2017 YAMAHA WOLVERINE steering

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5
The latch plate should click securely into the
buckle and release when the release button is
pushed firmly. Wash off any dirt or mud that
could affect operation. Have a Yamaha dealer
repair as necessary for proper operation.
A crash can damage the restraint systems in
your vehicle. A damaged restraint system
may not properly protect the person using it,
resulting in serious injury or death in a crash.
To help make sure your restraint systems are
working properly after a crash, have them in-
spected and any necessary replacements
made as soon as possible.EBU31810Passenger handholdCheck that the handhold bar and its supports
are in good condition. Confirm that the lock-
ing pins are securely fastened, and then push
and pull on the handhold to make sure that it
is not loose.
EBU31820SteeringPark on level ground. Turn the steering wheel
right and left. Check for excessive free play,
abnormal noises, or a rough feeling. Have a
Yamaha dealer repair as necessary for proper operation.EBU31831Fittings and fastenersAlways check the tightness of chassis fittings
and fasteners before a drive. Take the vehicle
to a Yamaha dealer or refer to the Service
Manual for correct tightening torque.EBU31840Instruments, lights and switchesCheck that all instrument s, lights and switch-
es are working properly. Correct if necessary.
U2MB7BE0.book Page 7 Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:46 AM

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TIPWhen the knob is set to “DIFF LOCK” or “4WD”, the differential gear lock indicator and indica-
tor light will flash until the differential gear is completely locked or unlocked.
 When the indicator and indicator light are flashi ng, turning the steering wheel back and forth
will help the differential gear lock to engage or disengage.
 Driving with the differential gear not properly engaged or disengaged (e.g., when the indicator
and indicator light are flashing) will cause the vehicle speed to be limited until the differential
gear is completely engaged or disengaged. U2MB7BE0.book Page 6 Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:46 AM

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Floorboard
The floorboard allows you to brace your feet,
which helps you keep your body in the vehicle
in the event of an accident or rollover. Keep
your feet on the floorboard during operation.
Steering wheel
Keep both hands on the steering wheel. Do
not hold the steering wheel with your thumbs
inside the rim. Keep your palms on the out-
side of the steering wheel. Similar to other off-
road vehicles, if the Wolverine hits a deep rut
or large obstacle, the steering wheel couldbriefly jerk in one direction or back and forth
as the tires and vehicle respond to the obsta-
cle. This quick motion could injure your
thumbs or wrist if your thumbs or hand(s) are
inside the steering wh
eel. Grip the steering
wheel so that your thumbs will not be hit by
the spokes. As an example, see the illustra-
tion.U2MB7BE0.book Page 11 Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:46 AM

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Eye protection (goggles, helmet face shield,
or protective eyewear)
 Over-the-ankle boots, gloves, long-sleeved
shirt or jacket, and long pants
An approved helmet and other personal pro-
tective equipment can help in a variety of
ways, including:
 Reduce the severity of injuries if any part of
you is outside the vehicle cage/frame pro-
tective structure during a rollover.
 Help protect you if outside objects intrude
inside the vehicle during operation.
 Help protect you in the event of vehicle im-
pact with an obstacle.
Wear eye protection when operating or riding
in the vehicle to reduce the risk of a serious
accident or injury. Eye protection, such as a
face shield or goggles, may reduce the risk of
foreign material getting in your eyes and help
prevent loss of vision. Practice for new Yamaha Wolverine users
You should become familiar with the perfor-
mance characteristics of the vehicle in a lar-
ge, flat area that is free of obstacles and other
vehicles. Practice cont
rolling the accelerator
pedal, brakes, steering, and drive select lever.
Drive at slow speeds with gradual accelera-
tion and turning. Practice smooth throttle ap-
plication. Practice slowing down before
turning. Practice maintaining a steady throttle
through the turn. Avoid higher speeds until
you are thoroughly famili ar with the operation
of your vehicle. Remember, driving aggres-
sively or making abrupt maneuvers even on
flat, open areas can cause side rollovers.U2MB7BE0.book Page 13 Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:46 AM

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Become familiar with the way the vehicle feels
in low and high ranges, first in two-wheel
drive “2WD” and then in four-wheel drive
“4WD” and four-wheel drive with the differen-
tial locked “DIFF LOCK”. Steering may take
more effort in four-wheel drive with the differ-
ential locked “DIFF LOCK”. Also practice
driving in reverse.
Take the time to learn basic operation of the
vehicle before attempting more difficult ma-
neuvers. Getting ready to ride
Perform the Pre-Operation Checks on page
5-1. Follow the instructions starting on page
6-2 to start the engine.
Turning
Use care in turns – turning the steering wheel
too far or too fast can result in loss of control
or a rollover. Slow down before entering
turns. When making tight turns from a stand-
still or at slow speeds, avoid sudden or hard
acceleration. Driving aggressively or making
abrupt maneuvers even on flat, open areas
can cause side rollovers. Avoid sideways slid-
ing, skidding, or back-wheel sliding, and nev-
er do donuts. If you feel the Wolverine begin
to slide sideways or the back wheels slide
during a turn, steer into the direction of the
slide, if possible, and gradually let off the ac-
celerator pedal to regain directional control
and avoid rollover. For example, if you feel the
back of the vehicle start
to slide to your right,
steer to the right.U2MB7BE0.book Page 14 Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:46 AM

