2019 YAMAHA XT1200ZE Owners Manual

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-39
6
EAU25872
Trou bleshootin g
Although Yamaha motorcycles receive
a thorough inspection before shipment
from the factory, trouble may occur
during operation. Any problem in the
fuel, compression, or ignition systems,
for example, can cause poor starting
and loss of power.
The following troubleshooting charts
represent quick and easy procedures
for checking these vital systems your-
self. However, should your motorcycle
require any repair, take it to a Yamaha
dealer, whose skilled technicians have
the necessary tools, experience, and
know-how to service the motorcycle
properly.
Use only genuine Yamaha replace-
ment parts. Imitation parts may look
like Yamaha parts, but they are often
inferior, have a shorter service life and
can lead to expensive repair bills.
WARNING
EWA15142
When checkin g the fuel system, d o
not smoke, an d make sure there are
no open flames or sparks in the ar-
ea, inclu din g pilot li ghts from water
heaters or furnaces. Gasoline or
g asoline vapors can i gnite or ex-
plo de, causin g severe injury or prop-
erty damag e.
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-40
6
EAU63470
Trou bleshootin g charts
Startin g pro blems or poor en gine performance
1. FuelThere is enough fuel.
There is no fuel.
Check the battery.
Supply fuel.
The engine turns o ver
quickly.
The engine turns o ver
slo wly.
The engine does not
start.
Check the battery.
Wipe off with a dry
cloth and correct the
spark plug gaps, or
replace the spark
plugs.
Check the battery
lead connections, and
have a Yamaha dealer
charge the battery if
necessary.
2. BatteryThe battery is good.
The engine does not
start.
Check the ignition.
3. IgnitionW etOperate the electric
starter.
Dry
There is compression.
There is no
compression.
The engine does not start.
Ha ve a Yamaha dealer check the v ehicle.
Have a Yamaha dealer check the v ehicle.
The engine does not
start.
Check the
compression.Have a Yamaha
dealer check the
v ehicle.
Remo ve the spark
plugs and check
the electrodes.
Operate the electric
starter.
Operate the electric
starter.
Check the fuel le vel
in the fuel tank.
4. Compression
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-41
6
En
gine overheatin g
WARNING
EWAT1041
Do not remove the rad iator cap when the engine an d ra diator are hot.
Scal din g hot flui d an d steam may b e blown out un der pressure, which
coul d cause serious injury. Be sure to wait until the en gine has coole d.
 Place a thick ra g, like a towel, over the rad iator cap, and then slowly ro-
tate the cap counterclockwise to the d etent to allow any residual pres-
sure to escape. When the hissin g soun d has stoppe d, press d own on the
cap while turnin g it counterclockwise, an d then remove the cap.
TIP
If coolant is not available, tap water can be temporarily used instead, provided
that it is changed to the recommended coolant as soon as possible.
W ait until the engine
has cooled.
Check the coolant
le vel in the reser voir
and radiator.Add coolant.
(See TIP.)
The coolant le vel is
OK.
There is no leakage.
There is leakage.
The coolant le vel is
lo w.
Check the cooling
system for leakage.
Ha ve a Yamaha
dealer check and
repair the cooling
system.
Start the engine. If the engine o verheats again,
ha ve a Yamaha dealer check and repair the cooling
system.
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-1
7
EAU37834
Matte color caution
NOTICE
ECA15193
Some mo dels are equipped with
matte colore d finishe d parts. Be
sure to consult a Yamaha dealer for
a d vice on what pro ducts to use be-
fore cleanin g the vehicle. Usin g a
b rush, harsh chemical prod ucts or
cleanin g compoun ds when cleanin g
these parts will scratch or damag e
their surface. Wax also shoul d not
b e applied to any matte colored fin-
ishe d parts.
EAU83443
Care
Frequent, thorough cleaning of the ve-
hicle will not only enhance its appear-
ance but also will improve its general
performance and extend the useful life
of many components. Washing, clean-
ing, and polishing will also give you a
chance to inspect the condition of the
vehicle more frequently. Be sure to
wash the vehicle after riding in the rain
or near the sea, because salt is corro-
sive to metals.
TIP
 The roads of heavy snowfall areas
may be sprayed with salt as a de-
icing method. This salt can stay on
the roads well into spring, so be
sure to wash the underside and
chassis parts after riding in such
areas.
 Genuine Yamaha care and main-
tenance products are sold under
the YAMALUBE brand in many
markets worldwide.
 See your Yamaha dealer for addi-
tional cleaning tips.
NOTICE
ECA26280
Improper cleanin g can cause cos-
metic an d mechanical dama ge. Do
not use:  high-pressure washers or
steam-jet cleaners. Excessive
water pressure may cause wa-
ter seepag e and d eterioration of
wheel bearin gs, brakes, trans-
mission seals an d electrical de-
vices. Avoi d hi gh-pressure
d eter gent applications such as
those availa ble in coin-operate d
car washers.
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-2
7

harsh chemicals, inclu din g
stron g aci dic wheel cleaners,
especially on spoke or ma gne-
sium wheels.
 harsh chemicals, ab rasive
cleanin g compoun ds, or wax on
matte-finished parts. Brushes
can scratch an d damag e the
matte-finish, use soft spon ge or
towel only.
 towels, spon ges, or brushes
contaminate d with a brasive
cleanin g prod ucts or stron g
chemicals such as, solvents,
g asoline, rust removers, brake
flui d, or antifreeze, etc.
Before washin g
1. Park the vehicle out of direct sun- light and allow it to cool. This will
help avoid water spots.
2. Make sure all caps, covers, elec- trical couplers and connectors are
tightly installed.
3. Cover the muffler end with a plas- tic bag and a strong rubber band.
4. Pre-soak stubborn stains like in- sects or bird droppings with a wet
towel for a few minutes.
5. Remove road grime and oil stains with a quality degreasing agent
and a plastic-bristle brush or
sponge. NOTICE: Do not use
d eg reasin g a gent on areas re-
quirin g lu brication such as
seals, gaskets, an d wheel axles.
Follow prod uct instructions.
[ECA26290]
Washing
1. Rinse off any degreaser and spray down the vehicle with a garden
hose. Use only enough pressure
to do the job. Avoid spraying wa-
ter directly into the muffler, instru-
ment panel, air inlet, or other inner
areas such as underseat storage
compartments.
2. Wash the vehicle with a quality au- tomotive-type detergent mixed
with cool water and a soft, clean
towel or sponge. Use an old tooth-
brush or plastic-bristle brush for
hard-to-reach places. NOTICE:
Use col d water if the vehicle has
b een exposed to salt. Warm wa-
ter will increase salt’s corrosive
properties.
[ECA26301]
3. For windshield-equipped vehicles: Clean the windshield with a soft
towel or sponge dampened with
water and a pH neutral detergent.
If necessary, use a high-quality
windshield cleaner or polish for
motorcycles. NOTICE: Never use
any stron g chemicals to clean
the win dshiel d. A dditionally,
some cleanin g compoun ds for
plastic may scratch the win d-
shiel d, so b e sure to test all
cleanin g prod ucts before gen-
eral application.
[ECA26310]
4. Rinse off thoroughly with clean water. Be sure to remove all deter-
gent residues, as they can be
harmful to plastic parts.
After washin g
1. Dry the vehicle with a chamois or absorbent towel, preferably mi-
crofiber terrycloth.
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-3
7 2. For drive chain-equipped models:
Dry and then lubricate the drive
chain to prevent rust.
3. Use a chrome polish to shine chrome, aluminum, and stainless
steel parts. Often the thermally in-
duced discoloring of stainless
steel exhaust systems can be re-
moved through polishing.
4. Apply a corrosion protection spray on all metal parts including
chrome or nickel-plated surfaces.
WARNING! Do not apply silicone or oil spray to seats, han d g rips,
ru bber foot pe gs or tire trea ds.
Otherwise these parts will be-
come slippery, which coul d
cause loss of control. Thor-
ou ghly clean the surfaces of
these parts before operatin g the
vehicle. [EWA20650]
5. Treat rubber, vinyl, and unpainted plastic parts with a suitable care
product.
6. Touch up minor paint damage caused by stones, etc.
7. Wax all painted surfaces using a non-abrasive wax or use a detail
spray for motorcycles.
8. When finished cleaning, start the engine and let it idle for several mi-
nutes to help dry any remaining
moisture.
9. If the headlight lens has fogged up, start the engine and turn on
the headlight to help remove the
moisture.
10. Let the vehicle dry completely be- fore storing or covering it.
NOTICE
ECA26320
Do not apply wax to ru bber or
unpainte d plastic parts.
 Do not use a brasive polishin g
compoun ds as they will wear
away the paint.
 Apply sprays an d wax sparin gly.
Wipe off excess afterwar ds.
WARNING
EWA20660
Contaminants left on the b rakes or
tires can cause loss of control.  Make sure there is no lu bricant
or wax on the brakes or tires.
 If necessary, wash the tires with
warm water an d a mil d d eter-
g ent.
 If necessary, clean the brake
d iscs an d pa ds with b rake
cleaner or acetone.
 Before ri din g at hi gher spee ds,
test the vehicle’s brakin g per-
formance an d cornerin g b ehav-
ior.
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-4
7
EAU83472
Stora ge
Always store the vehicle in a cool, dry
place. If necessary, protect it against
dust with a porous cover. Be sure the
engine and the exhaust system are
cool before covering the vehicle. If the
vehicle often sits for weeks at a time
between uses, the use of a quality fuel
stabilizer is recommended after each
fill-up.
NOTICE
ECA21170
 Storin g the vehicle in a poorly
ventilate d room or coverin g it
with a tarp, while it is still wet,
will allow water an d humi dity to
seep in an d cause rust.
 To prevent corrosion, avoi d
d amp cellars, sta bles ( because
of the presence of ammonia)
an d areas where stron g chemi-
cals are store d.
Lon g term stora ge
Before storing the vehicle long term (60
days or more): 1. Make all necessary repairs and perform any outstanding mainte-
nance.
2. Follow all instructions in the Care section of this chapter.
3. Fill up the fuel tank, adding fuel stabilizer according to product in-
structions. Run the engine for 5
minutes to distribute treated fuel
through the fuel system.
4. For vehicles equipped with a fuel cock: Turn the fuel cock lever to
the off position. 5. For vehicles with a carburetor: To
prevent fuel deposits from build-
ing up, drain the fuel in the carbu-
retor float chamber into a clean
container. Retighten the drain bolt
and pour the fuel back into the fuel
tank.
6. Use a quality engine fogging oil according to product instructions
to protect internal engine compo-
nents from corrosion. If engine
fogging oil is not available, per-
form the following steps for each
cylinder:a. Remove the spark plug cap and spark plug.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine oil into the spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug cap onto the spark plug, and then place
the spark plug on the cylinder
head so that the electrodes are
grounded. (This will limit spark-
ing during the next step.)
d. Turn the engine over several times with the starter. (This will
coat the cylinder wall with oil.)
WARNING! To prevent d am-
a g e or injury from sparkin g,
make sure to groun d the
spark plu g electro des while
turnin g the en gine over.
[EWA10952]
e. Remove the spark plug cap
from the spark plug, and then
install the spark plug and the
spark plug cap.
7. Lubricate all control cables, piv- ots, levers and pedals, as well as
the sidestand and centerstand (if
equipped).
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-5
7 8. Check and correct the tire air
pressure, and then lift the vehicle
so that all wheels are off the
ground. Otherwise, turn the
wheels a little once a month in or-
der to prevent the tires from be-
coming degraded in one spot.
9. Cover the muffler outlet with a plastic bag to prevent moisture
from entering it.
10. Remove the battery and fully char- ge it, or attach a maintenance
charger to keep the battery opti-
mally charged. NOTICE: Confirm
that the b attery and its char ger
are compati ble. Do not char ge a
VRLA battery with a convention-
al char ger.
[ECA26330]
TIP
 If the battery will be removed,
charge it once a month and store
it in a temperate location between
0-30 °C (32-90 °F).
 See page 6-30 for more informa-
tion on charging and storing the
battery.
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