cap and spark
plug. Specified amount:
7.5 ml of stabilizer to each liter of fuel (or 1 oz
of stabilizer to each gallon of fuel)
U33B70E0.book Page 2 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM

INDEX
AAccessories and loading ................................................ 6-7
Air filter element, cleaning ............................................ 8-13
Auxiliary light bulb ........................................................ 8-41BBattery .......................................................................... 8-36
Brake and clutch levers, checking and lubricating ....... 8-33
Brake fluid, changing .................................................... 8-24
Brake fluid level, checking ............................................ 8-22
Brake lever free play, checking the front ...................... 8-24
Brake lever (YFM250RSE-W) ........................................ 4-7
Brake lever (YFM250R-W) ............................................. 4-6
Brake light switches ..................................................... 8-27
Brake pads, checking the front and rear ...................... 8-21
Brake pedal .................................................................... 4-7
Brake pedal, checking and lubricating ......................... 8-34
Brake pedal position, checking .................................... 8-25
Brakes, front and rear .................................................... 5-3CCables, checking and lubricating ................................. 8-32
Carburetor, adjusting .................................................... 8-18
Chassis fasteners ........................................................... 5-6
Cleaning ......................................................................... 9-1
Clutch lever .................................................................... 4-6
Clutch lever free play, adjusting ................................... 8-28DDrive chain ..................................................................... 5-4
Drive chain, lubricating ................................................. 8-31Drive chain slack .......................................................... 8-29
EEngine break-in .............................................................. 6-5
Engine, cold start ........................................................... 6-1
Engine idling speed ...................................................... 8-19
Engine oil ....................................................................... 5-3
Engine oil and oil filter element ...................................... 8-9
Engine, starting a warm ................................................. 6-3
Engine stop switch ......................................................... 4-3FFuel ....................................................................... 4-10, 5-3
Fuel cock ...................................................................... 4-11
Fuel tank cap .................................................................. 4-9
Fuse, replacing ............................................................. 8-38HHandlebar switches ........................................................ 4-3
Hazard switch ................................................................. 4-4
Headlight beam ............................................................ 8-40
Headlight bulb .............................................................. 8-39
High beam indicator light ................................................ 4-2
Horn switch .................................................................... 4-4IIdentification numbers .................................................. 11-1
Indicator lights ................................................................ 4-2
Instruments, lights and switches .................................... 5-6KKey identification number ............................................. 11-1
U33B70E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, June 11, 2008 1:38 PM