2012 YAMAHA YFM250R Owners Manual

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6*Exhaust system 
Check for leakage and replace gasket(s) if neces-
sary.
 Check for looseness and tighten all screw clamps
and joints if necessary. √√√
7 Spark arrester Clean. √√√
NO. ITEM
CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
U1BT62E0.book Page 4 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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EBU21865General maintenance and lubrication chart TIP
For ATVs not equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the month maintenance intervals.
For ATVs equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the km (mi) or hours maintenance inter-
vals. However, keep in mind that if the ATV isn’t used for a long period of time, the month maintenance
intervals should be followed.
Items marked with an asterisk should be performed by a Yamaha dealer as they require special tools,
data and technical skills.NO. ITEM CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL
EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
1 Air filter element Clean and replace if necessary. Every 20
–40 hours (more often in wet or
dusty areas)
2 *Clutch Check operation and adjust if necessary. √ √√√
3 *Front brake 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Check fluid level and ATV for fluid leakage, and
correct if necessary. √√√√√
 Replace brake pads. Whenever worn to the limit
4 *Rear brake 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Check fluid level and ATV for fluid leakage, and
correct if necessary. √√√√√
 Replace brake pads. Whenever worn to the limit
U1BT62E0.book Page 5 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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5*Brake hoses 
Check for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary. √√√√
 Replace. Every 4 years
6 *Parking brake Check operation and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
7 *Wheels 
Check runout and for damage, and replace if nec-
essary. √ √√√
8 *Tires 
Check tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
 Check air pressure and balance, and correct if
necessary. √ √√√
9 *Wheel hub bearings 
Check for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary. √ √√√
10 *Swingarm pivots 
Check operation and for excessive play, and re-
place bearings if necessary.
 Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
11 *Upper and lower
arm pivots

Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
12 Drive chain 
Check chain slack and adjust if necessary.
 Check rear wheel alignment and correct if neces-
sary.
 Clean and lubricate. √√√√√
13 *Drive chain roller Check for wear and replace if necessary. √√√
NO. ITEM
CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
U1BT62E0.book Page 6 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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8
14*Chassis fasteners 
Make sure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are
properly tightened. √√√√√
15 *Shock absorber as-
semblies 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Check for oil leakage and replace if necessary. √√√
16 *Steering shaft Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
17 *Steering system 
Check operation and repair or replace if damaged.
 Check toe-in and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
18 Engine oil 
Change.
 Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary. √ √√√
19 Engine oil filter ele-
ment 
Replace. √√√
20 *Moving parts and
cables 
Lubricate. √√√√
21 *Throttle lever 
Check operation.
 Check throttle lever free play, and adjust if neces-
sary.
 Lubricate cable and lever housing. √√√√√
22 *Front and rear brake
switches 
Check operation and correct if necessary. √√√√√
23 *Lights and switches 
Check operation and correct if necessary.
 Adjust headlight beams. √√√√√
NO. ITEM
CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320U1BT62E0.book Page 7 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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EBU23071TIP
Some maintenance items need more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet, dusty, sandy or
muddy areas, or at full-throttle.
Hydraulic brake service
Regularly check and, if necessary, correct the brake fluid level.
 Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and
change the brake fluid.
 Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.
U1BT62E0.book Page 8 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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EBU23213Checking the spark plug The spark plug is an important engine component,
which is easy to check. Since heat and deposits
will cause any spark plug to slowly erode, the spark
plug should be removed and checked in accor-
dance with the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart. In addition, the condition of the spark
plug can reveal the condition of the engine.
To remove the spark plug1. Remove the spark plug cap. 2. Remove the spark plug as shown, with the
spark plug wrench included in the owner ’s tool
kit.
To check the spark plug 1. Check that the porcelain insulator around the center electrode of the spark plug is a medi-
um-to-light tan (the ideal color when the ATV
is ridden normally).
TIPIf the spark plug shows a distinctly different color,
the engine could be operating improperly. Do not
attempt to diagnose such problems yourself. In-
stead, have a Yamaha dealer check the ATV.
1. Spark plug cap
1
1. Spark plug wrench
1
U1BT62E0.book Page 9 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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2. Check the spark plug for electrode erosion
and excessive carbon or other deposits, and
replace it if necessary.
3. Measure the spark plug gap with a wire thick- ness gauge and, if necessary, adjust the gap
to specification. To install the spark plug
1. Clean the surface of the spark plug gasket and its mating surface, and then wipe off any
grime from the spark plug threads.
2. Install the spark plug with the spark plug wrench, and then tighten it to the specified
torque.
TIPIf a torque wrench is not available when installing
the spark plug, a good estimate of the correct
torque is 1/4 –1/2 turn past finger tight. However,
the spark plug should be tightened to the specified
torque as soon as possible.3. Install the spark plug cap.
Specified spark plug:
NGK/DR7EA
1. Spark plug gapSpark plug gap:0.6 –0.7 mm (0.024– 0.028 in)
Tightening torque:
Spark plug:18 Nm (1.8 m ·kgf, 13 ft ·lbf)
U1BT62E0.book Page 10 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

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EBU28957Engine oil and oil filter element The engine oil level should be checked before
each ride. In addition, the oil must be changed and
the oil filter element must be replaced at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.
To check the engine oil level1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Check the engine oil level on a cold engine.TIPIf the engine was started before checking the oil
level, be sure to warm up the engine sufficiently,
and then wait at least ten minutes until the oil set-
tles for an accurate reading.3. Remove the engine oil filler cap, and then wipe the engine oil dipstick off with a clean
rag.
4. Insert the dipstick into the filler hole (without screwing it in), and then remove it again to
check the oil level.
TIPThe engine oil should be between the minimum
and maximum level marks.5. If the engine oil is at or below the minimumlevel mark, add sufficient oil of the recom-
mended type to raise it to the correct level.
NOTICE: Be sure the engine oil is at the
correct level, otherwise engine damage
may result.
[ECB00851]
1. Engine oil filler cap
2. Engine oil dipstick
3. Maximum level mark
4. Minimum level mark
2
34 1
U1BT62E0.book Page 11 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM