2018 YAMAHA YFZ50 steering

RIDING YOUR ATV ........................................ 7-1GETTING TO KNOW YOUR ATV ................ 7-2
RIDE WITH CARE AND GOOD JUDGMENT .............................................. 7-2
BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU RIDE ............... 7-9
TURNING YOUR ATV................................ 7-12
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 for the emission control system ........................... 8-3
General maintenance and lubrication chart .......................................................... 8-5
Removing and installing the panel .............. 8-9
Checking the spark plug ............................. 8-9
Engine oil................................................... 8-11
Transmission oil ........................................ 8-14 Cleaning the air filter element ................... 8-16
Cleaning the spark arrester ...................... 8-19
Adjusting the carburetor ........................... 8-20
Adjusting the engine idling speed ............ 8-20
Adjusting the throttle lever free play ......... 8-21
Valve clearance......................................... 8-22
Brakes....................................................... 8-22
Checking the front and rear brake
shoes ...................................................... 8-22
Adjusting the front brake lever free play... 8-23
Adjusting the rear brake lever free play .... 8-25
Drive chain slack....................................... 8-26
Cleaning and lubricating the drive chain ....................................................... 8-28
Checking and lubricating the cables ........ 8-29
Checking and lubricating the front and rear brake levers ..................................... 8-29
Checking the wheel hub bearings ............ 8-30
Lubricating the front arm pivots ............... 8-30
Lubricating the front knuckle pivots ......... 8-31
Lubricating the steering shaft ................... 8-31
Battery ...................................................... 8-32
Replacing the fuse .................................... 8-35
Removing a wheel .................................... 8-35
Installing a wheel ...................................... 8-36
Troubleshooting........................................ 8-37
Troubleshooting chart .............................. 8-38UBW461E0.book Page 2 Tuesda y, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

1-12
1
WARNING
Improper ATV use can result in SEVEREINJURY or DEATH.ALWAYS USE
NEVER USE
NEVER CARRY NEVER USE
AN APPROVED ON PUBLIC PASSENGERS WITH DRUGS HELMET AND ROADS OR ALCOHOL
PROTECTIVE
GEAR
NEVER
operate :
without proper training or instruction. at speeds too fast for your skills or
the conditions. on public roads-a collision can occur
with another vehicle. with a passenger-passengers affect balance
and steering and increase risk
of losing control.ALWAYS : use proper riding techniques to avoid vehicle overturns on hills and rough terrainand it turns. avoid paved surfaces-pavement mayseriously affect handling and control.LOCATE AND READ OWNER'S MANUAL.
FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS.
BD3-F1568-60
WARNINGUNDER
6
Operation of this ATV by children
under the age of 6 increases the
risk of severe injury or death.Adult supervision required for children
under age 16.
NEVER permit children under age 6
to operate this ATV.
BW4-F816L-00
12
UBW461E0.book Page 12 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

2-5
2
4. Once immediate safety hazards are con-
firmed not to exist, you may remove your hel-
met to more closely inspect your vehicle.
Check for external signs of wear, broken
parts, fluid leaks, cracks in the frame, sus-
pension damage, wheel damage, and so on.
Fuel, oil, and coolant usually give off a notice-
able odor.
5. If your vehicle will not restart or if it is unsafe to ride, then turn off all vehicle systems (en-
gine stop switch, main switch, and fuel cock),
and then signal or go for help.
Aftermarket Parts, Accessories, and Modifica-
tions
While you may find aftermarket products similar in
design and quality to genuine Yamaha accesso-
ries, recognize that some aftermarket accessories
or modifications are not suitable because of po-
tential safety hazards to you or others. Installing
aftermarket products or having other modifica-
tions performed to your vehicle that change any of
the vehicle’s design or operation characteristics
can put you and others at greater risk of serious
injury or death. You are responsible for injuries re-
lated to changes in the vehicle. Keep the following
guidelines in mind, as well as those found in the Loading section (page 6-6) when mounting acces-
sories.

