2012 YAMAHA YFM250R check engine light

EBU17420
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCATION OF THE WARNING AND
SPECIFICATION LABELS ............................ 1-1
SAFETY INFORMATION .............................. 2-1
DESCRIPTION .............................................. 3-1Left view ...................................................... 3-1
Right view.................................................... 3-1
Controls and instruments ............................ 3-2
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL
FUNCTIONS .................................................. 4-1 Main switch ................................................ 4-1
Indicator light .............................................. 4-2
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-2
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-3
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-4
Clutch lever ................................................ 4-4
Brake lever ................................................. 4-5
Brake pedal ................................................ 4-5
Parking brake lever .................................... 4-6
Shift pedal .................................................. 4-7
Fuel tank cap .............................................. 4-7
Fuel ............................................................ 4-8 Fuel cock ....................................................4-9
Starter (choke) ..........................................4-11
Seat ..........................................................4-11
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies ..............................................4-12
Adjusting the rear shock absorber assembly .................................................4-13
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1 Fuel .............................................................5-3
Engine oil ....................................................5-3
Front and rear brakes .................................5-3
Throttle lever ...............................................5-3
Drive chain ..................................................5-4
Tires ............................................................5-4
Chassis fasteners .......................................5-6
Instruments, lights and switches .................5-6
OPERATION...................................................6-1 Starting a cold engine .................................6-1
Starting a warm engine ...............................6-2
Shifting ........................................................6-3
Engine break-in ...........................................6-4
Parking ........................................................6-5U1BT62E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

Parking on a slope ..................................... 6-6
Accessories and loading ............................ 6-6
RIDING YOUR ATV ...................................... 7-1 GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV............... 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............. 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV .............................. 7-12
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-13
RIDING DOWNHILL.................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE............................... 7-18
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER ................................................... 7-19
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ........... 7-20
SLIDING AND SKIDDING ......................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO IF... .................................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO... ........................................ 7-22
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT ............................................... 8-1 Owner’s manual and tool kit ....................... 8-2
Periodic maintenance chart for the emission control system ..................... 8-3
General maintenance and lubrication chart ........................................ 8-5
Checking the spark plug ............................. 8-9 Engine oil and oil filter element .................8-11
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-14
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-18
Adjusting the carburetor ............................8-20
Adjusting the engine idling speed .............8-20
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-21
Valve clearance ........................................8-22
Brakes .......................................................8-22
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-22
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-23
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-25
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-25
Checking the brake pedal height ..............8-25
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-26
Brake light switches ..................................8-27
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-28
Drive chain slack .......................................8-29
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-31
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-31
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ............................................8-32
Checking the shift pedal ...........................8-33
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal .......................................................8-33
Checking the wheel hub bearings .............8-33
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ...............8-34
U1BT62E0.book Page 2 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM

4-3
4
EBU18101Start switch“”
Push this switch to crank the engine with the start-
er. See the starting instructions on page 6-1 prior
to starting the engine.EBU18154Light switch “//OFF ”
Set this switch to “” to turn on the low beams
and the taillight. Set the switch to “” to turn on
the high beams and the taillight. Set the switch to
“ OFF ” to turn off all the lights.NOTICEECB00043Do not use the headlights with the engine
turned off for an extended period of time, oth-
erwise the battery may discharge to the point
that the starter motor will not operate properly.
If this should happen, remove the battery and
recharge it. (See page 8-35.)EBU18282Throttle lever Once the engine is running, pushing the throttle le-
ver will increase the engine speed. Regulate the speed of the ATV by varying the
throttle position. Because the throttle is spring-
loaded, the ATV will decelerate, and the engine will
return to an idle any time the throttle lever is re-
leased.
Before starting the engine, check the throttle to be
sure it is operating smoothly. Make sure it returns
to the idle position as soon as the lever is released.
1. Throttle lever
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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.EBU20184Starting a cold engine NOTICEECB00150See the “Engine break-in ” section on page 6-4
prior to operating the engine for the first time.1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON ”.
3. Turn the key to “ON ” and the engine stop
switch to “”. 4. Shift the transmission into neutral. The neutral
indicator light should come on. If the indicator
light does not come on, have a Yamaha deal-
er 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 transmission is in neutral.
The clutch is disengaged with the transmission
in gear. However, it is recommended to shift into
neutral before starting the engine.5. Use the starter (choke) in reference to the fig-ure:
Position (1):
Cold engine start with ambient temperature
below 5 ° C (40 °F).
Position (2):
Cold engine start with ambient temperature
between 0 °C (30 ° F) and 30 ° C (90 °F).
Position (3):
Cold engine start with ambient temperature
above 25 ° C (80 °F).
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8-7
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

8-9
8
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
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8-18
8
17. Install the seat.
TIPThe air filter element should be cleaned every 20
–
40 hours. It should be cleaned and lubricated more
often if the ATV is operated in extremely dusty ar-
eas. Each time the air filter element maintenance
is performed, check the air inlet of the air filter case
for obstructions. Check the air filter case rubber
joint to the carburetor fittings and the rubber joint
manifold fittings for an air-tight seal. Tighten all fit-
tings securely to avoid the possibility of unfiltered
air entering the engine.EBU28903Cleaning the spark arrester Be sure the exhaust pipe and muffler are cool be-
fore cleaning the spark arrester. 1. Remove the tailpipe bolts. 2. Remove the tailpipe by pulling it out of the
muffler, and then remove the gasket.
3. Tap the tailpipe lightly, and then use a wire brush to remove any carbon deposits from the
spark arrester portion of the tailpipe and inside
of the tailpipe housing.
1. Tailpipe bolt
2. Tailpipe
2
1 1
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INDEX
AAccessories and loading ................................................ 6-6
Air filter element, cleaning ............................................ 8-14BBattery .......................................................................... 8-35
Brake and clutch levers, checking and lubricating ....... 8-32
Brake fluid, changing .................................................... 8-25
Brake fluid level, checking ............................................ 8-23
Brake lever ..................................................................... 4-5
Brake lever free play, checking the front ...................... 8-25
Brake light switches ..................................................... 8-27
Brake pads, checking the front and rear ...................... 8-22
Brake pedal .................................................................... 4-5
Brake pedal, checking and lubricating ......................... 8-33
Brake pedal height, checking ....................................... 8-25
Brakes .......................................................................... 8-22
Brakes, front and rear .................................................... 5-3CCables, checking and lubricating ................................. 8-31
Carburetor, adjusting .................................................... 8-20
Chassis fasteners ........................................................... 5-6
Cleaning ......................................................................... 9-1
Clutch lever .................................................................... 4-4
Clutch lever free play, adjusting ................................... 8-28DDrive chain ..................................................................... 5-4
Drive chain, lubricating ................................................. 8-31
Drive chain slack .......................................................... 8-29
EEngine break-in .............................................................. 6-4
Engine, cold start ........................................................... 6-1
Engine idling speed ...................................................... 8-20
Engine oil ....................................................................... 5-3
Engine oil and oil filter element .................................... 8-11
Engine, starting a warm ................................................. 6-2
Engine stop switch ......................................................... 4-2FFuel ......................................................................... 4-8, 5-3
Fuel cock ........................................................................ 4-9
Fuel tank cap .................................................................. 4-7
Fuse, replacing ............................................................. 8-38HHandlebar switches ........................................................ 4-2
Headlight beam, adjusting ............................................ 8-41
Headlight bulb, replacing .............................................. 8-39IIdentification numbers .................................................. 11-1
Indicator light .................................................................. 4-2
Instruments, lights and switches .................................... 5-6LLabel locations ............................................................... 1-1
Light switch .................................................................... 4-3MMain switch .................................................................... 4-1
Maintenance and lubrication chart ................................. 8-5
Maintenance chart, emission control system ................. 8-3
U1BT62E0.book Page 1 Tuesday, April 19, 2011 7:06 PM