2018 YAMAHA YFZ50 service

8-1
8
EBU28788
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
EBU21675Periodic inspection, adjustment, and lubrication
will keep your vehicle in the safest and most effi-
cient condition possible. Safety is an obligation of
the vehicle owner/operator. The most important
points of vehicle inspection, adjustment, and lu-
brication are explained on the following pages.
WARNING
EWB01842Failure to properly maintain the vehicle or per-
forming maintenance activities incorrectly may
increase your risk of injury or death during ser-
vice or while using the vehicle. If you are not fa-
miliar with vehicle service, have a Yamaha
dealer perform the service.
WARNING
EWB02563Turn off the engine when performing mainte-
nance unless otherwise specified.
A running engine has moving parts that can
catch on body parts or clothing and electri-
cal parts that can cause shocks or fires. 
Running the engine while servicing can lead
to eye injury, burns, fire, or carbon monoxide
poisoning - possibly leading to death. See
page 2-8 for more information about carbon
monoxide.

WARNING
EWB02691Brake discs, calipers, drums, and linings can
become very hot during use. To avoid possible
burns, let brake components cool before
touching them. The intervals given in the periodic maintenance
charts should be considered as a general guide
under normal riding conditions. However, DE-
PENDING ON THE WEATHER, TERRAIN, GEO-
GRAPHICAL LOCATION, AND INDIVIDUAL USE,
THE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS MAY NEED TO
BE SHORTENED.
UBW461E0.book Page 1 Tuesda y, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-2
8
EBU33901Owner’s manual and tool kitBe sure to put this owner’s manual in the plastic
bag and always carry it along with the owner’s tool
kit on the bottom of the seat.
The service information included in this manual
and the tools provided in the owner’s tool kit are
intended to assist you in the performance of pre-
ventive maintenance and minor repairs. However,
additional tools such as a torque wrench may be
necessary to perform certain maintenance work
correctly.
TIPThere is a low-pressure tire gauge located in the
tool kit.
 If you do not have the tools or experience re-
quired for a particular job, have a Yamaha deal-
er perform it for you.
1. Owner’s tool kit
2. Owner’s manual
2
1
UBW461E0.book Page 2 Tuesda y, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-8
8
EBU23062TIPSome maintenance items need more frequent service if you are riding in unusually wet, dusty, sandy or
muddy areas, or at full-throttle. UBW461E0.book Page 8 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-16
87. Check the oil filler cap O-ring for damage,
and replace it if necessary.
8. Install and tighten the oil filler cap.
9. Check the transmission case for oil leakage. If oil is leaking, check for the cause.
EBU34110Cleaning the air filter elementThe air filter element should be serviced at the in-
tervals specified in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart. Clean or, if necessary, replace
the air filter element more frequently if you are rid-
ing in unusually wet or dusty areas.TIPThere is a check hose at the bottom of the air filter
case. If dust or water collects in this hose, empty
the hose and clean the air filter element and air fil-
ter case.
1. Park the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove the seat. (See page 4-12.)
3. Remove the air filter case cover by unhookingthe air filter case cover holders.
Recommended oil:
See page 10-1.
Oil quantity: 0.35 L (0.37 US qt, 0.31 Imp.qt)1. Air filter case check hose
1
UBW461E0.book Page 16 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-22
84. Tighten the locknut.
5. Slide the rubber covers to their original posi-
tions.
EBU24061Valve clearanceThe valve clearance changes with use, resulting in
improper air-fuel mixture and/or engine noise. To
prevent this from occurring, the valve clearance
must be adjusted by a Yamaha dealer at the inter-
vals specified in the periodic maintenance and lu-
brication chart.
EBU29602BrakesReplacement of brake components requires pro-
fessional knowledge. Brake service should be
performed by a Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWB02572Operating with improperly serviced or adjust-
ed brakes could lead to a loss in braking ability
and an accident. EBU34511Checking the front and rear brake
shoesThe front and rear brake shoes must be checked
for wear at the intervals specified in the periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart. Without disas-
sembling the brake, this can be performed by
checking the position of the brake lever free play
adjusting bolts or nut.
