2012 YAMAHA YFZ450 coolant level

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

5-1
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
U1PD60E0.book Page 1 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

8-7
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

8-20
8a 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.15. 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.
16. Turn the engine off, and then check the oil lev- el and correct it if necessary.
17. Install the engine guard by installing the bolts, and then tighten them to the specified torque.
NOTICE: Be sure to apply LOCTITE
® to the
engine guard bolts before installing them.
[ECB00371] EBU23470
Coolant The coolant level should be checked before each
ride. In addition, the coolant must be changed at
the intervals specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.EBU27942To check the coolant level
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.2. Check the coolant level in the coolant reser- voir.TIPThe coolant should be between the minimum and
maximum level marks.
Tightening torque:Engine guard bolt:7 Nm (0.7 m ·kgf, 5.1 ft ·lbf)
U1PD60E0.book Page 20 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-21
8
3. If the coolant is at or below the minimum level
mark, remove the coolant reservoir cap, add
coolant or distilled water to the maximum level
mark, and then install the reservoir cap.
NOTICE: If coolant is not available, use
distilled water or soft tap water instead. Do
not use hard water or salt water since they
are harmful to the engine. If water has
been used instead of coolant, replace it
with coolant as soon as possible, other-
wise the cooling system will not be pro- tected against frost and corrosion. If water
has been added to the coolant, have a
Yamaha dealer check the antifreeze con- tent of the coolant as soon as possible,
otherwise the effectiveness of the coolant
will be reduced.
[ECB01011]
TIP
The radiator fan is automatically switched on or
off according to the coolant temperature in the
radiator.
If the engine overheats, see page 8-58 for fur-
ther instructions.EBU23564To change the coolant
WARNING
EWB01890Wait for the engine and radiator to cool before
removing the radiator cap. You could be
burned by hot fluid and steam blown out under
1. Maximum level mark
2. Minimum level mark
3. Coolant reservoir
4. Coolant reservoir cap
1
2 4
3
Coolant reservoir capacity (up to the maxi-
mum level mark):
0.29 L (0.31 US qt, 0.26 Imp.qt)
U1PD60E0.book Page 21 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-22
8pressure. Always place a thick rag over the cap
when opening. Allow any remaining pressure
to escape before completely removing the cap.
1. Place the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove panel A. (See page 8-9.)
3. Place a container under the engine, and then
remove the coolant drain bolt and its gasket.
(Use a trough or a similar object as shown.)
4. Remove the radiator cap. 5. Remove the coolant reservoir by removing the
bolts.
6. Remove the coolant reservoir cap, and then turn the coolant reservoir upside down to
empty it.1. Coolant drain bolt
2. Gasket
3. Trough
12
3
1. Radiator cap
1
U1PD60E0.book Page 22 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

8-23
8
7. After draining the coolant, thoroughly flush the
cooling system with clean tap water.
8. Install the coolant reservoir by installing the bolts.
9. Install the coolant drain bolt and its new gas- ket, and then tighten the bolt to the specified
torque. 10. Pour the recommended coolant into the reser-
voir to the maximum level mark, and then in-
stall the reservoir cap. NOTICE: Mix
antifreeze with distilled water only. Howev-
er, if distilled water is not available, soft
water may be used for refilling. Do not use
hard water or salt water since they are
harmful to the engine.
[ECB00991]
11. Pour the recommended coolant into the radia- tor until it is full.
12. Install the radiator cap, start the engine, let it idle for several minutes, and then turn it off.
1. Coolant reservoir cap
2. Coolant reservoir
3. BoltTightening torque:Coolant drain bolt:10 Nm (1.0 m ·kgf, 7.2 ft· lbf)
1
3
2
Antifreeze/water mixture ratio:1:1
Recommended antifreeze: High-quality ethylene glycol antifreeze con-
taining corrosion inhibitors for aluminum en-
gines
Coolant quantity: Radiator capacity (including all routes):1.30 L (1.37 US qt, 1.14 Imp.qt)
Coolant reservoir capacity (up to the maxi-
mum level mark): 0.29 L (0.31 US qt, 0.26 Imp.qt)
U1PD60E0.book Page 23 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM