2011 YAMAHA YZ450F Owners Manual

4-16
CYLINDER HEAD
Tighten the cylinder head bolts to 30 Nm (3.0 m•kg, 22 ft•b) in the proper tightening sequence, remove and retighten the
cylinder head bolts to 20 Nm (2.0 m•kg, 14 ft•lb) in the proper tightening sequence, and then tighten the cylinder head bolts
further to reach the specified angle 150° in the proper tightening sequence.
1 Bolt (cylinder head) 2
2 Bolt (cylinder head) 4 Refer to TIP.
3 Cylinder head 1
4 Cylinder head gasket 1
5 Timing chain guide (intake side) 1
6 Coolant temperature sensor 1
7 Oil check bolt 2
8 Oil passage plug 1 Order Part name Q'ty Remarks

4-17
CYLINDER HEAD
CHECKING THE CYLINDER HEAD
1. Eliminate:
• Carbon deposits (from the com-
bustion chambers)
Use a rounded scraper.
Do not use a sharp instrument to
avoid damaging or scratching:
• Spark plug threads
• Valve seats
2. Inspect:
• Cylinder head
Scratches/damage → Replace.
Replace the titanium valves with the
cylinder head.
Refer to"CHECKING THE VALVE".
3. Measure:
• Cylinder head warpage
Out of specification → Resur-
face.
Warpage measurement and resur-
facing steps:
a. Place a straightedge and a feeler
gauge across the cylinder head.
b. Use a feeler gauge to measure
the warpage.
c. If the warpage is out of specifica-
tion, resurface the cylinder head.
d. Place a 400–600 grit wet sandpa-
per on the surface plate, and re-
surface the head using a figure-
eight sanding pattern.
To ensure an even surface rotate the
cylinder head several times.
INSTALLING THE CYLINDER
HEAD
1. Install:
• Timing chain guide (intake side)
"1"
• Dowel pin "2"
• Cylinder head gasket "3"
• Cylinder head "4"
While pulling up the timing chain, in-
stall the timing chain guide (intake
side) and cylinder head.
2. Install:
• Washer "1"
• Bolts "2"
Installation steps:
Tighten the cylinder head using
the rotation angle procedure to ob-
tain uniform tightening torque.
a. Wash the threads and contact
surfaces of the bolts, the contact
surfaces of the plain washers, the
contact surface of the cylinder
head, and the threads of the
crankcase.
b. Apply the molybdenum disulfide
grease on the threads and con-
tact surfaces of the bolts and on
both contact surfaces of the plain
washers.
c. Install the plain washers and
bolts.d. Tighten the bolts to the specified
torque in two or three steps in the
proper tightening sequence as
shown.
e. Remove the bolts.
f. Again apply the molybdenum dis-
ulfide grease on the threads and
contact surfaces of the bolts and
on both contact surfaces of the
plain washers.
g. Retighten the bolts.
Tighten the bolts to the specified
torque in two or three steps in the
proper tightening sequence as
shown.
h. Put a mark on the corner "1" of the
bolt (cylinder head) and the cylin-
der head "2" as shown. Cylinder head warpage:
Less than 0.05 mm
(0.002 in)
Bolts (cylinder head):
1st:
30 Nm (3.0 m•kg, 22
ft•lb)
Bolts (cylinder head):
2nd:
20 Nm (2.0 m•kg, 14
ft•lb)

4-18
CYLINDER HEAD
Tighten the bolts two times at speci-
fied angles of 90°and 60° to reach the
specified angle of 150° in the proper
tightening sequence as shown.
3. Install:
• Bolt (cylinder head) "1"Bolts (cylinder head):
Final:
Specified angle 150°
Bolt (cylinder head):
10 Nm (1.0 m•kg, 7.2
ft•lb)

4-19
VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
REMOVING THE VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
Cylinder head Refer to "CYLINDER HEAD" section.
1 Valve lifter 4 Refer to removal section.
2 Adjusting pad 4 Refer to removal section.
3 Valve cotter 8 Refer to removal section.
4 Valve spring retainer 4
5 Valve spring 4
6 Valve stem seal 4
7 Valve spring seat 4
8 Exhaust valve 2
9 Intake valve 2

4-20
VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
REMOVING THE VALVE LIFTER
AND VALVE COTTER
1. Remove:
• Valve lifter "1"
• Pad "2"
Identify each lifter "1" and pad "2" po-
sition very carefully so that they can
be reinstalled in their original place.
2. Check:
• Valve sealing
Leakage at the valve seat → In-
spect the valve face, valve seat
and valve seat width.
Checking steps:
a. Pour a clean solvent "1" into the
intake and exhaust ports.
b. Check that the valve seals prop-
erly.
There should be no leakage at the
valve seat "2".
3. Remove:
• Valve cotter
Remove the valve cotters by com-
pressing the valve spring with the
valve spring compressor "1" and the
valve spring compressor attachment
"2".
CHECKING THE VALVE
1. Measure:
• Stem-to-guide clearance
Out of specification → Replace
the valve guide.
2. Replace:
• Valve guide
Replacement steps:
To ease guide removal, installation
and to maintain correct fit heat the
cylinder head in an over to 100 °C
(212°F).
a. Remove the valve guide using a
valve guide remover "1".
b. Install the new valve guide using a
valve guide remover "1" and valve
guide installer "2".
c. After installing the valve guide,
bore the valve guide using a valve
guide reamer "3" to obtain proper
stem-to-guide clearance.
After replacing the valve guide reface
the valve seat.
Valve spring compres-
sor:
YM-4019/90890-04019
Stem-to-guide clearance = valve
guide inside diameter "a" -
valve stem diameter "b"
Clearance (stem to
guide):
Intake:
0.010–0.037 mm
(0.0004–0.0015 in)
:0.08 mm
(0.003 in)
Exhaust:
0.020–0.047 mm
(0.0008–0.0019 in)
:0.10 mm
(0.004 in)
Valve guide installation
height "a":
Intake:
15.1–15.5 mm
(0.59–0.61 in)
Exhaust:
12.2–12.6 mm
(0.48–0.50 in)
Valve guide remover &
installer set (ø5.5):
90890-04016
Valve guide remover (5.5
mm):
YM-01122
Valve guide installer (5.5
mm):
YM-04015
Valve guide reamer (5.5
mm):
YM-01196

4-21
VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
3. Inspect:• Valve facePitting/wear → Grind the face.
• Valve stem end
Mushroom shape or diameter
larger than the body of the stem
→ Replace.
4. Measure: • Margin thickness "a"Out of specification → Replace.
5. Measure: • Runout (valve stem)Out of specification → Replace.
• When installing a new valve always
replace the guide.
• If the valve is removed or replaced always replace the oil seal.
6. Eliminate:• Carbon deposits(from the valve face and valve
seat)
7. Inspect: • Valve seat
Pitting/wear → Reface the valve
seat.
8. Measure:
• Valve seat width "a"Out of specification → Reface the
valve seat.
Measurement steps:
a. Apply Mechanic's blueing dye
(Dykem) "b" to the valve face.
b. Install the valve into the cylinder head.
c. Press the valve through the valve
guide and onto the valve seat to
make a clear pattern.
d. Measure the valve seat width.
Where the valve seat and valve
face made contact, blueing will
have been removed.
e. If the valve seat is too wide, too narrow, or the seat is not cen-
tered, the valve seat must be
refaced.
9. Lap: • Valve face
• Valve seat
This model uses titanium intake
and exhaust valves. Titanium
valves that have been used to lap
the valve seats must not be used.
Always replace lapped valves with
new valves.
• When replacing the cylinder head, replace the valves without lapping
the valve seats and valve faces. • When replacing the valves or valve
guides, use new valves to lap the
valve seats, and then replace them
with new valves.
Lapping steps:
a. Apply a coarse lapping compound to the valve face.
Do not let the co mpound enter the
gap between the valve stem and
the guide.
b. Apply molybdenum disulfide oil to
the valve stem.
c. Install the valve into the cylinder head.
d. Turn the valve until the valve face
and valve seat are evenly pol-
ished, then clean off all of the
compound.
For best lapping results, lightly tap
the valve seat while rotating the valve
back and forth between your hands.
e. Apply a fine lapping compound to the valve face and repeat the
above steps.
After every lapping operation be sure
to clean off all of the compound from
the valve face and valve seat.
f. Apply Mechanic's blueing dye (Dykem) to the valve face.
g. Install the valve into the cylinder
head.
Margin thickness:
Intake:1.3 mm (0.051 in)
Exhaust:
1.0 mm (0.039 in)
Runout limit: 0.01 mm (0.0004 in)
Valve seat width:Intake:0.9–1.1 mm
(0.0354–0.0433 in)
:1.6 mm
(0.0630 in)
Exhaust: 0.9–1.1 mm
(0.0354–0.0433 in)
:1.6 mm
(0.0630 in)

