2012 YAMAHA YFM250R oil level

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
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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. 4-8, 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, 8-11
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, 8-22, 8-23, 8-25
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5-3
5
EBU19541Fuel Make sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-8.)EBU19560Engine oil Make sure that the engine oil is at the specified lev-
el. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-11.)EBU19712Front and rear brakes Brake lever and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the brake le-
ver. If there is free play, have a Yamaha dealer
check the brake system.
Check for correct brake pedal height. (See page
8-25.) If the pedal height is incorrect, have a
Yamaha dealer adjust it.
Check the operation of the lever and pedal. They
should move smoothly and there should be a
firm feeling when the brakes are applied. If not,
have a Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-23.) 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 there is any leak-
age, have a Yamaha dealer check the brake sys-
tem.
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 8-22.)
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.
Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
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8-11
8
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
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8-12
8
6. Insert the dipstick into the oil filler hole, and
then tighten the engine oil filler cap.
To change the engine oil (with or without oil fil-
ter element replacement) 1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Start the engine, warm it up for several min- utes, and then turn it off.
3. Place an oil pan under the engine to collect the used oil.
4. Remove the engine oil filler cap, and then re- move the engine oil drain bolt and its gasket to
drain the oil from the crankcase.
TIPSkip steps 5 –7 if the oil filter element is not being
replaced.5. Remove the oil filter element cover by remov- ing the bolts, and then remove the oil filter el-
ement and the O-rings.
1. Engine oil drain bolt
2. Gasket
12
1. Oil filter element cover
2. Bolt
1
2
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8-14
8
NOTICEECB00300
In order to prevent clutch slippage (since the
engine oil also lubricates the clutch), do not
mix any chemical additives. Do not use oils
with a diesel specification of “CD” or oils of
a higher quality than specified. In addition,
do not use oils labeled “ENERGY CONSERV-
ING II ” or higher.
Make sure that no foreign material enters the
crankcase.10. Start the engine, and then let it idle for several
minutes while checking it for oil leakage. If oil
is leaking, immediately turn the engine off and
check for the cause.
11. Turn the engine off, wait at least ten minutes, and then check the oil level and correct it if
necessary.EBU23707Cleaning the air filter element The air filter element should be cleaned at the in-
tervals specified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart. Clean or, if necessary, replace
the air filter element more frequently if you are
riding in unusually wet or dusty areas.
TIPThere is a check hose at the bottom of the air filter
case. If dust or water collects in this hose, empty
the hose and clean the air filter element and air fil-
ter case.1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove the seat. (See page 4-11.)
3. Remove the air filter case cover by unhookingthe holders.1. Air filter case check hose
1
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8-24
8
Front brake
Rear brake
WARNING
EWB02720Improper maintenance can result in loss of
braking ability. Observe these precautions:
Insufficient brake fluid may allow air to enter
the brake system, reducing braking perfor-
mance.
Clean the filler cap before removing. Use
only DOT 4 brake fluid from a sealed contain-
er.
Use only the specified brake fluid; otherwise,
the rubber seals may deteriorate, causing
leakage.
Refill with the same type of brake fluid. Add-
ing a brake fluid other than DOT 4 may result
in a harmful chemical reaction.
Be careful that water does not enter the
brake fluid reservoir when refilling. Water
will significantly lower the boiling point of
the fluid and may result in vapor lock.
1. Minimum level mark
1. Minimum level mark
1
1
Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
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8-25
8
NOTICEECB01160Brake fluid may damage painted surfaces or
plastic parts. Always clean up spilled fluid im-
mediately.As the brake pads wear, it is normal for the brake
fluid level to gradually go down. A low brake fluid
level may indicate worn brake pads and/or brake
system leakage; therefore, be sure to check the
brake pads for wear and the brake system for leak-
age. If the brake fluid level goes down suddenly,
have a Yamaha dealer check the cause before fur-
ther riding.EBU24291Changing the brake fluid Have a Yamaha dealer change the brake fluid at
the intervals specified in the TIP after the periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart. In addition,
have the oil seals of the master cylinders and cali-
pers as well as the brake hoses replaced at the in-
tervals listed below or whenever they are damaged
or leaking.
Oil seals: Replace every two years.
Brake hoses: Replace every four years.
EBU24394Checking the front brake lever free play The brake lever free play must be checked at the
intervals specified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart. The brake lever should have no
free play as shown. If there is free play, have a
Yamaha dealer check the brake system.EBU24593Checking the brake pedal height The brake pedal height must be checked and, if
necessary, adjusted at the intervals specified in the
periodic maintenance and lubrication chart.1. No brake lever free play
1
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