Page 44 of 174

4-14
4decrease the maximum engine power avail-
able and the maximum speed of the ATV, turn
the adjusting screw in direction (b). Do not
turn the adjusting screw out more than 12
mm (0.47 in) or the throttle cable could be
damaged. Always make sure the throttle lever
free play is adjusted to 3.0–5.0 mm (0.12–
0.20 in). (See page 8-45.) 
WARNING! Im-
proper adjustment of the speed limiter and
throttle could cause throttle cable damage
or improper throttle operation. You could
lose control, resulting in an accident.
[EWB00242]
3. Tighten the locknut.EBU18392Front brake leverThe front brake lever is located on the right han-
dlebar. To apply the front brake, pull the brake le-
ver toward the handlebar grip.EBU18443Brake pedal and rear brake leverThe brake pedal is located on the right side of the
ATV and the rear brake lever is located on the left
handlebar. To apply the rear brake, push down on
the brake pedal or pull the brake lever toward the
handlebar grip.
1. Locknut
2. Adjusting screw
3. No more than 12 mm (0.47 in)
2
1
3
(b)
(a)
1. Front brake lever
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4-16
4To install the fuel tank cap
Install the fuel tank cap by turning it clockwise until
a click is heard, and then close the fuel tank cap
cover.
EBU18757FuelMake sure there is sufficient gasoline in the tank.
WARNING
EWB02522Gasoline and gasoline vapors are extremely
flammable. To avoid fires and explosions and
to reduce the risk of injury when refueling, fol-
low these instructions. 1. Before refueling, turn off the engine and be
sure that no one is sitting on the vehicle. Nev-
er refuel while smoking, or while in the vicinity
of sparks, open flames, or other sources of
ignition such as the pilot lights of water heat-
ers and clothes dryers.
2. Do not overfill the fuel tank. When refueling, be sure to insert the pump nozzle into the fuel
tank filler hole. Stop filling when the fuel
reaches the bottom of the filler tube. Because
1. Fuel tank cap cover
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4-17
4
fuel expands when it heats up, heat from the
engine or the sun can cause fuel to spill out of
the fuel tank.
3. Wipe up any spilled fuel immediately.
NOTICE:  Immediately wipe off spilled fuel
with a clean, dry, soft cloth, since fuel may
deteriorate painted surfaces or plastic
parts.
 [ECB00982]
4. Turn the fuel tank cap fully clockwise to make sure it is securely closed.
WARNING
EWB02532Gasoline is poisonous and can cause injury or
death. Handle gasoline with care. Never siphon
gasoline by mouth. If you should swallow some
gasoline or inhale a lot of gasoline vapor, or get
some gasoline in your eyes, see your doctor
immediately. If gasoline spills on your skin,
wash with soap and water. If gasoline spills on
your clothing, change your clothes. NOTICEECB00071Use only unleaded gasoline. The use of leaded
gasoline will cause severe damage to internal
engine parts, such as the valves and piston
rings, as well as to the exhaust system. 
1. Maximum fuel level
2. Fuel tank filler tubeRecommended fuel:Regular unleaded gasoline only
For Europe: Regular unleaded gasoline only 
with a research octane number of 95 or 
higher
Fuel tank capacity: 20.0 L (5.28 US gal, 4.40 Imp.gal)
Fuel reserve amount: 4.5 L (1.19 US gal, 0.99 Imp.gal)
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4-21
4
EBU18963Front carrierDo not exceed the load limit of 45.0 kg (99 lb) for
the front carrier.
 Do not exceed the maximum load of 220.0 kg
(485 lb) for the ATV.EBU18973Rear carrierDo not exceed the load limit of 85.0 kg (187 lb)
for the rear carrier.
 Do not exceed the maximum load of 220.0 kg
(485 lb) for the ATV.EBU30471Adjusting the front and rear shock ab-
sorber assembliesThe spring preload can be adjusted to suit the rid-
er’s weight and the riding conditions.
WARNING
EWB00401Always adjust the shock absorber assemblies
on the left and right side to the same setting.
Uneven adjustment can cause poor handling
and loss of stability, which could lead to an ac-
cident. 
1. Storage compartment drain plug
1. Storage compartment drain plugU2LB61E0.book  Page 21  Friday, February 21, 2014  3:03 PM 
         
        
        
     
        
        Page 52 of 174
4-22
4Adjust the spring preload as follows.
Turn the spring preload adjusting ring in direction
(a) to increase the spring preload and thereby
harden the suspension, and in direction (b) to de-
crease the spring preload and thereby soften the
suspension.
Align the appropriate notch in the adjusting ring
with the position indicator on the shock absorber.
TIPA special wrench can be obtained at a Yamaha
dealer to make this adjustment. 
WARNING
EWB02731The rear shock absorber assembly contains
highly pressurized nitrogen gas. If the shock
absorber assembly is damaged, it could ex-
plode causing injury or property damage.
1. Spring preload adjusting ring
2. Position indicator
1. Special wrenchSpring preload setting:
Minimum (soft):1
Standard: 2
Maximum (hard): 5
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5-1
5
EBU19202
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EBU19225Inspect 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
EWB00482Failure 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:
ITEMROUTINE PAGE
Fuel • Check fuel level in fuel tank, 
and add recommended fuel if neces-
sary.
• Check fuel line for leakage. Correct if necessary. 4-16, 5-3
Engine oil • Check oil level in engine, and add recommended oil to specified 
level if necessary.
• Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-22
Final gear oil • Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-26
Differential gear oil • Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-29
Coolant • Check coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to 
specified level if necessary.
• Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-3, 8-31
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5-4
5Brake 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 a lever moves
slowly inward, there may be a leak in the brake
system. If there is any leakage, the brake system
should be checked by a Yamaha dealer.
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 8-46.)
EBU19762Throttle leverCheck the operation of the throttle lever. It must
open smoothly and spring back to the idle position
when released. Have a Yamaha dealer correct if
necessary.
EBU19815TiresCheck tire pressure regularly to make sure it is at
the recommended specifications. Also check for
wear and damage.
Tire pressure
Use the low-pressure tire gauge to check and ad-
just tire pressures when the tires are cold. Tire
pressures must be equal on both sides.
WARNING! Operation of this vehicle with im- proper tire pressure may cause severe injury or
death from loss of control or rollover. Tire
pressure below the minimum specified could
also cause the tire to dislodge from the rim un-
der severe riding conditions.
 [EWB02542]
 Set tire
pressures to the following specifications:
Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
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        Page 60 of 174
5-6
5Tire information
This ATV is equipped with tubeless tires with
valves.
WARNING
EWB02552Use of improper tires on this ATV may cause
loss of control, increasing your risk of an acci-
dent. After extensive tests, only the tires listed below
have been approved for this model by Yamaha
Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America.1. Tire wear limit
Front:Manufacturer/model:YFM550DF CHENG SHIN/C828 
(AUS)(NZL)
YFM550DF MAXXIS/MU19 
(EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
YFM550PF CHENG SHIN/C828 
(AUS)(NZL)
YFM550PF MAXXIS/MU19 
(EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
YFM550PHF MAXXIS/MU19
Size: AT25 x 8-12
Ty p e : Tu b e l e s s
Rear: Manufacturer/model:YFM550DF CHENG SHIN/C828 
(AUS)(NZL)
YFM550DF MAXXIS/MU20 
(EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
YFM550PF CHENG SHIN/C828 
(AUS)(NZL)
YFM550PF MAXXIS/MU20 
(EUR)(FRA)(GBR)
YFM550PHF MAXXIS/MU20
U2LB61E0.book  Page 6  Friday, February 21, 2014  3:03 PM