Page 9 of 150

RIDING YOUR ATV ........................................ 7-1GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV ................ 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............... 7-8
TURNING YOUR ATV................................ 7-11
CLIMBING UPHILL ................................... 7-13
RIDING DOWNHILL .................................. 7-16
CROSSING A SLOPE................................ 7-17
CROSSING THROUGH SHALLOW WATER .................................................... 7-18
RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN ............. 7-20
SLIDING AND SKIDDING.......................... 7-20
WHAT TO DO IF... ..................................... 7-21
WHAT TO DO... ......................................... 7-22
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND
ADJUSTMENT................................................ 8-1 Owner’s manual and tool kit ....................... 8-2
Periodic maintenance chart: Emission control system .......................................... 8-3
Periodic maintenance chart: General maintenance and lubrication..................... 8-5
Removing and installing the cowling and panels...................................................... 8-10
Checking the spark plug ........................... 8-13
Engine oil and oil filter element ................. 8-14 Coolant ..................................................... 8-20
Cleaning the air filter element ................... 8-21
Cleaning the spark arrester ...................... 8-25
Adjusting the throttle lever free play ......... 8-27
Valve clearance......................................... 8-28
Brakes....................................................... 8-28
Checking the front and rear brake pads... 8-28
Checking the brake fluid level .................. 8-29
Changing the brake fluid .......................... 8-31
Checking the front brake lever free play... 8-31
Checking the brake pedal height.............. 8-32
Adjusting the parking brake free play ....... 8-32
Brake light switches ................................. 8-34
Adjusting the clutch lever free play .......... 8-34
Drive chain slack....................................... 8-35
Lubricating the drive chain ....................... 8-37
Checking and lubricating the cables ........ 8-38
Checking and lubricating the brake and
clutch levers ........................................... 8-39
Checking the shift pedal ........................... 8-39
Checking and lubricating the brake pedal ....................................................... 8-39
Checking the wheel hub bearings ............ 8-40
Lubricating the swingarm pivots .............. 8-40
Lubricating the upper and lower arm pivots ...................................................... 8-41
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-42UBW261E0.book Page 2 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM
Page 41 of 150
4-17
4
3. Loosen the clamp screw at the air filter case side. 4. Remove the air filter case holding plate by re-
moving the bolts and collars.
1. Hose holder
2. Clip
3. Bolt
4. Blow-by gas chamber
2 3
4
1
1. Clamp screw
1
UBW261E0.book Page 17 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM
Page 42 of 150
4-18
45. Remove the bolts, and then remove the air fil-ter case by disconnecting it from the air in-
take duct. 6. Disconnect the coupler.
1. Bolt
2. Collar
3. Air filter case holding plate
1
1
2
3
1. Air filter case
2. Bolt
1. Coupler
1 2
2
1
UBW261E0.book Page 18 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM
Page 44 of 150
![YAMAHA YFZ450R 2018 Owners Manual 4-20
410. Tighten the locknut to the specified torque. NOTICE: Always tighten the locknut
against the adjusting nut, and then tighten
it to the specified torque.
[ECB00082]
11. Connect the air intak YAMAHA YFZ450R 2018 Owners Manual 4-20
410. Tighten the locknut to the specified torque. NOTICE: Always tighten the locknut
against the adjusting nut, and then tighten
it to the specified torque.
[ECB00082]
11. Connect the air intak](/manual-img/51/53834/w960_53834-43.png)
4-20
410. Tighten the locknut to the specified torque. NOTICE: Always tighten the locknut
against the adjusting nut, and then tighten
it to the specified torque.
[ECB00082]
11. Connect the air intake duct to the throttle body, and then tighten the clamp screw at the
throttle body side. NOTICE: Make sure that
the air intake duct is properly connected to
the throttle body, and that the clamp
screw is tightened securely.
[ECB00962]
12. Connect the coupler.
13. Connect the air filter case to the air intake duct, place the air filter case in the original po-
sition, and then tighten the clamp screw at
the air filter case side. NOTICE: Make sure
that the air intake duct is properly con-
nected to the air filter case, and that the
clamp screw is tightened securely.
[ECB00972]
14. Install the air filter case bolts, and then tighten them to the specified torque.
Spring preload setting:
Minimum (soft):Distance A = 286.5 mm (11.28 in)
Standard: Distance A = 278.0 mm (10.94 in)
Maximum (hard): Distance A = 266.5 mm (10.49 in)
1. Distance A
1
Tightening torque:Locknut:30 N·m (3.0 kgf·m, 22 lb·ft)
Tightening torque: Air filter case bolt:7 N·m (0.7 kgf·m, 5.2 lb·ft)
UBW261E0.book Page 20 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM
Page 45 of 150

4-21
4
15. Install the air filter case holding plate by in-
stalling the bolts and collars, and then tighten
the bolts to the specified torque.
16. Install the blow-by gas chamber by installing the bolt, tighten the bolt to the specified
torque, and then install the clip to the hose
holder.
17. Install the cowling.
Rebound damping force
Turn the rebound damping force adjusting screw
in direction (a) to increase the rebound damping
force and thereby harden the damping, and in di-
rection (b) to decrease the rebound damping force
and thereby soften the damping. Tightening torque:
Air filter case holding plate bolt:7 N·m (0.7 kgf·m, 5.2 lb·ft)
Tightening torque: Blow-by gas chamber bolt:7 N·m (0.7 kgf·m, 5.2 lb·ft)
1. Rebound damping force adjusting screwRebound damping setting: Minimum (soft):30 click(s) in direction (b)*
Standard: 15 click(s) in direction (b)*
Maximum (hard): 1 click(s) in direction (b)*
* With the adjusting screw fully turned in di- rection (a)
1
(a)
(b)
UBW261E0.book Page 21 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM
Page 81 of 150
7-19
7
Test your brakes after leaving the water. If neces-
sary, apply them several times to let friction dry
out the linings. Do not continue to ride your ATV
without verifying that you have regained proper
braking ability. WARNING! Wet brakes may have
reduced stopping ability, which could cause
loss of control.
[EWB02622]
After riding your ATV in water, be sure to drain the
trapped water by removing the check hose at the
bottom of the air filter case. NOTICE: Undrained
water can cause damage or improper opera-
tion.
[ECB00842]
Wash the ATV in fresh water if it has been operat-
ed in salt water or muddy conditions.
UBW261E0.book Page 19 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM
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7-20
7RIDING OVER ROUGH TERRAIN
WARNING
EWB01652Riding improperly over obstacles could cause
loss of control or a collision. Before operating
in a new area, check for obstacles. Never at-
tempt to ride over large obstacles, such as lar-
ge rocks or fallen trees. When you go over
obstacles, always follow proper procedures as
described in the Owner’s Manual. Riding over rough terrain should be done with
caution. Look out for obstacles which could cause
damage to the ATV or could lead to an upset or accident. Be sure to keep your feet firmly mounted
on the footrests at all times. Avoid jumping the
ATV as loss of control and damage to the ATV may
result.
SLIDING AND SKIDDING
WARNING
EWB01663Skidding or sliding improperly may cause you
to lose control of this ATV. You may also regain
traction unexpectedly, which may cause the
ATV to overturn.
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 re-
duce the chance of skidding or sliding out of
control. Care should be used when riding on loose or slip-
pery surfaces since the ATV may slide. If unex-
pected and uncorrected, sliding could lead to an
accident.
1. Air filter case check hose
1
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8-5
8
EBU2186EPeriodic maintenance chart: General maintenance and lubricationTIPFor ATVs not equipped with an odometer or an hour meter, follow the month maintenance intervals in-
stead.
For odometer or hour meter-equipped vehicles, follow the month maintenance interval if the ATV isn’t
ridden for the stated mileage or engine operating hours.
Items marked with an asterisk should be performed by a Yamaha dealer as they require special tools,
data and technical skills. NO. ITEM CHECK OR MAINTENANCE
JOB INITIAL
EVERY
Whichev- er comes first month136612
km (mi) 320
(200) 1300
(800) 2500
(1600) 2500
(1600) 5000
(3200)
hours 20 80 160 160 320
1 Air filter element • Clean and replace if necessary. Every 20–40 hours (more often in wet or
dusty areas)
2 *Clutch • Check operation and adjust if necessary. √ √√√
3 *Front brake • Check operation and correct if necessary.
• Check fluid level and ATV for fluid leakage, and
correct if necessary. √√√√√
• Replace brake pads. Whenever worn to the limit
4 *Rear brake • Check operation and correct if necessary.
• Check fluid level and ATV for fluid leakage, and
correct if necessary. √√√√√
• Replace brake pads. Whenever worn to the limit
UBW261E0.book Page 5 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM