2012 YAMAHA YFZ450 light

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

Checking the wheel hub bearings ............ 8-45
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ............... 8-46
Lubricating the upper and lower arm pivots ...................................................... 8-46
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-47
Battery ...................................................... 8-48
Replacing the fuse ................................... 8-50
Replacing a headlight bulb ....................... 8-51
Adjusting a headlight beam ...................... 8-53
Replacing the tail/brake light bulb ............ 8-53
Removing a wheel .................................... 8-54
Installing a wheel ...................................... 8-55
Troubleshooting ....................................... 8-55
Troubleshooting charts ............................. 8-57
CLEANING AND STORAGE .......................... 9-1 Cleaning ..................................................... 9-1
Storage ....................................................... 9-2
SPECIFICATIONS ...................................... 10-1
CONSUMER INFORMATION ...................... 11-1 Identification numbers .............................. 11-1
U1PD60E0.book Page 3 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

3-1
3
EBU17680
DESCRIPTION
EBU17690Left view
EBU17700Right view
1. Headlights
2. Fuel cock
3. Starter (choke)
4. Fuse
5. Tail/brake light
6. Coolant reservoir
7. Shift pedal
8. Engine oil tank
123 45
6
7
8
1. Spark arrester
2. Seat
3. Fuel tank cap
4. Radiator cap
5. Oil filter element
6. Brake pedal1
23
4
5
6
U1PD60E0.book Page 1 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

3-2
3
EBU17712Controls and instrumentsTIPThe ATV you have purchased may differ slightly
from the figures shown in this manual.1. Clutch lever
2. Handlebar switches
3. Parking brake
4. Main switch
5. Throttle lever
6. Brake lever
1
2
3
4
5
6
U1PD60E0.book Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

4-1
4
EBU17733
INSTRUMENT AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS
EBU17760Main switch The positions of the main switch are as follows:
ON
All electrical systems are supplied with power. The
headlights and taillight come on when the light
switch is on, and the engine can be started. The
key cannot be removed.
OFF
All electrical systems are off. The key can be re-
moved.
1. Main switch
OFF ON
1
U1PD60E0.book Page 1 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

4-2
4
EBU17805Indicator light and warning light EBU17860Neutral indicator light“”
This indicator light comes on when the transmis-
sion is in the neutral position.EBU17930Coolant temperature warning light “”
This warning light comes on when the engine over-
heats. When this occurs during operation, stop the
engine as soon as it is safe to do so and allow it to
cool down for about 10 minutes. The electrical circuit of the warning light can be
checked according to the following procedure.
1. Set the engine stop switch to “” and turn
the key to “ON ”.
2. Shift the transmission into the neutral position or pull the clutch lever.
3. Push the start switch. If the warning light does not come on while the start switch is pushed,
have a Yamaha dealer check the electrical cir-
cuit.
NOTICEECB00010
The engine may overheat if the ATV is over-
loaded. In this case, reduce the load to spec-
ification.
Start the engine after making sure that the
warning light is out. Continuous use while
the warning light is on may cause damage to
the engine.
1. Neutral indicator light “N”
2. Coolant temperature warning light “”
12
U1PD60E0.book Page 2 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM

4-3
4
EBU18061Handlebar switches EBU18080Engine stop switch“/”
Set this switch to “” before starting the engine.
The engine stop switch controls the ignition and
stops the engine when it is running. Use this switch
to stop the engine in an emergency situation. The
engine will not start or run when this switch is set
to “” .
EBU18101Start switch “”
Push this switch to crank the engine with the start-
er. See the starting instructions on page 6-1 prior
to starting the engine.EBU18154Light switch “//OFF ”
Set this switch to “” to turn on the low beams
and the taillight. Set the switch to “” to turn on
the high beams and the taillight. Set the switch to
“ OFF ” to turn off all the lights.NOTICEECB00043Do not use the headlights with the engine
turned off for an extended period of time, oth-
erwise the battery may discharge to the point
that the starter motor will not operate properly.
If this should happen, remove the battery and
recharge it. (See page 8-48.)EBU18282Throttle lever Once the engine is running, pushing the throttle le-
ver will increase the engine speed.
1. Light switch “/ /OFF”
2. Engine stop switch “/”
3. Start switch “”
1
23
U1PD60E0.book Page 3 Monday, June 13, 2011 2:57 PM