2015 YAMAHA GRIZZLY 550 brakes

EBU17421
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 lights and warning lights .............. 4-2
Multi-function display.................................. 4-5
Handlebar switches .................................... 4-7
Throttle lever ............................................. 4-13
Speed limiter ............................................. 4-13
Front brake lever ....................................... 4-14
Brake pedal and rear brake lever .............. 4-14
Drive select lever ....................................... 4-15
Fuel tank cap ............................................ 4-15
Fuel ........................................................... 4-16
Seat ........................................................... 4-18 Storage compartments ............................. 4-18
Front carrier .............................................. 4-21
Rear carrier ............................................... 4-21
Adjusting the front and rear shock
absorber assemblies .............................. 4-21
Auxiliary DC jack....................................... 4-23
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS .......................... 5-1 Fuel ............................................................. 5-3
Engine oil .................................................... 5-3
Final gear oil ............................................... 5-3
Differential gear oil ...................................... 5-3
Coolant ....................................................... 5-3
Front and rear brakes ................................. 5-3
Throttle lever ............................................... 5-4
Tires ............................................................ 5-4
Chassis fasteners ....................................... 5-7
Instruments, lights and switches ................ 5-7
OPERATION .................................................. 6-1 Starting the engine ..................................... 6-1
Operating the drive select lever and driving in reverse ...................................... 6-2
Engine break-in........................................... 6-4U2LB61E0.book Page 1 Friday, February 21, 2014 3:03 PM

Parking ........................................................ 6-5
Parking on a slope ...................................... 6-5
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................................ 7-17
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER .................................................... 7-18
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ............. 7-21
SLIDING AND SKIDDING .......................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO IF... ..................................... 7-22
WHAT TO DO... ......................................... 7-23
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 panels ................ 8-10
Removing the radiator grills ...................... 8-19
Checking the spark plug........................... 8-20
Engine oil and oil filter cartridge ............... 8-22
Final gear oil ............................................. 8-26
Differential gear oil .................................... 8-29
Coolant ..................................................... 8-31
Cleaning the air filter element ................... 8-39
Cleaning the spark arrester ...................... 8-42
V-belt case drain plug............................... 8-44
Adjusting the throttle lever free play ......... 8-45
Valve clearance......................................... 8-46
Adjusting the drive select lever safety
system cable .......................................... 8-46
Brakes....................................................... 8-46
Checking the front and rear brake pads... 8-46
Checking the brake fluid level .................. 8-47
Changing the brake fluid .......................... 8-49
Checking the front and rear brake lever free play .................................................. 8-49
Adjusting the brake pedal free play .......... 8-50
Axle boots................................................. 8-52
Checking and lubricating the cables ........ 8-52
Checking and lubricating the front and rear brake levers ..................................... 8-53
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal ....................................................... 8-54
U2LB61E0.book Page 2 Friday, February 21, 2014 3:03 PM

2-3
2
technique described in this manual on level
ground. Avoid crossing the side of a steep hill if
possible.
 Always use proper procedures if you stall or roll
backwards when climbing a hill. To avoid stall-
ing, use the proper gear range and maintain a
steady speed when climbing a hill. If you stall or
roll backwards, follow the special procedure for
braking described in this manual. Dismount on
the uphill side or to a side if pointed straight up-
hill. Turn the ATV around and remount, following
the procedure described in this manual.
 Always check for obstacles before operating in
a new area.
 Never attempt to operate over large obstacles,
such as large rocks or fallen trees. Always follow
proper procedures when operating over obsta-
cles as described in this manual.
 Always be careful when skidding or sliding.
Learn to safely control skidding or sliding by
practicing at low speeds and on level, smooth
terrain. On extremely slippery surfaces, such as
ice, go slowly and be very cautious in order to
reduce the chance of skidding or sliding out of
control. 
Never operate an ATV in fast flowing water or in
water deeper than that recommended in this
manual. Remember that wet brakes may have
reduced stopping ability. Test your brakes after
leaving water. If necessary, apply them several
times to let friction dry out the linings.
 Always be sure there are no obstacles or people
behind you when you operate in reverse. When
it is safe to proceed in reverse, go slowly.
 Always use the size and type of tires specified in
this manual.
 Always maintain proper tire pressure as de-
scribed in this manual.
 Never exceed the stated load capacity for an
ATV. Cargo should be properly distributed and
securely attached. Reduce speed and follow in-
structions in this manual for carrying cargo or
pulling a trailer. Allow greater distance for brak-
ing.
 Do not operate your ATV during darkness un-
less it is equipped with a properly functioning
headlight. Off-road riding is inherently danger-
ous and additionally, off-road trails do not have
streetlights to guide you.
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5-3
5
EBU19542FuelMake sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-16.)EBU19561Engine oilMake sure that the engine oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-22.)EBU19591Final gear oilMake sure that the final gear oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-26.)EBU19601Differential gear oilMake sure that the differential gear oil is at the
specified level. Add oil as necessary. (See page
8-29.)EBU19632CoolantMake sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-31.)
TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture. EBU29083Front and rear brakesBrake levers and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the front and
rear brake levers. If there is free play, have a
Yamaha dealer check the brake system.
 Check for correct free play in the brake pedal. If
the free play is incorrect, adjust it. (See page
8-50.)
 Check the operation of the brake levers and
pedal. They should move smoothly and there
should be a firm feeling when the brakes are ap-
plied. If not, have a Yamaha dealer check the
brake system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-47.)
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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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6-5
60–160 km (0–100 mi) or 0–10 hours
Avoid prolonged operation above 1/2 throttle.
Vary the speed of the ATV regularly. Do not oper-
ate it at one set throttle position.
160–320 km (100–200 mi) or 10–20 hours
Avoid prolonged operation above 3/4 throttle. Rev
the engine freely, but do not use full throttle at any
time.
320 km (200 mi) or 20 hours and beyond
The ATV can now be operated normally.
NOTICEECB00221If any engine trouble should occur during the
engine break-in period, immediately have a
Yamaha dealer check the ATV. EBU27322ParkingWhen parking the ATV, stop the engine, and shift
the drive select lever into the park position.
EBU29901Parking on a slope
WARNING
EWB00861Avoid parking on hills or other inclines. Parking
on a hill or other incline could cause the ATV to
roll out of control, increasing the chance of an
accident. If you must park on an incline, place
the ATV transversely across the incline, stop
the engine, shift the drive select lever to the
park position, and then block the front and rear
wheels with rocks or other objects.
Do not park the ATV at all on hills that are so
steep you could not walk up them easily. 1. Bring the ATV to a stop by applying the brakes.
2. Stop the engine.
3. With the brake pedal applied, shift the drive select lever to the park position.
U2LB61E0.book Page 5 Friday, February 21, 2014 3:03 PM

