2018 YAMAHA KODIAK 450 tires

7-12
7Select 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.
UBB560E0.book Page 12 Friday, March 10, 2017 10:20 AM

7-18
7
Shift your weight to the uphill side of the ATV.
 Never attempt to turn the ATV around on any
hill until you have mastered the turning tech-
nique as described in the Owner’s Manual on
level ground. Be very careful when turning
on any hill.
Traversing a sloping surface on your ATV requires
you to properly position your weight to maintain
proper balance. Be sure that you have learned the
basic riding skills on flat ground before attempting
to cross a sloping surface. Avoid slopes with slip-
pery surfaces or rough terrain that may upset your
balance.
As you travel across a slope, lean your body in the
uphill direction. It may be necessary to correct the
steering when riding on loose surfaces by pointing
the front wheels slightly uphill. When riding on
slopes, be sure not to make sharp turns either up
or down hill.
If your ATV does begin to tip over, gradually steer
in the downhill direction if there are no obstacles
in your path. As you regain proper balance, grad-
ually steer again in the direction you wish to travel. CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER
WARNING
EWB01642Operating this vehicle through deep or fast-
flowing water can lead to loss of control or an
overturn. To reduce your risk of drowning or
other injuries, use care when crossing through
water. Never operate this ATV water deeper
than the depth specified in your Owner’s Man-
ual, as tires may float, increasing the risk of an
overturn.
UBB560E0.book Page 18 Friday, March 10, 2017 10:20 AM

8-5
8
8*Tires • Check tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
• Check air pressure and balance, and correct if necessary. √ √√√
9 *Wheel hub bearings • Check for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary. √ √√√
10 *V- b e l t • Check for wear, cracks or other damage, and re-
place if necessary. √ √√√
11 *Drive shaft univer-
sal joint • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.
√√√
12 *Chassis fasteners • Make sure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are
properly tightened. √√√√√
13 *Shock absorber as-
semblies • Check operation and correct if necessary.
• Check for oil leakage and replace if necessary.
√√√
14 *Stabilizer bushes • Check for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary. √√√
15 *Rear knuckle pivots • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
16 *Steering shaft • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
17 *Steering system • Check operation and repair or replace if dam-
aged.
• Check toe-in and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
NO. ITEM
CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL EVERY
Whichev-
er comes first month136612
km (mi) 240
(150) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320UBB560E0.book Page 5 Friday, March 10, 2017 10:20 AM

9-2
9
EBU27264StorageShort-term
Always store your ATV in a cool, dry place and, if
necessary, protect it against dust with a porous
cover. NOTICE: Storing the ATV in a poorly ven-
tilated room or covering it with a tarp while it is
still wet, will allow water and humidity to seep
in and cause rust. To prevent corrosion, avoid
damp cellars, stables (because of the presence
of ammonia) and areas where strong chemi-
cals are stored.
[ECB00722]
Long-term
Before storing your ATV for several months: 1. Make any necessary repairs and perform all outstanding maintenance.
2. Follow all the instructions in the Cleaning sec- tion of this chapter.
3. Fill up the fuel tank and add fuel stabilizer (Fu- el Med Rx if available), and then run the en-
gine for 5 minutes to distribute the treated
fuel. 4. Perform the following steps to protect the en-
gine from internal corrosion.a. Remove the spark plug cap and spark plug.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine oil into the spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug cap onto the spark plug, and then place the spark plug on the
cylinder head so that the electrodes are
grounded. (This will limit sparking during
the next step.)
d. Turn the engine over several times with the starter. (This will coat the cylinder wall
with oil.)
e. Remove the spark plug cap from the spark plug, and then install the spark plug and
the spark plug cap.
5. Lubricate all control cables and the pivoting points of all levers and pedals.
6. Put the frame on stands or blocks to raise all wheels off the ground. (Alternatively, turn the
wheels each month to prevent the tires from
degrading in one spot.)
7. Cover the muffler outlet with a plastic bag to prevent moisture from entering it.
Specified amount:
7.5 ml per liter of fuel (1 oz per gallon)UBB560E0.book Page 2 Friday, March 10, 2017 10:20 AM

10-4
10
Tire air pressure (measured on cold tires):Recommended:Front:35.0 kPa (0.350 kgf/cm², 5.0 psi)
Rear: 30.0 kPa (0.300 kgf/cm², 4.4 psi)
Minimum:
Front:32.0 kPa (0.320 kgf/cm², 4.6 psi)
Rear:
27.0 kPa (0.270 kgf/cm², 4.0 psi)Front wheel:Wheel type:Cast wheel (YFM45KPAJ)
Panel wheel (YFM45KDHJ, YFM45KDXJ, YFM45KPHJ,
YFM45KPXJ)
Rim size: 12 x 6.0ATRear wheel:Wheel type:
Cast wheel (YFM45KPAJ)
Panel wheel (YFM45KDHJ, YFM45KDXJ, YFM45KPHJ,
YFM45KPXJ)
Rim size: 12 x 7.5ATFront brake:Type:Disc brake
Operation: Right hand operation Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4
Rear brake:Type:
Wet multiple disc brake
Operation: Left hand and right foot operationFront suspension:Type:
Double wishbone
Spring/shock absorber type: Coil spring/gas-oil damper
Wheel travel: 171 mm (6.8 in)Rear suspension:Type:Double wishbone
Spring/shock absorber type: Coil spring/gas-oil damper
Wheel travel:
189 mm (7.4 in)Electrical system:Ignition system:TCI
Charging system:
AC magnetoBattery:Model:YTX20L-BS
Voltage, capacity:
12 V, 18.0 Ah
UBB560E0.book Page 4 Friday, March 10, 2017 10:20 AM

12-2
12
MMain switch .................................................................... 4-1
Maintenance and lubrication chart ................................ 8-4
Maintenance chart, emission control system ................ 8-3
Model label .................................................................. 11-1NNeutral indicator light ..................................................... 4-2OOn-Command four-wheel-drive switch ......................... 4-7
Owner’s manual and tool kit .......................................... 8-2PPanels, removing and installing ..................................... 8-8
Park indicator light ......................................................... 4-2
Parking ........................................................................... 6-4
Parking on a slope ......................................................... 6-5
Part locations ................................................................. 3-1RRear brake, adjusting the lever and pedal ................... 8-40
Rear knuckle pivots, lubricating .................................. 8-49
Reverse indicator light ................................................... 4-2
Riding your ATV ............................................................. 7-1SSafety information .......................................................... 2-1
Seat .............................................................................. 4-13
Self-diagnosis device .................................................... 4-6
Shock absorber assemblies, adjusting the front and rear ............................................................................ 4-15
Spark arrester, cleaning ............................................... 8-33
Spark plug, checking ................................................... 8-15
Specifications .............................................................. 10-1
Speed limiter .................................................................. 4-9 Stabilizer bushes, checking ..........
............................... 8-49
Starting the engine ........................................................ 6-1
Start switch .................................................................... 4-7
Steering shaft, lubricating ............................................ 8-50
Storage .......................................................................... 9-2
Storage compartment .................................................. 4-14
TTail/brake light bulb, replacing .................................... 8-61
Throttle lever ........................................................... 4-8, 5-4
Throttle lever free play, adjusting ................................ 8-36
Tires ............................................................................... 5-4
Troubleshooting ........................................................... 8-63
Troubleshooting charts ................................................ 8-64VValve clearance ............................................................ 8-36
V-belt case drain plug .................................................. 8-35
V-belt cooling duct check hose ................................... 8-35
Vehicle identification number ...................................... 11-1WWheel hub bearings, checking .................................... 8-48
Wheel, installing ........................................................... 8-62
Wheel, removing .......................................................... 8-61
Winch pre-wiring .......................................................... 4-17
UBB560E0.book Page 2 Tuesday, May 9, 2017 5:32 PM