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7
If you think or feel that the vehicle may tip or
roll, keep your body completely inside the
protective structure of the vehicle:
Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly
on the floorboard and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or passenger handhold.
 Do not put your hands or feet outside of the
vehicle for any reason. Do not try to stop a
tipover using your arm or leg.
Accelerating
With the engine idling in neutral and your foot
on the brake, shift the drive select lever into
low or high. NOTICE: Do not shift from low
to high or vice versa without coming to a
complete stop and waiting for the engine
to return to normal idle speed – damage to
the engine or drive train may occur. Then
release the parking brake.
[ECB02160]
Press the
accelerator pedal slowly and smoothly. The
centrifugal clutch will engage and the vehicle
will begin to accelerate. Avoid higher speeds and sudden or hard ac-
celeration until you are thoroughly familiar
with the operation of your vehicle. Avoid sud-
den or hard acceleration in any turn.
Braking
When slowing down or stopping, take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal smoothly. Improper use of the
brakes can cause the tires to lose traction, re-
ducing control of the vehicle and increasing
the possibility of an accident.
Braking ability is affected by type of terrain. In
most cases, gradual application of the brakes
is more effective than
abrupt braking, partic-
ularly on loose surfaces, such as gravel. Al-
ways allow for greater braking distance on
rough, loose, or slippery surfaces.
Engine braking
Engine compression braking is designed to
assist you when operating your Wolverine off-
road. With this feature, the engine helps slow
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to see far enough ahead of you. Use common
sense and remember that some hills are too
steep for you to climb or descend. Use proper
driving techniques to avoid rearward, for-
ward, or sideways rollovers on hills and
slopes.
Drive straight up and down inclines, not
across them. If crossing a hill is unavoidable,
drive slowly. Turn downhill immediately if you
feel the vehicle may tip.
If you think or feel the vehicle may tip or
roll:
Brace yourself by pressing your feet firmly
on the floorboard and keep a firm grip on
the steering wheel or passenger handhold.
 Do not put your hands or feet outside of the
vehicle for any reason.
Uphill
Do not attempt to climb hills until you have
mastered basic maneuvers on flat ground.
Drive straight up hills, and avoid crossing the side of a hill, which increases your risk of roll-
over. Practice first on gentle slopes before at-
tempting steeper hills. Always check the
terrain carefully before attempting any hill.
To climb a hill, you need traction, momentum,
and steady throttle. For more traction and
control for climbing steeper and/or rougher
slopes, shift into low gear and select “4WD”
or “DIFF LOCK”. Travel fast enough to main-
tain momentum, but not so fast that you can-
not react to changes in the terrain as you
climb.
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.
If you start to lose traction or momentum
when climbing, and decide you will be unable
to continue, use the brakes to stop. Do not at-
tempt to turn the vehicle around. With your
foot on the brake pedal, look behind you and
plan your descent. Shift the drive select lever
into reverse so you can use engine braking toU2MB7BE0.book Page 18 Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:46 AM

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8*Parking brake • Check operation and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
9 *Brake fluid • Change. Every 2 years
10 *Accelerator pedal • Check operation and free play. √√√√√
11 *V-b e l t • Check operation.
• Check for wear, cracks, or damage. √√√
12 *Wheels • Check balance/damage/runout.
• Repair if necessary. √√√√
13 *Wheel bearings • Check bearing assemblies for loose-
ness/damage.
• Replace if damaged. √√√√
14 *Front and rear
suspension • Check operation and for oil leakage.
• Correct if necessary.
√√
15 *Steering system • Check operation and for looseness. Replace
if damaged.
• Check toe-in. Adjust if necessary. √√√√√
16 *Stabilizer bushes • Check for cracks or other damage, and re-
place if necessary. √√√
17 *Rear knuckle up-
per and lower piv-
ots
• Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.
√√√
NO. ITEM
ROUTINE INITIAL
EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month 1 3 6 6 12
km
(mi) 320
(200) 1200
(750) 2400
(1500) 2400
(1500) 4800
(3000)
hours 20 75 150 150 300
U2MB7BE0.book Page 7 Thursday, March 3, 2016 11:46 AM