2012 YAMAHA YFZ450 check oil

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 and warning light .................. 4-2
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-3
Throttle lever .............................................. 4-3
Speed limiter .............................................. 4-4
Clutch lever ................................................ 4-5
Brake lever ................................................. 4-5
Brake pedal ................................................ 4-6
Parking brake lever .................................... 4-6
Shift pedal .................................................. 4-7
Fuel tank cap .............................................. 4-8
Fuel ............................................................ 4-8 Fuel cock ..................................................4-10
Starter (choke) ..........................................4-11
Seat ..........................................................4-12
Adjusting the front shock absorber
assemblies ..............................................4-13
Adjusting the rear shock absorber assembly .................................................4-14
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS ..........................5-1 Fuel .............................................................5-4
Engine oil ....................................................5-4
Coolant .......................................................5-4
Front and rear brakes .................................5-4
Throttle lever ...............................................5-5
Drive chain ..................................................5-5
Tires ............................................................5-5
Chassis fasteners .......................................5-7
Instruments, lights and switches .................5-7
OPERATION...................................................6-1 Starting a cold engine .................................6-1
Starting a warm engine ...............................6-3
Shifting ........................................................6-3
Engine break-in ...........................................6-5U1PD60E0.book Page 1 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

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
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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, 5-4
Engine oil 
Check oil level in engine oil tank, and add recommended oil to spec-
ified level if necessary.
 Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-14
Coolant 
Check coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.
 Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-20
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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
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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 *Rear suspension re-
lay arm and con-
necting arm
pivoting points 
Check operation and correct if necessary. √√√√
17 *Steering shaft Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
18 *Steering system 
Check operation and repair or replace if damaged.
 Check toe-in and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
19 *Engine mount 
Check for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary. √√√
20 Engine oil 
Change.
 Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary. √ √√√
21 Engine oil filter ele-
ment

Replace. √√√
22 Cooling system 
Check coolant level and ATV for coolant leakage,
and correct if necessary. √√√√√
 Replace coolant. Every 2 years
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 7 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-14
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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8-15
8
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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8-17
8
6. Remove the engine oil tank filler cap, and the
engine oil tank drain bolt and its gasket. 7. Check the gaskets for damage, and replace if
necessary.
TIPSkip steps 8 –11 if the oil filter element is not being
replaced.8. Remove the oil filter element cover by remov- ing the bolts, and then remove the oil filter el-
ement.
1. Crankcase engine oil drain bolt
2. Gasket
12
1. Engine oil tank drain bolt
2. Gasket
12
U1PD60E0.book Page 17 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM