2012 YAMAHA YFZ450R air filter

Accessories and loading ............................ 6-6
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 cowling and panels ....................................................... 8-9 Checking the spark plug ...........................8-15
Engine oil and oil filter element .................8-16
Coolant .....................................................8-22
Cleaning the air filter element ...................8-23
Cleaning the spark arrester ......................8-27
Adjusting the throttle lever free play .........8-29
Valve clearance ........................................8-30
Brakes .......................................................8-30
Checking the front and rear brake pads ...8-30
Checking the brake fluid level ...................8-32
Changing the brake fluid ...........................8-33
Checking the front brake lever free play ...8-33
Checking the brake pedal height ..............8-34
Adjusting the parking brake free play .......8-34
Brake light switches ..................................8-36
Adjusting the clutch lever free play ...........8-36
Drive chain slack .......................................8-38
Lubricating the drive chain ........................8-40
Checking and lubricating the cables .........8-40
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ............................................8-41
Checking the shift pedal ...........................8-42
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal .......................................................8-42
Checking the wheel hub bearings .............8-42
Lubricating the swingarm pivots ...............8-43
U18P66E0.book Page 2 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

4-17
4
NOTICEECB00090Never turn an adjusting mechanism beyond
the minimum and maximum settings.TIPAlthough the total number of clicks or turns of a
damping force adjusting mechanism may not ex-
actly match the following specifications due to
small differences in production, the actual number
of clicks or turns always represents the entire ad-
justing range. To obtain a precise adjustment, it
would be advisable to check the number of clicks
or turns of each damping force adjusting mecha-
nism and to modify the specifications as neces-
sary.Spring preload1. Remove the cowling. (See page 8-11 for YFZ450RB or 8-14 for YFZ450RSEB.)
2. Remove the clip from the hose holder, remove the bolt, and then move the blow-by gas
chamber away from the vehicle. 3. Loosen the clamp screw at the air filter case
side.
1. Hose holder
2. Clip
3. Bolt
4. Blow-by gas chamber
2 3
4
1
U18P66E0.book Page 17 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

4-18
4
4. Remove the air filter case holding plate by re- moving the bolts and collars. 5. Remove the bolts, and then remove the air fil-
ter case by disconnecting it from the air intake
duct.
1. Clamp screw
1
1. Bolt
2. Collar
3. Air filter case holding plate
1
1
2
3
U18P66E0.book Page 18 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

4-19
46. Disconnect the coupler. 7. Loosen the clamp screw at the throttle body
side, and then disconnect the air intake duct
from the throttle body.
8. Loosen the locknut.
9. Turn the spring preload adjusting nut in direc- tion (a) to increase the spring preload and
thereby harden the suspension, and in direc-
tion (b) to decrease the spring preload and
thereby soften the suspension.
1. Air filter case
2. Bolt
1. Coupler
1 2
2
1
1. Clamp screw
2. Air intake duct
1
2
U18P66E0.book Page 19 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

4-21
411. Connect the air intake duct to the throttle
body, and then tighten the clamp screw at the
throttle body side. NOTICE: Make sure that
the air intake duct is properly connected to
the throttle body, and that the clamp screw
is tightened securely.
[ECB00961]
12. Connect the coupler.
13. Connect the air filter case to the air intake duct, place the air filter case in the original po-
sition, and then tighten the clamp screw at the
air filter case side. NOTICE: Make sure that
the air intake duct is properly connected to
the air filter case, and that the clamp screw
is tightened securely.
[ECB00971]
14. Install the air filter case bolts, and then tighten them to the specified torque. 15. Install the air filter case holding plate by install-
ing the bolts and collars, and then tighten the
bolts to the specified torque.
16. Install the blow-by gas chamber by installing the bolt, tighten the bolt to the specified
torque, and then install the clip to the hose
holder.
17. Install the cowling.
Rebound damping force
Turn the rebound damping force adjusting screw in
direction (a) to increase the rebound damping
force and thereby harden the damping, and in di-
rection (b) to decrease the rebound damping force
and thereby soften the damping.
Tightening torque:
Locknut:30 Nm (3.0 m ·kgf, 22 ft· lbf)
Tightening torque: Air filter case bolt:7 Nm (0.7 m ·kgf, 5.1 ft ·lbf)
Tightening torque:
Air filter case holding plate bolt:7 Nm (0.7 m ·kgf, 5.1 ft· lbf)
Tightening torque: Blow-by gas chamber bolt:7 Nm (0.7 m ·kgf, 5.1 ft· lbf)
U18P66E0.book Page 21 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM

7-20
7
After riding your ATV in water, be sure to drain the
trapped water by removing the check hose at the
bottom of the air filter case. NOTICE: Undrained
water can cause damage or improper opera-
tion.
[ECB00841]
Wash the ATV in fresh water if it has been operat-
ed in salt water or muddy conditions. RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN
WARNING
EWB01651Riding improperly over obstacles could cause
loss of control or a collision. Before operating
in a new area, check for obstacles. Never at-
tempt to ride over large obstacles, such as
large rocks or fallen trees. When you go over
obstacles, always follow proper procedures as
described in the Owner
’s Manual.Riding over rough terrain should be done with cau-
tion. Look out for obstacles which could cause
damage to the ATV or could lead to an upset or ac-1. Air filter case check hose
1
U18P66E0.book Page 20 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 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
U18P66E0.book Page 5 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 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 oil 
Change.
 Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary. √ √√√
20 Engine oil filter ele-
ment 
Replace. √√√
21 *Cooling system 
Check coolant level and ATV for coolant leakage,
and correct if necessary. √√√√√
 Replace coolant. Every 2 years
22 *Moving parts and
cables 
Lubricate. √√√√
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 320U18P66E0.book Page 7 Monday, May 16, 2011 4:23 PM