2012 YAMAHA YFZ450 brake fluid

Parking ....................................................... 6-5
Parking on a slope ..................................... 6-6
Accessories and loading ............................ 6-7
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 Removing and installing the panel ..............8-9
Checking the spark plug ...........................8-10
Engine oil and oil filter element .................8-14
Coolant .....................................................8-20
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-24
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-28
Adjusting the carburetor ............................8-30
Checking the engine idling speed .............8-30
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-31
Valve clearance ........................................8-31
Brakes .......................................................8-32
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-32
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-33
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-36
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-36
Checking the brake pedal height ..............8-36
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-37
Brake light switches ..................................8-38
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-39
Drive chain slack .......................................8-41
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-43
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-43
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ............................................8-44
Checking the shift pedal ...........................8-45
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal .......................................................8-45
U1PD60E0.book Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

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. 5-4, 8-32, 8-33, 8-36
Rear 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. 5-4, 8-32, 8-33, 8-36
Clutch 
Check operation, and correct if necessary.
 Lubricate cable if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 8-39
Throttle lever 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever hous-
ing if necessary.
 Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 5-5, 8-31
Control cables Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-43
Drive chain 
Check chain slack, and adjust if necessary.
 Check chain condition. Lubricate if necessary. 5-5, 8-41, 8-43
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. 5-5
Shift pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth.
 Correct if necessary. 8-45
Brake pedal 
Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point if
necessary. 8-45
ITEM ROUTINE PAGEU1PD60E0.book Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

5-4
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 8-14.)EBU19631Coolant Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-20.)TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.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
8-36.) 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 8-33.)
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 8-32.) Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
U1PD60E0.book Page 4 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-5
8
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
U1PD60E0.book Page 5 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-8
8
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.23 *Moving parts and
cables 
Lubricate. √√√√
24 *Throttle lever 
Check operation.
 Check throttle lever free play, and adjust if neces-
sary.
 Lubricate cable and lever housing. √√√√√
25 *Front and rear brake
switches 
Check operation and correct if necessary. √√√√√
26 *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 320U1PD60E0.book Page 8 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-33
8
EBU26834Checking the brake fluid level Before riding, check that the brake fluid is above
the minimum level mark. Check the brake fluid lev-
el with the top of the reservoir level. Replenish the
brake fluid if necessary.Front brake
Rear brake1. Wear indicator groove
1
1. Minimum level mark
1. Minimum level mark
1
1
U1PD60E0.book Page 33 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-34
8To access the rear brake fluid reservoir for replen-
ishing:
1. Remove the seat. (See page 4-12.)
2. Remove the brake fluid reservoir bracket bolt.
3. Pull the brake fluid reservoir out to the side as shown.
NOTICEECB00780Do not tilt the rear brake fluid reservoir exces-
sively when removing or installing the rear
brake fluid reservoir. Also do not twist or pull
the hose of the reservoir.4. After replenishing, insert the projection on thebrake fluid reservoir bracket into the hole in
the frame.
1. Bolt
1
1. Brake fluid reservoir cap
1
U1PD60E0.book Page 34 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-35
8
5. Install the brake fluid reservoir bracket bolt.
6. Install the seat.
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.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
1. Frame
2. Projection
3. Brake fluid reservoir bracket
4. BoltSpecified brake fluid:
DOT 4
2 3
1 4
U1PD60E0.book Page 35 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM