2016 YAMAHA VMAX Owners Manual

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-26
6
Rear
brake
TIPThe rear brake fluid reservoir is located
under the passenger seat. (See page
3-25.)
WARNING
EWA16011
Improper maintenance can result in
loss of b raking a bility. O bserve
these precautions:  Insufficient brake flui d may al-
low air to enter the brake sys-
tem, re ducin g brakin g
performance. 
Clean the filler cap before re-
movin g. Use only DOT 4 b rake
flui d from a seale d container.
 Use only the specified b rake flu-
i d ; otherwise, the ru bber seals
may deteriorate, causin g leak-
a g e.
 Refill with the same type of
brake flui d. A dding a brake fluid
other than DOT 4 may result in a
harmful chemical reaction.
 Be careful that water or d ust
d oes not enter the brake flui d
reservoir when refillin g. Water
will si gnificantly lower the boil-
in g point of the flui d an d may re-
sult in vapor lock, an d d ir t may
cl

o g the ABS hy draulic unit
valves.
NOTICE
ECA17641
Brake flui d may d amage painte d
surfaces or plastic parts. Always
clean up spilled fluid imme diately.As the brake pads wear, it is normal for
the brake fluid level to gradually go
down. A low brake fluid level may indi-
cate worn brake pads and/or brake system leakage; therefore, be sure to
check the brake pads for wear and the
brake system for leakage. If the brake
fluid level goes down suddenly, have a
Yamaha dealer check the cause before
further riding.
1. Minimum level markSpecifie
d b rake flui d:
DOT 41
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-27
6
EAU22754
Chan gin g the brake an d
clutch flui dsHave a Yamaha dealer change the
brake and clutch fluids at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart. In addition, have
the oil seals of the brake and clutch
master cylinders and calipers as well
as the brake and clutch hoses replaced
at the intervals listed below or whenev-
er they are damaged or leaking.
 Oil seals: Replace every two
years.
 Brake and clutch hoses: Replace
every four years.
EAU23098
Checkin g an d lu bricatin g the
cab lesThe operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubri-
cated if necessary. If a cable is
damaged or does not move smoothly,
have a Yamaha dealer check or re-
place it. WARNING! Dama ge to the
outer housin g of cab les may result
in internal rustin g an d cause inter-
ference with cab le movement. Re-
place damag ed cab les as soon as
possi ble to prevent unsafe con di-
tions.
[EWA10712] EAU23115
Checkin
g an d lu bricatin g the
throttle grip an d ca bleThe operation of the throttle grip
should be checked before each ride. In
addition, the cable should be lubricat-
ed by a Yamaha dealer at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
chart.
The throttle cable is equipped with a
rubber cover. Make sure that the cover
is securely installed. Even though the
cover is installed correctly, it does not
completely protect the cable from wa-
ter entry. Therefore, use care not to
pour water directly onto the cover or
cable when washing the vehicle. If the
cable or cover becomes dirty, wipe
clean with a moist cloth.
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Yamaha cable lubricant or other
suitable cable lubricant
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-28
6
EAU44276
Checkin g an d lu bricatin g the
b rake an d shift pe dalsThe operation of the brake and shift
pedals should be checked before each
ride, and the pedal pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
Brake pe dal
Shift pe dal
EAU43602
Checkin g an d lu bricatin g the
b rake an d clutch leversThe operation of the brake and clutch
levers should be checked before each
ride, and the lever pivots should be lu-
bricated if necessary.
Brake lever
Clutch lever
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-29
6
EAU23203
Checkin g an d lu bricatin g the
si destan dThe operation of the sidestand should
be checked before each ride, and the
sidestand pivot and metal-to-metal
contact surfaces should be lubricated
if necessary.
WARNING
EWA10732
If the si destan d d oes not move up
an d d own smoothly, have a Yamaha
d ealer check or repair it. Otherwise,
the si destan d coul d contact the
g roun d an d d istract the operator, re-
sultin g in a possi ble loss of control.
EAUM1653
Lub ricatin g the swin garm piv-
otsThe swingarm pivots must be lubricat-
ed by a Yamaha dealer at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Silicone grease
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-30
6
EAU23273
Checkin g the front forkThe condition and operation of the
front fork must be checked as follows
at the intervals specified in the periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart.
To check the con dition
Check the inner tubes for scratches,
damage and excessive oil leakage.
To check the operation 1. Place the vehicle on a level surfa- ce and hold it in an upright posi-
tion. WARNING! To avoi d injury,
securely support the vehicle so
there is no dan ger of it fallin g
over.
[EWA10752]
2. While applying the front brake, push down hard on the handle-
bars several times to check if the
front fork compresses and re-
bounds smoothly.
NOTICE
ECA10591
If any damag e is foun d or the front
fork does not operate smoothly,
have a Yamaha d ealer check or re-
pair it.
EAU23285
Checkin g the steerin gWorn or loose steering bearings may
cause danger. Therefore, the operation
of the steering must be checked as fol-
lows at the intervals specified in the
periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart.
1. Raise the front wheel off the ground. (See page 6-39.)
WARNING! To avoid injury, se-
curely support the vehicle so
there is no d anger of it fallin g
over.
[EWA10752]
2. Hold the lower ends of the front fork legs and try to move them for-
ward and backward. If any free
play can be felt, have a Yamaha
dealer check or repair the steer-
ing.
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-31
6
EAU23292
Checkin g the wheel b earingsThe front and rear wheel bearings must
be checked at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart. If there is play in the wheel
hub or if the wheel does not turn
smoothly, have a Yamaha dealer
check the wheel bearings.
EAU46556
BatteryThe battery is located under cowling A.
(See page 6-8.)
This model is equipped with a VRLA
(Valve Regulated Lead Acid) battery.
There is no need to check the electro-
lyte or to add distilled water. However,
the battery lead connections need to
be checked and, if necessary, tight-
ened.
WARNING
EWA10761
 Electrolyte is poisonous an d
d an gerous since it contains sul-
furic aci d, which causes severe
b urns. Avoi d any contact with
skin, eyes or clothin g an d al-
ways shiel d your eyes when
workin g near b atteries. In case
of contact, a dminister the fol-
lowin g FIRST AID.
EXTERNAL: Flush with plenty of water.
INTERNAL: Drink lar ge quan-
tities of water or milk and im-
me diately call a physician. EYES: Flush with water for 15
minutes an d seek prompt
me dical attention.
 Batteries pro duce explosive hy-
d ro gen gas. Therefore, keep
sparks, flames, ci garettes, etc.,
away from the battery an d pro-
vi de sufficient ventilation when
char gin g it in an enclose d
space.
 KEEP THIS AND ALL BATTER-
IES OUT OF THE REACH OF
CHILDREN.
To remove the battery
1. Remove cowling A. (See page 6-8.)
2. Disconnect the negative battery lead first, then the positive battery
lead by removing their bolt.
NOTICE: When removin g the
b attery, be sure the key is
turne d to “OFF”, then d iscon-
nect the neg ative lead b efore
d isconnectin g the positive lea d.
[ECA16303]
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-32
6
3. Remove the battery cover bolts,
lift the battery cover (together with
the ECU), then move the cover to
the side. 4. Remove the main fuse (together
with the holding band) from its
holder.
5. Disconnect coupler A.
6. Remove the rubber damper. 7. Unfold the heat insulator as
shown.
8. Pull the battery out of its compart- ment.
To char ge the b attery
Have a Yamaha dealer charge the bat-
tery as soon as possible if it seems to
have discharged. Keep in mind that the
battery tends to discharge more quick-
ly if the vehicle is equipped with op-
tional electrical accessories.
1. Negative battery lead (black)
2. Positive battery lead (red)
1. Battery cover bolt
2. Battery cover2
1
1
2
1. Main fuse
2. Holding band
3. Coupler A
1. Rubber damper2
1
3
1
1. Heat insulator
2. Battery1
2
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-33
6
NOTICE
ECA16522
To char ge a VRLA (Valve Re gulate d
Lea d Aci d) battery, a special (con-
stant-voltag e) battery char ger is re-
quired . Using a conventional b attery
char ger will damag e the b attery.To store the b attery
1. If the vehicle will not be used for more than one month, remove the
battery, fully charge it, and then
place it in a cool, dry place.
NOTICE: When removin g the
b attery, be sure the key is
turne d to “OFF”, then d iscon-
nect the neg ative lead b efore
d isconnectin g the positive lea d.
[ECA16303]
2. If the battery will be stored for
more than two months, check it at
least once a month and fully char-
ge it if necessary.
To install the batteryTIPBe sure the battery is fully charged.
1. Place the battery in its compart-
ment.
2. Fold the heat insulator back to its original position. NOTICE: Make
sure that the heat insulator is in
its ori ginal position and it is
properly fol ded .
[ECA16551]
3. Install the rubber damper.
4. Connect coupler A.
5. Install the main fuse (together with
the holding band) on its holder.
6. Place the battery cover (together with the ECU) in the original posi-
tion, and then install the bolts.
7. Connect the positive battery lead first, then connect the negative
battery lead by installing their bolt.
NOTICE: When installin g the b
attery, be sure the key is
turne d to “OFF”, then connect
the positive lea d before con-
nectin g the ne gative lea d.
[ECA16841]
8. Install the cowling.NOTICE
ECA16531
Always keep the b attery charged .
Storin g a d ischar ged battery can
cause permanent b attery damag e.
1. Heat insulator1
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