Never install accessories that would impair the
performance of your ATV. Carefully inspect the
accessory before using it to make sure that it
does not in any way reduce ground clearance,
limit suspension travel, steering travel or control
operation.
 Accessories fitted to the ATV can create insta-
bility due to improper weight distribution.
 Bulky or large accessories may seriously affect
the stability of the ATV.
 Certain accessories can displace the operator
from his or her normal riding position. This im-
proper position limits the freedom of movement
of the operator and may limit control ability,
therefore, such accessories are not recom-
mended.
 Use caution when adding electrical accesso-
ries. If electrical accessories exceed the capac-
ity of the ATV’s electrical system, an electric
failure could result, which could cause a dan-
gerous loss of lights or engine power. Also, the
battery tends to discharge more quickly if elec-
trical accessories are added.
UBW461E0.book Page 5 Tuesda y, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

6-5
6
EBU20911Accessories and loadingEBU20922Genuine Yamaha Accessories
Choosing accessories for your ATV is an impor-
tant decision. Genuine Yamaha Accessories,
which are available only from a Yamaha dealer,
have been designed, tested, and approved by
Yamaha for use on your ATV. Many companies with no connection to Yamaha manufacture parts
and accessories or offer other modifications for
Yamaha vehicles. Yamaha is not in a position to test the products that these aftermarket compa-
nies produce. Therefore, Yamaha can neither en-
dorse nor recommend the use of accessories not
sold by Yamaha or modifications not specifically
recommended by Yamaha, even if sold and in-
stalled by a Yamaha dealer.
Aftermarket parts, accessories, and modifica-
tions
While you may find aftermarket products similar in
design and quality to genuine Yamaha Accesso-
ries, recognize that some aftermarket accessories
or modifications are not suitable because of po-
tential safety hazards to you or others. Installing aftermarket products or having other modifica-
tions performed to your ATV that change any of
the vehicle’s design or operation characteristics
can put you and others at greater risk of serious
injury or death. You are responsible for injuries re-
lated to changes in the vehicle.
Keep the following in mind when considering an
accessory or operating an ATV which has acces-
sories.

Accessories should be rigidly and securely
mounted. An accessory which can shift position
or come off while you are riding could affect
your ability to control the ATV.
 Do not mount an accessory where it could inter-
fere with your ability to control the ATV. Exam-
ples include (but are not limited to) a heavy or
bulky object attached to the handlebars which
could make steering difficult, an accessory that
limits your ability to move around on the seat, or
one that limits your view.
 Use extra caution when riding an ATV with ac-
cessories. The ATV may handle differently than
it does without accessories.UBW461E0.book Page 5 Tuesda y, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

7-18
7
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.
OK
UBW461E0.book Page 18 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

7-21
7
To reduce the tendency for the front wheels to
slide in loose or slippery conditions, positioning
your weight over the front wheels will sometimes
help.
If the rear wheels of your ATV start to slide side-
ways, control can usually be regained (if there is
room to do so) by steering in the direction of the
slide. Applying the brakes or accelerating is not
recommended until you have corrected the slide.
With practice, over a period of time, skill at con-
trolled sliding can be developed. The terrain
should be chosen carefully before attempting
such maneuvers, since both stability and control
are reduced. Bear in mind that sliding maneuvers
should always be avoided on extremely slippery
surfaces such as ice, since all control may be lost.
WHAT TO DO IF...
This section is designed to be a reference guide
only. Be sure to read each section on riding tech-
niques completely.
UBW461E0.book Page 21 Tuesday, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-6
8
5*Wheels • Check runout and for damage, and replace if nec-
essary. √ √√√
6 *Tires • Check tread depth and for damage, and replace if
necessary.
• Check air pressure and balance, and correct if necessary. √ √√√
7 *Wheel hub bearings • Check for looseness or damage, and replace if
necessary. √ √√√
8 *Front arm pivots • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
9Drive chain • Check chain slack and adjust if necessary.
• Check rear wheel alignment and correct if neces-
sary.
• Clean and lubricate. √√√√√
10 *V- b e l t • Check for wear, cracks or other damage, and re-
place if necessary. √ √√√
11 *Chassis fasteners • Make sure that all nuts, bolts, and screws are
properly tightened. √√√√√
12 *Shock absorber as-
semblies • Check operation and correct if necessary.
• Check for oil leakage and replace if necessary.
√√√
13 *Front knuckle piv-
ots • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease.
√√√
14 *Steering shaft • Lubricate with lithium-soap-based grease. √√√
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 320UBW461E0.book Page 6 Tuesda y, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM

8-7
8
15*Steering system • Check operation and repair or replace if dam-
aged.
• Check toe-in and adjust if necessary. √√√√√
16 Engine oil • Change.
• Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary. √ √√√
17 Engine oil strainer • Clean. √√√
18 Transmission oil • Change.
• Check ATV for oil leakage, and correct if neces-
sary. √√
19 *Moving parts and
cables
•Lubricate.
√√√√
20 *Throttle lever • Check operation.
• Check throttle lever free play, and adjust if neces-
sary.
• Lubricate cable and lever housing. √√√√√
21 *Brake switch • Check operation and correct if necessary. √√√√√
22 *Switches • Check operation and correct 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 320UBW461E0.book Page 7 Tuesda y, January 31, 2017 5:13 PM