Front brakes
To check front brake shoe wear, check the posi-
tion of the adjusting bolts. If a bolt extends more
than 12 mm (0.47 in) from its locknut, the brake
shoes need to be replaced.
1. Rubber cover
2. Throttle lever free play adjusting nut
3. Locknut
4. Throttle lever free play
1
2
3
1
4
(a)(b)
UBW461E0.book Page 22 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-28
84. To tighten the drive chain, turn the drive chain
slack adjusting nut in direction (a). To loosen
the drive chain, turn the adjusting nut in direc-
tion (b) and push the rear wheels forward.
NOTICE: Improper drive chain slack will
overload the engine as well as other vital
parts of the ATV and can lead to drive
chain slippage or breakage. To prevent
this from occurring, keep the drive chain
slack within the specified limits.
[ECB00543]
5. Tighten the locknut, and then the bolts and nuts to their specified torques.
6. Adjust the rear brake lever free play. (See page 8-25.)
EBU36480Cleaning and lubricating the drive
chainThe drive chain must be cleaned and lubricated at
the intervals specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart, otherwise it will quickly wear
out, especially when riding in dusty or wet areas.
Service the drive chain as follows.NOTICEECB00562The drive chain must be lubricated after wash-
ing the ATV or riding in the rain or wet areas. 1. Remove all dirt and mud from the drive chainwith a brush or cloth.TIPFor a thorough cleaning, have a Yamaha dealer re-
move the drive chain and soak it in solvent. 2. Spray Yamaha chain lubricant or other suit-able chain lubricant on the entire chain, mak-
ing sure that all side plates and rollers have
been sufficiently oiled.
Tightening torques:
Locknut:22 N·m (2.2 kgf·m, 16 lb·ft)
Bolt: 45 N·m (4.5 kgf·m, 33 lb·ft)
Nut: 54 N·m (5.4 kgf·m, 40 lb·ft)
UBW461E0.book Page 28 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-32
8
TIPFor parts equipped with a grease nipple, use a
grease gun. EBU36401BatteryThis model is equipped with a 12-volt VRLA
(valve-regulated lead-acid) battery. There is no
need to check the electrolyte or to add distilled
water. However, the battery lead connections
need to be checked and tightened, and the bat-
tery terminals cleaned if corroded. If the battery
seems to have discharged, recharge it as soon as
possible.
TIPWear gloves and eye protection in a ventilated
area away from sparks and open flames. Wash
hands after handling.
 It is recommended to have the battery serviced
by a Yamaha dealer.
WARNING
EWB02161Battery electrolyte is poisonous and danger-
ous, as it contains sulfuric acid, which can cau-
se severe burns. Avoid contact with skin, eyes
or clothing. Always shield your eyes when
working near batteries.
Antidote:
EXTERNAL: Flush with water.
INTERNAL: Drink large quantities of water or
milk. Follow with milk of magnesia, beaten egg
or vegetable oil. Call a physician immediately.
EYES: Flush with water for 15 minutes and get
prompt medical attention.
Batteries produce explosive gases. Keep
sparks, flame, cigarettes or other sources of
ignition away. Ventilate when charging or using
in an enclosed space.
UBW461E0.book Page 32 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-37
8
EBU25721TroubleshootingAlthough Yamaha ATVs receive a thorough in-
spection before shipment from the factory, trouble
may occur during operation. Any problem in the
fuel, compression, or ignition systems, for exam-
ple, can cause poor starting and loss of power.
The following troubleshooting chart represents a
quick and easy procedure for checking these vital
systems yourself. However, should your ATV re-
quire any repair, take it to a Yamaha dealer, whose
skilled technicians have the necessary tools, ex-
perience, and know-how to service the ATV prop-
erly.
Use only genuine Yamaha replacement parts. Im-
itation parts may look like Yamaha parts, but they
are often inferior, have a shorter service life and
can lead to expensive repair bills.
WARNING
EWB02281Do not smoke when checking the fuel system.
Fuel can ignite or explode, causing severe inju-
ry or property damage. Make sure there are no
open flames or sparks in the area, including pi-
lot lights from water heaters or furnaces. UBW461E0.book Page 37 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM