2012 YAMAHA YFZ450 Owners Manual

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8
EBU23080Removing and installing the panel The panel shown needs to be removed to perform
some of the maintenance jobs described in this
chapter. Refer to this section each time the panel
needs to be removed and installed.EBU23180Panel A
To remove the panel1. Remove the seat. (See page 4-12.)
2. Remove the quick fastener screw and thebolts, and then remove the panel by pulling it
out from the front of the ATV.1. Panel A
1
1. Quick fastener screw
2. Bolt
1. Bolt
1
2
1
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8To install the panel
1. Place the panel in the original position, and
then install the quick fastener screw and the
bolts. 2. Install the seat.
EBU23245Checking 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.1. Projection
2. Slot
1
1
2
2
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8
To remove the spark plug
1. Remove the seat. (See page 4-12.)
2. Remove the bolts and the quick fastener screws shown.
3. Remove the fuel tank cap by turning it coun- terclockwise. WARNING! Never remove the
fuel tank cap while smoking, or in the vi-
cinity of sparks, open flames, or other
sources of ignition such as pilot lights of
water heaters and clothes dryers. Always
turn off the engine before removing the
fuel tank cap. Do not remove the fuel tank
cap immediately after the engine has been
running, as it is still very hot. Do not spill
gasoline on the engine, exhaust pipe or
muffler.
[EWB01871]
4. Pull the panel backward, and then remove the panel.
5. Install the fuel tank cap by turning it clockwise.
6. Remove the bolt, and then lift the rear of the fuel tank while sliding the tank slightly rear-
ward.1. Panel
2. Bolt
3. Quick fastener screw
4. Fuel tank cap
2
4 3 1
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87. Remove the spark plug cap.
NOTICE: Do not
use any tools to remove or install the
spark plug cap, otherwise the ignition coil
coupler may be damaged. The spark plug
cap may be difficult to remove because the
rubber seal on the end of the cap fits tight-
ly. To remove the spark plug cap, simply
twist it back and forth while pulling it out;
to install it, twist it back and forth while
pushing it in.
[ECB00391]
8. Remove the spark plug as shown, with the spark plug wrench included in the owner ’s tool
kit.
1. Bolt
1
1. Spark plug cap
1
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8
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.
2. Check the spark plug for electrode erosionand 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.
1. Spark plug wrench
1
Specified spark plug:NGK/CR8E1. Spark plug gapSpark plug gap:0.7 –0.8 mm (0.028– 0.031 in)
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8To 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.
4. Place the fuel tank in the original position, and then install the bolt.
5. Remove the fuel tank cap by turning it coun- terclockwise.
6. Place the panel in the original position. 7. Install the fuel tank cap by turning it clockwise.
8. Install the bolts and the quick fastener screws.
9. Install the seat.
EBU23307Engine 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 replaced at the intervals spec-
ified in the periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart.
Tightening torque:
Spark plug:13 Nm (1.3 m ·kgf, 9.4 ft ·lbf)1. Projection
2. Slot
2 1
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To check the engine oil level
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Start the engine, warm it up until the engine oil has reached a normal temperature of 40 ° C
(104 °F), let it continue to idle for ten seconds
or more, and then turn the engine off.
TIPTo achieve the proper engine oil temperature for
an accurate oil level reading, the engine must have
first completely cooled down, and then warmed up
again for several minutes to normal operating tem-
perature.3. Remove the engine oil tank 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.1. Engine oil tank filler cap
2. Engine oil dipstick
3. Engine oil tank
4. Crankcase engine oil filler cap
5. Maximum level mark
6. Minimum level mark
4
3
1
1
2
5
6
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85. If the engine oil is at or below the minimum
level mark, add sufficient oil of the recom-
mended type through the engine oil tank filler
hole to raise it to the correct level. NOTICE:
Be sure the engine oil is at the correct lev-
el, otherwise engine damage may result.
[ECB00851]
TIPWhen adding oil, be careful not to overfill the en-
gine oil tank; the oil level rises faster starting from
the half-level-portion on the dipstick.6. Insert the dipstick into the engine oil tank filler hole, and then tighten the engine oil tank filler
cap. NOTICE: Make sure that the engine oil
tank filler cap is securely tightened; other-
wise, oil may seep out when the engine is
running.
[ECB00362]
To change the engine oil (with or without oil fil-
ter element replacement) 1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove the engine guard by removing the bolts. 3. Start the engine, warm it up for several min-
utes, and then turn it off.
4. Place an oil pan under the engine to collect the used oil.
5. Remove the crankcase engine oil filler cap, and the crankcase engine oil drain bolt and its
gasket.
1. Engine guard
2. Bolt
1
2
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