2021 YAMAHA KODIAK 450 warning

8-18
8

Shift your weight to the uphill side of the ATV.
 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.
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8-19
8The ATV can be used to cross slow moving, shal-
low water of up to a maximum of 35 cm (14 in) in
depth. Before entering the water, choose your
path carefully. Enter where there is no sharp drop
off, and avoid rocks or other obstacles which may
be slippery or upset the ATV. Drive slowly and
carefully.
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 and the V-belt cooling
duct check hose. Also, remove the V-belt case
drain plug to drain any water that may have accu-
mulated.
NOTICE: Undrained water can cause
damage or improper operation.
[ECB00842]
Wash the ATV in fresh water if it has been operat-
ed in salt water or muddy conditions.
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8-20
8
RIDING 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
large 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
1. Air filter case check hose
1. V-belt cooling duct check hose (left front side of ATV)
1
1
1. V-belt case drain plug
1
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8-21
8accident. Be sure to keep your feet firmly mounted
on the footboards 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 lo s e c o n tr o l o f th is A T V . Y o u ma y a ls o r e g a i n
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. 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.UBEY60E0.book Page 21 Monday, July 27, 2020 10:46 AM

9-1
9
EBU28789
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
EBU21677Periodic 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 and operator. The most impor-
tant points of vehicle inspection, adjustment, and
lubrication 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 3-6 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.
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9-30
93. If the coolant is at or below the minimum level
mark, remove panel C to access the coolant
reservoir. (See page 9-10.)
4. Remove the coolant reservoir cap. WARNING! Remove only the coolant res-
ervoir cap. Never attempt to remove the
radiator cap when the engine is hot.
[EWB02672]
5. Add coolant to the maximum level mark, in-stall the reservoir cap, and then install the
panel. NOTICE: If coolant is not available,
use distilled water or soft tap water in-
stead. Do not use hard water or salt water
since they are harmful to the engine. If wa-
ter has been used instead of coolant, re-
place it with coolant as soon as possible,
otherwise the cooling system will not be
protected against frost and corrosion. If
water has been added to the coolant, have
a Yamaha dealer check the antifreeze con-
1. Maximum level mark
2. Minimum level mark
1
2
1. Coolant reservoir cap
1
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9-31
9
tent of the coolant as soon as possible,
otherwise the effectiveness of the coolant
will be reduced.
[ECB01012]
EBU37131
To change the coolant
WARNING
EWB01891Wait for the engine and radiator to cool before
removing the radiator cap. You could be
burned by hot fluid and steam blown out under
pressure. Always place a thick rag over the cap
when opening. Allow any remaining pressure
to escape before completely removing the cap. 1. Park the ATV on a level surface.
2. Remove the front carrier and panel F. (See page 9-10.)
3. Remove the radiator cap. 4. Remove panels D and E. (See page 9-10.)
5. Place a container under the engine, and then
remove the coolant drain bolt and its gasket.
(Use a trough or a similar object as shown to
prevent coolant from spilling on the footrest.)
1. Radiator cap
1
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9-35
9
5. Pull off the lock plate from the main air filter
assembly, and then remove the air filter ele-
ment (sponge material) from the frame.
6. Wash the air filter elements gently but thor- oughly with YAMALUBE Air Filter Cleaner, or
a dedicated parts cleaning solvent.
WARNING! Always use parts cleaning sol- vent. Never use low-flash-point solvents
or gasoline because the engine could
catch fire or explode.
[EWB01943]
7. Squeeze out the excess moisture, and let dry. NOTICE: Do not twist the sponge material
when squeezing it.
[ECB00442]
8. Check the air filter elements (sponge material) for damage, replace if necessary.
9. Apply YAMALUBE Foam Air Filter Oil (or equivalent) to the air filter elements.TIPThe sponge material should be wet but not drip-
ping. 10. Install the sub air filter element.
11. Install the main air filter element onto its frame, then the lock plate, and then install the
main air filter assembly.
1. Frame
2. Air filter element (sponge material)
3. Lock plate
1
2
3
UBEY60E0.book Page 35 Monday, July 27, 2020 10:46 AM