7-12
7
Select a large, flat, unpaved area to become famil-
iar with your ATV. Make sure that this area is free
of obstacles and other riders. You should practice
control of the throttle, brakes, shifting procedures,
and turning techniques in this area before trying
more difficult terrain.
Shift to the park position and follow the instruction
on page 6-1 to start the engine. Once it has
warmed up you are ready to begin riding your
ATV. With the engine idling, shift the drive select
lever into the low-range position or the high-range
position. Apply the throttle slowly and smoothly.
The centrifugal clutch will engage and you will
start to accelerate. If the throttle is applied too
abruptly, the front wheels may lift off the ground,
resulting in a loss of directional control. Avoid
higher speeds until you are thoroughly familiar
with the operation of your ATV.
When slowing down or stopping, release the
throttle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly.
Improper use of the brakes can cause the tires to
lose traction, reducing control and increasing the
possibility of an accident.
NOTICEECB00252Do not shift from low-range to high-range or
vice versa without coming to a complete stop.
Damage to the engine or drive train may occur. TURNING YOUR ATV
WARNING
EWB01772Always follow proper procedures for turning as
described in this Owner’s Manual. Practice
turning at low speeds before attempting to turn
at faster speeds. Do not turn at speeds too fast
for your skills or the conditions. ATV could go
out of control, causing a collision or overturn. To achieve maximum traction on unpaved surfac-
es, the two rear wheels turn together at the same
speed. Therefore, unless the wheel on the inside
of the turn is allowed to slip or lose some traction,
the ATV will resist turning. A special turning tech-
nique must be used to allow the ATV to make
turns quickly and easily. It is essential that this skill
be learned first at low speed.
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7-15
7Do not attempt to climb hills until you have mas-
tered basic maneuvers on flat ground. Always
check the terrain carefully before attempting any
hill. In all cases avoid inclines with slippery or
loose surfaces, or obstacles that might cause you
to lose control.
To climb a hill, you need traction, momentum, and
steady throttle. For more traction and control for
climbing steeper and/or rougher slopes, select
“4WD” or 4WD-LOCK (“DIFF. LOCK”). Travel fast
enough to maintain momentum, but not so fast
that you cannot react to changes in the terrain as
you climb.
It is important when climbing a hill to make sure
that your weight is transferred forward on the ATV.
This can be accomplished by leaning forward and,
on steeper inclines, standing on the footboards
and leaning forward over the handlebars. When-
ever possible, ride straight up hills.
Slow down when you reach the crest of the hill if
you cannot see clearly what is on the other side –
there could be another person, an obstacle, or a
sharp drop-off. Use common sense and remem-
ber that some hills are too steep for you to climb
or descend. If you are climbing a hill and you find that you have
not properly judged your ability to make it to the
top, you should turn the ATV around while you still
have forward motion (provided you have the room
to do so) and go down the hill.
If your ATV has stalled or stopped and you believe
you can continue up the hill, restart carefully to
make sure you do not lift the front wheels which
could cause you to lose control. If you are unable
to continue up the hill, dismount the ATV on the
uphill side. Physically turn the ATV around and
then descend the hill.
If you start to roll backwards, DO NOT apply either
brake abruptly. If you are in “2WD”, apply only the
front brake. When fully stopped, apply the rear
brake as well, and then shift to the park position. If
you are in “4WD”, because all wheels are inter-
connected by the drive train, applying either brake
will brake all wheels, therefore, avoid sudden ap-
plication of either the front or rear brake as the
wheels on the uphill side could come off the
ground. The ATV could easily tip over backwards.
Apply both the front and rear brakes gradually.
When fully stopped, lock shift to the park position
and dismount the ATV immediately on the uphill
side. Dismount on uphill side or to a side if pointed
U2LB61E0.book Page 15 Friday, February 21, 2014 3:03 PM