2018 YAMAHA WOLVERINE steering

4-5
4
EBU33041Electric Power Steering warning light
“EPS”
This warning light comes on when the key is
turned to “ ” (on), and then goes off once
the engine is started. If the warning light re-
mains on or comes on after the engine is
started, the EPS system may not be working
correctly. When this occurs, have a Yamaha
dealer check the EPS system.
The electrical circuit of the warning light can
be checked by turning the key to “ ” (on). If
the warning light does not come on, have a
Yamaha dealer check the electrical circuit.TIPIf the steering load is too heavy (e.g., exces-
sive steering use at slow speed or when op-
erating in deep mud, sand, or snow), the
power assist is reduced to protect the EPS
motor from overheating.
EBU31360Helmet indicator light “ ”
The indicator light comes on and stays on
while the key is turned to “ ” (on) to remind
the occupants to always wear a helmet. If the
indicator light does not come on when the key
is turned to “ ” (on), have a Yamaha dealer
check the electrical circuit.EBU31370Seat belt indicator light “ ”
The indicator light comes on when the key is
turned to “ ” (on) to remind the occupants
to fasten their seat belt. The indicator light
stays on until the driver seat belt is properly
latched. If the indicator light does not come
on when the key is turned to “ ” (on), or if
the indicator light remains on after the driver
seat belt is properly latched, have a Yamaha
dealer check the electrical circuit.
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5-2
5
Coolant• Check coolant level in reservoir.
• Fill with coolant if necessary.
5-6, 8-25
Final gear oil/Differen-
tial gear oil • Check for leakage. 5-6, 5-6, 8-20, 8-22
Accelerator pedal • Check free play and for proper operation. 5-6
Seat belts • Check for proper operation and belt wear. 5-7
Passenger handhold • Check for stability and proper fastening. 5-7, 7-8
Steering • Check for proper operation. 5-7
Fittings and fasteners • Check all fittings and fasteners. 5-7
Instruments, lights and
switches • Check for proper operation.
3-3, 4-2, 5-8, 8-54,
8-56, 8-57
Wheels and tires • Check tire pressure and for wear and damage. 5-8, 8-45, 8-47
Axle boots • Check for damage. 8-29
ITEM ROUTINE PAGEUB3D7AE0.book Page 2 Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:38 AM

5-7
5
EBU31800Seat beltsMake sure that the seat belts are not frayed,
torn, stretched, or damaged. The seat belts
must move smoothly when pulled out and re-
tract on its own when released. The seat belts
must also lock up when quickly pulled out.
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.EBU31832Fittings and fastenersAlways check the tightness of chassis fittings
and fasteners before starting off. Take the ve-
hicle to a Yamaha dealer or refer to the Servi-
ce Manual for correct tightening torque.
UB3D7AE0.book Page 7 Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:38 AM

6-6
6
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 flas hing, 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. UB3D7AE0.book Page 6 Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:38 AM

7-11
7
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 wheel. Grip the steering
wheel so that your thum
bs will not be hit by
the spokes. As an exam ple, see the illustra-
tion.UB3D7AE0.book Page 11 Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:38 AM

7-13
7
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 controlling 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 familiar with the operation
of your vehicle. Remember, driving aggres-
sively or making abrupt maneuvers even on
flat, open areas can cause side rollovers.UB3D7AE0.book Page 13 Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:38 AM

7-14
7
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 – tu
rning 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 fishtailing (rear-wheel slid-
ing), and never do donuts. If you feel the
Wolverine begin to slide sideways or the rear
wheels begin to slide during a turn, steer into
the direction of the slide, if possible, and
gradually let off the accelerator pedal to re-
gain 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.UB3D7AE0.book Page 14 Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:38 AM

7-15
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
UB3D7AE0.book Page 15 Tuesday, November 7, 2017 9:38 AM