2018 YAMAHA YFZ450R brake fluid

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

3-1
3
EBU17681
DESCRIPTION
EBU17691Left view
EBU17701Right view
1. Front shock absorber
2. Engine oil tank filler cap
3. Rear brake fluid reservoir
4. Battery
5. Shift pedal
6. Coolant reservoir
563
1
4
2
1. Spark arrester
2. Fuse
3. Fuel tank cap
4. Oil filter element
5. Brake pedal
6. Rear brake light switch
7. Rear shock absorber
456
1
2
7
3
UBW261E0.book Page 1 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM

3-2
3
EBU17715Controls and instruments1. Clutch lever
2. Parking brake lever
3. Handlebar switches
4. Main switch
5. Front brake fluid reservoir
6. Throttle lever
7. Brake lever
2
1
3
6
5
4
7
UBW261E0.book Page 2 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM

5-2
5
Front brake• Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
• Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
• Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to specified level if necessary.
• Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-28, 8-29, 8-31
Rear brake • Check operation. If soft or spongy, have Yamaha dealer bleed hy-
draulic system.
• Check brake pads for wear, and replace if necessary.
• Check brake fluid level in reservoir, and add specified brake fluid to specified level if necessary.
• Check hydraulic system for leakage. Correct if necessary. 5-4, 8-28, 8-29, 8-32
Clutch • Check operation, and correct if necessary.
• Lubricate cable if necessary.
• Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 8-34
Throttle lever • Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate cable and lever
housing if necessary.
• Check lever free play, and adjust if necessary. 5-5, 8-27
Control cables • Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate if necessary. 8-38
Drive chain • Check chain slack, and adjust if necessary.
• Check chain condition. Lubricate if necessary. 5-5, 8-35, 8-37
Wheels and tires • Check wheel condition, and replace if damaged.
• Check tire condition and tread depth. Replace if necessary.
• Check air pressure. Correct if necessary. 5-5
Shift pedal • Make sure that operation is smooth.
• Correct if necessary.
8-39
Brake pedal • Make sure that operation is smooth. Lubricate pedal pivoting point
if necessary. 8-39
ITEM ROUTINE PAGEUBW261E0.book Page 2 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM

5-4
5
EBU19542FuelMake sure that there is sufficient fuel in the tank.
(See page 4-8.)EBU19561Engine oilMake sure that the engine oil is at the specified
level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-14.)EBU19632CoolantMake sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-20.)TIPThe coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture. EBU19713Front and rear brakesBrake lever and brake pedal
Check that there is no free play in the brake le-
ver. If there is free play, have a Yamaha dealer
check the brake system. 
Check for correct brake pedal height. (See page
8-32.) If the pedal height is incorrect, have a
Yamaha dealer adjust it.
 Check the operation of the lever and pedal.
They should move smoothly and there should
be a firm feeling when the brakes are applied. If
not, have a Yamaha dealer check the brake sys-
tem.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-29.)
Brake fluid leakage
Check to see if any brake fluid is leaking out of the
pipe joints or brake fluid reservoirs. Apply the
brakes firmly for one minute. If there is any leak-
age, have a Yamaha dealer check the brake sys-
tem. Specified brake fluid:
DOT 4UBW261E0.book Page 4 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM

8-5
8
EBU2186EPeriodic maintenance chart: General maintenance and lubricationTIPFor 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

8-6
8
5*Brake hoses • Check for cracks or other damage, and replace if
necessary. √√√√
• Replace. Every 4 years
6 *Brake fluid • Change. Every 2 years
7 *Parking brake • Check operation and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
8 *Wheels • Check runout and for damage, and replace if nec-
essary. √ √√√
9 *Tires • Check tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
• Check air pressure and balance, and correct if necessary. √ √√√
10 *Wheel hub bearings • Check for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary. √ √√√
11 *Swingarm pivots • Check operation and for excessive play, and re-
place bearings if necessary.
• Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
12 *Upper and lower
arm pivots • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.
√√√
13 Drive chain • Check chain slack and adjust if necessary.
• Check rear wheel alignment and correct if neces-
sary.
• Clean and lubricate. √√√√√
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 320UBW261E0.book Page 6 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM

8-8
8
EBU29431TIPSome maintenance items need more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet, dusty, sandy or
muddy areas, or at full-throttle.
 Replace the fuel hose every five years and if cracked or damaged.
 Hydraulic brake service
• Regularly check and, if necessary, correct the brake fluid level.
• Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and
change the brake fluid.23 *Moving parts and
cables • Lubricate.
√√√√
24 *Throttle lever • Check operation.
• Check throttle lever free play, and adjust if neces-
sary.
• Lubricate cable and lever housing. √√√√√
25 *Front and rear
brake switches • Check operation and correct if necessary.
√√√√√
26 *Lights and switches • Check operation and correct if necessary.
• Adjust headlight beams. √√√√√
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 320UBW261E0.book Page 8 Friday, May 26, 2017 9:38 AM