2012 YAMAHA GRIZZLY 550 warning

4-17
4expands when it heats up, heat from the en-
gine or the sun can cause fuel to spill out of
the fuel tank.
3. Wipe up any spilled fuel immediately.
NOTICE: Immediately wipe off spilled fuel
with a clean, dry, soft cloth, since fuel may
deteriorate painted surfaces or plastic
parts.
[ECB00981]
4. Turn the fuel tank cap fully clockwise to make sure it is securely closed.
WARNING
EWB02531Gasoline is poisonous and can cause injury or
death. Handle gasoline with care. Never siphon
gasoline by mouth. If you should swallow
some gasoline or inhale a lot of gasoline vapor,
or get some gasoline in your eyes, see your
doctor immediately. If gasoline spills on your
skin, wash with soap and water. If gasoline
spills on your clothing, change your clothes.NOTICEECB00070Use only unleaded gasoline. The use of leaded
gasoline will cause severe damage to internal
engine parts, such as the valves and piston
rings, as well as to the exhaust system.
1. Maximum fuel level
2. Fuel tank filler tubeRecommended fuel:UNLEADED GASOLINE ONLY
For Europe: Regular unleaded gasoline only
with a research octane number of 91 or
higher
Fuel tank capacity: 20.0 L (5.28 US gal, 4.40 Imp.gal)
Fuel reserve amount: 4.5 L (1.19 US gal, 0.99 Imp.gal)
U1HS60E0.book Page 17 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM

4-21
4
EBU18962Front carrier
Do not exceed the load limit of 45.0 kg (99 lb) for
the front carrier.
Do not exceed the maximum load of 220.0 kg
(485 lb) for the ATV.EBU18972Rear carrier
Do not exceed the load limit of 85.0 kg (187 lb)
for the rear carrier.
Do not exceed the maximum load of 220.0 kg
(485 lb) for the ATV.EBU30470Adjusting the front and rear shock ab-
sorber assemblies The spring preload can be adjusted to suit the rid-
er’s weight and the riding conditions.
WARNING
EWB00400Always adjust the shock absorber assemblies
on the left and right side to the same setting.
Uneven adjustment can cause poor handling
and loss of stability, which could lead to an ac-
cident.
1. Storage compartment drain plug
1. Storage compartment drain plugU1HS60E0.book Page 21 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM

4-22
4
Adjust the spring preload as follows.
Turn the spring preload adjusting ring in direction
(a) to increase the spring preload and thereby
harden the suspension, and in direction (b) to de-
crease the spring preload and thereby soften the
suspension.
Align the appropriate notch in the adjusting ring
with the position indicator on the shock absorber.
TIPA special wrench can be obtained at a Yamaha
dealer to make this adjustment.
WARNING
EWB02730The rear shock absorber assembly contains
highly pressurized nitrogen gas. If the shock
absorber assembly is damaged, it could ex-
plode causing injury or property damage.
1. Spring preload adjusting ring
2. Position indicator
1. Special wrenchSpring preload setting:
Minimum (soft):1
Standard: 2
Maximum (hard): 5
U1HS60E0.book Page 22 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 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
Fuel 
Check 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 oil 
Check oil level in engine, and add recommended oil to specified lev-
el if necessary.
 Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-22
Final gear oil Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-27
Differential gear oil Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-29
Coolant 
Check coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.
 Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-32
U1HS60E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM

5-4
5
Brake fluid leakage
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
pipe joints or brake fluid reservoirs. Apply the
brakes firmly for one minute. If a lever moves slow-
ly inward, there may be a leak in the brake system.
If there is any leakage, the brake system should be
checked by a Yamaha dealer.
Brake operation
Test the brakes at slow speed after starting out to
make sure they are working properly. If the brakes
do not provide proper braking performance, check
the brake pads for wear. (See page 8-46.)
EBU19761Throttle lever Check the operation of the throttle lever. It must
open smoothly and spring back to the idle position
when released. Have a Yamaha dealer correct if
necessary.
EBU19814Tires Check tire pressure regularly to make sure it is at
the recommended specifications. Also check for
wear and damage.
Tire pressure
Use the low-pressure tire gauge to check and ad-
just tire pressures when the tires are cold. Tire
pressures must be equal on both sides.
WARNING! Operation of this vehicle with im- proper tire pressure may cause severe injury
or death from loss of control or rollover. Tire
pressure below the minimum specified could
also cause the tire to dislodge from the rim un-
der severe riding conditions.
[EWB02541]
Set tire
pressures to the following specifications:
Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
U1HS60E0.book Page 4 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM

5-6
5
Tire information
This ATV is equipped with tubeless tires with
valves.
WARNING
EWB02551Use of improper tires on this ATV may cause
loss of control, increasing your risk of an acci-
dent.After extensive tests, only the tires listed below
have been approved for this model by Yamaha
Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America.1. Tire wear limit
Fro nt: Manufacturer/model:YFM550FAB CHENG SHIN/C828
YFM550FADB CHENG SHIN/C828
YFM5FGPB MAXXIS/MU19
YFM5FGPHB MAXXIS/MU19
Size: AT25 x 8-12
Type: Tu b e l e s s
Rear: Manufacturer/model:YFM550FAB CHENG SHIN/C828
YFM550FADB CHENG SHIN/C828
YFM5FGPB MAXXIS/MU20
YFM5FGPHB MAXXIS/MU20
Size: AT25 x 10-12
Type: Tu b e l e s s
U1HS60E0.book Page 6 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM

6-1
6
EBU19881
OPERATION
EBU19901Read the Owner’s Manual carefully before riding
the ATV. If there is a control or function you do not
understand, ask your Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWB00631Read the Owner ’s Manual carefully to become
familiar with all controls in order to help pre-
vent any loss of control, which could cause an
accident or injury.EBU30560Starting the engine NOTICEECB00150See the “Engine break-in ” section on page 6-4
prior to operating the engine for the first time.1. Turn the key to “” (on) and the engine stop
switch to “”.
The following warning lights should come on
for a few seconds, then go off.

Coolant temperature warning light

Engine trouble warning light
The EPS warning light should come on, then
go off when the engine is started. (for EPS
model)
NOTICEECB00824If a warning light does not go off, see page 4-2
for the corresponding warning light circuit
check. To avoid possible damage, do not oper-
ate the ATV if a warning light stays on.2. Apply the brake pedal, and then shift the drive select lever into the neutral or park position.
The corresponding indicator light should
come on. If the indicator light does not come
on, have a Yamaha dealer check the electrical
circuit.TIPThis model is equipped with an ignition circuit cut-
off system. The engine can be started under the
following conditions:
The drive select lever is in the neutral or park po-
sition.
U1HS60E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM

6-3
6
3. Release the brake pedal, and then open the throttle lever gradually.
Shifting: Neutral to Reverse and Reverse to
Park
WARNING
EWB00720Improper operation in reverse could make you
hit an obstacle or even a person behind you,
resulting in serious injury. When you shift into reverse, make sure there are no people or ob-
stacles behind you. When it is safe to proceed,
go slowly.
1. Bring the ATV to a complete stop.
2. Apply the brake pedal. The drive select lever
cannot be shifted into or from reverse or park
without applying the brake pedal.
3. Shift from neutral to reverse or from reverse to park and vice versa by moving the drive select
lever along the shift guide.
1. Drive select lever
2. L (Low-range)
3. H (High-range)
4. N (Neutral)
5. R (Reverse)
6. P (Park)
L 2H 3N4R5P6
U1HS60E0.book Page 3 Tuesday, April 26, 2011 7:53 PM