2012 YAMAHA GRIZZLY 550 Owners Manual

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
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4-23
4Shock absorber cylinder damage could also
result in poor handling which could cause an
accident.

Do not tamper with or attempt to open the
cylinder assembly.
Do not subject the shock absorber assembly
to an open flame or other high heat.
Do not deform or damage the cylinder in any
way.
Do not dispose of a damaged or worn out
shock absorber assembly yourself. Take the
shock absorber assembly to a Yamaha deal-
er for any service.EBU19183Auxiliary DC jack The auxiliary DC jack is located at the front right
side of the ATV. The auxiliary DC jack can be used
for suitable work lights, radios, etc. The auxiliary
DC jack should only be used when the engine is
running and the light switch is set to
“OFF ”.
1. Set the light switch to “ OFF”.
2. Turn the accessory off.
3. Start the engine. (See page 6-1.)
4. Open the auxiliary DC jack cap, and then in- sert the accessory power plug into the jack.
1. Auxiliary DC jack cap
1. Auxiliary DC jack
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4-24
4
5. Turn the accessory on.
6. When the auxiliary DC jack is not being used,
cover it with the cap.
NOTICEECB00120
Do not use accessories requiring more than
the above maximum capacity. This may
overload the circuit and cause the fuse to
blow.
If accessories are used without the engine
running or with the headlights turned on, the
battery will lose its charge and engine start-
ing may become difficult.
Do not use an automotive cigarette lighter or
other accessories with a plug that gets hot
because the jack can be damaged.Maximum rated capacity for the auxiliary DC
jack:DC 12 V, 10 A (120 W)
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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
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5-2
5
Front brake
Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
 Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
 Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to
specified level if necessary.
 Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-46, 8-48, 8-50
Rear brake 
Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
 Check pedal free play, and adjust if necessary.
 Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
 Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to
specified level if necessary.
 Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-46, 8-48, 8-50,
8-50
Throttle lever 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 5-4, 8-45
Control cables Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-53
Wheels and tires 
Check wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
 Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
 Check air pressure. Correct if necessary. 5-4
Brake pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary. 8-54
Brake levers 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate lever pivoting points if
necessary. 8-53
Axle boots Check for cracks or damage, and replace if necessary. 8-52
Chassis fasteners Make sure that all nuts, bolts and screws are properly tightened. 5-7
Instruments, lights and
switches 
Check operation, and correct if necessary. 5-7
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
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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 8-22.)EBU19590Final gear oil Make sure that the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-27.)EBU19600Differential gear oil Make sure that the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See page
8-29.)EBU19631Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-32.)
TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.EBU29082Front 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 8-48.)
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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
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5-5
5The low-pressure tire gauge is included as stan-
dard equipment. Make two measurements of the
tire pressure and use the second reading. Dust or
dirt in the gauge could cause the first reading to be
incorrect. Tire wear limit
When the tire groove decreases to 3 mm (0.12 in)
due to wear, replace the tire.
Recommended tire pressure:
Fro nt35.0 kPa (0.350 kgf/cm ², 5.0 psi)
Rear 30.0 kPa (0.300 kgf/cm ², 4.4 psi)
Minimum tire pressure: Fro nt32.0 kPa (0.320 kgf/cm ², 4.6 psi)
Rear 27.0 kPa (0.270 kgf/cm ², 4.0 psi)
Maximum tire seating pressure: Fro nt250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm ², 36 psi)
Rear 250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm ², 36 psi)
1. Low-pressure tire gauge
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