4-22
VALVES AND VALVE SPRINGS
h. Press the valve through the valve guide and onto the valve seat to
make a clear pattern.
i. Measure the valve seat width
again. If the valve seat width is out
of specification, reface and relap
the valve seat.
CHECKING THE VALVE SPRINGS
1. Measure:• Valve spring free length "a"Out of specification → Replace.
2. Measure: • Compressed spring force "a"Out of specification → Replace.
b. Installed length
3. Measure:
• Spring tilt "a"Out of specification → Replace. CHECKING THE
VALVE LIFTERS
1. Inspect: • Valve lifterScratches/damage →Replace
both lifters and cylinder head.
INSTALLING THE VALVES
1. Apply: • Molybdenum disulfide oilOnto the valve stem and valve
stem seal.
2. Install: • Valves "1"
• Valve spring seats "2"
• Valve stem seals "3"
• Valve springs "4"
• Valve spring retainers "5"
• Install the valve "a" with the identifi-
cation 33DI on the intake side and
the valve "b" with the identification
33DE on the exhaust side.
• Install the valve springs with the larger pitch "d" facing upward.
e. Smaller pitch 3. Install:
• Valve cotters
Install the valve cotters by compress-
ing the valve spring with the valve
spring compressor "1" and the valve
spring compressor attachment "2".
4. To secure the valve cotters onto
the valve stem, lightly tap the
valve tip with a piece of wood.
Hitting the valve tip with excessive
force could damage the valve.
5. Install:• Adjusting pad "1"
• Valve lifter "2"
• Apply the molybdenum disulfide oil on the valve stem end.
• Apply the engine oil on the valve lift-
ers.
• Valve lifter must turn smoothly when rotated with a finger.
• Be careful to reinstall valve lifters and pads in their original place.
Free length (valve
spring): Intake:40.76 mm (1.60 in)
: 39.76 mm
(1.57 in)
Exhaust:
37.01 mm (1.46 in)
: 36.01 mm
(1.42 in)
Compressed spring
force: Intake:178–204 N at 34.78
mm (18.2–20.8 kg at
34.78 mm,
40.01–45.86 lb at 1.37
in)
Exhaust: 124–142 N at 30.83
mm (12.6–14.5 kg at
30.83 mm,
27.88–31.92 lb at 1.21
in)
Spring tilt limit: Intake:2.5°/1.8 mm (0.070 in)
Exhaust: 2.5°/1.6 mm (0.062 in)
Valve spring compres-
sor: YM-04019/90890-04019
Valve spring compressor
attachment: YM-04108/90890-04108

4-23
CYLINDER AND PISTON
CYLINDER AND PISTON
REMOVING THE CYLINDER AND PISTON
Order Part name Q'ty Remarks
Cylinder head Refer to "CYLINDER HEAD" section.
1 Bolt (cylinder) 1
2 Cylinder 1
3 Gasket 1
4 Dowel pin 2
5 Piston pin clip 2 Refer to removal section.
6 Piston pin 1 Refer to removal section.
7 Piston 1 Refer to removal section.
8 Piston ring set 1 Refer to removal section.