warning YAMAHA BANSHEE 350 2009 User Guide

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WARNING

EWB00400
Always adjust the shock absorber assemblies
on the left and right side to the same setting.
Uneven adjustment can cause poor handling
and loss of stability, which could lead to an ac-
cident.
EBU19100
Adjusting the rear shock absorber
assembly
The spring preload, rebound damping and com-
pression damping forces of the rear shock absorb-
er assembly can be adjusted to suit the rider’s
weight and the riding conditions.
WARNING

EWB00430
This shock absorber assembly contains highly
pressurized nitrogen gas. Read and under-
stand the following information before han-
dling the shock absorber assembly.

Do not tamper with or attempt to open the
cylinder assembly.

Do not subject the shock absorber assembly
to an open flame or other high heat source.
This may cause the unit to explode due to ex-cessive gas pressure.

Do not deform or damage the cylinder in any
way. Cylinder damage will result in poor
damping performance.

Do not dispose of a damaged or worn out
shock absorber assembly yourself. Take the
shock absorber assembly to a Yamaha deal-
er for any service.
Spring preload
1. Loosen the locknut.
2. Turn the adjusting nut in direction (a) to in-
crease the spring preload and thereby harden
the suspension, and in direction (b) to de-
crease the spring preload and thereby soften
the suspension.

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NOTICE

ECB00090
Never turn an adjusting mechanism beyond
the minimum and maximum settings.
TIP

Although the total number of clicks of a damping
force adjusting mechanism may not exactly match
the above specifications due to small differences in
production, the actual number of clicks always rep-
resents the entire adjusting range. To obtain a pre-
cise adjustment, it would be advisable to check the
number of clicks of each damping force adjusting
mechanism and to modify the specifications as
necessary.WARNING

EWB00460
Suspension components become hot during
operation. Never touch the compression
damping force adjusting knob, the rebound
damping force adjusting dial or the oil reser-
voir with your bare hand or skin until suspen-
sion components have cooled.
1. Compression damping force adjusting knob
Compression damping setting:
Minimum (soft):
1 click(s) in direction (a)*
Standard:
11 click(s) in direction (a)*
Maximum (hard):
15 click(s) in direction (a)*
* With the adjusting knob fully turned in direc-
tion (b)
1(a) (b)

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EBU19200
PRE-OPERATION CHECKS
EBU19223
Pre-operation check list
Before operating this ATV, be sure to check the items listed in the following table.
WARNING

EWB00480
Always inspect your ATV each time you use it to make sure it is in safe operating condition.
Always follow the inspection and maintenance procedures and schedules described in the Owner’s
Manual. Failure to inspect increases the possibility of an accident or equipment damage.
TIP

The maintenance of some items in the table has to be performed by a Yamaha dealer. Refer to the periodic
maintenance charts on page 8-3 to determine which service should be performed by a Yamaha dealer.
ITEM ROUTINE PAGE
Fuel


Check fuel level in fuel tank, and add recommended fuel if neces-
sary.

Check fuel line for leakage. Correct if necessary.4-8, 5-3
Transmission oil

Check oil level in transmission case, and add recommended oil to
specified level if necessary.

Check ATV for oil leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-10
Coolant

Check coolant level in reservoir, and add recommended coolant to
specified level if necessary.

Check cooling system for leakage. Correct if necessary.5-3, 8-12

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EBU19550
Fuel and 2-stroke engine oil mixing
ratio
If Yamalube “R” oil is not available, select an oil
from the following list.
NOTICE

ECB00140
Never mix two types of 2-stroke engine oil in
the same batch. Always use the same type of
oil to ensure maximum engine performance.
EBU19580
Transmission oil
Make sure that the transmission oil is at the speci-
fied level. Add oil as necessary. (See page 8-10.)
EBU19630
Coolant
Make sure that the coolant is at the specified level.
Add coolant as necessary. (See page 8-12.)
TIP

The coolant level must be checked on a cold en-
gine since the level varies with engine tempera-
ture.
WARNING

EWB00510
Wait 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 put a thick rag over the cap
when opening. Allow any remaining pressure
to escape before completely removing the cap.
EBU19710
Front and rear brakes
Brake 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 Recommended 2-stroke engine oil:
Yamalube “R” (Yamalube Racing 2-cycle oil)
Mixing ratio:
24:1
Recommended 2-stroke engine oil Mixing ratio

Castrol R30
20:1 Castrol A545
Castrol A747

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page 8-36.) 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 system.
Brake fluid level
Check the brake fluid level. Add fluid if necessary.
(See page 8-33.)
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.
Brake operation
Test the brakes at slow speed after starting out to
make sure they are working properly. If the brakes
do not provide proper braking performance, check
the brake pads for wear. (See page 8-32.)
WARNING

EWB00580
Always check the brakes at the start of every
ride. Do not ride the ATV if you find any prob-
lem with the brakes or you could lose braking
ability, which could lead to an accident. If a
problem cannot be corrected by the adjust-
ment procedures provided in this manual, have
a Yamaha dealer check for the cause.
EBU19761
Throttle lever
Check the operation of the throttle lever. It must
open smoothly and spring back to the idle position
when released. Have a Yamaha dealer correct if
necessary.
EBU19770
Drive chain
Check the condition of the drive chain and check
the drive chain slack. Lubricate and adjust the
drive chain as necessary. (See page 8-40.) Recommended brake fluid:
DOT 4

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EBU19792
Tires
WARNING

EWB00602
Use of improper tires on this ATV, or operation
of this ATV with improper or uneven tire pres-
sure, may cause loss of control, increasing
your risk of accident.
Pay attention to the following.

The tires listed below have been approved
by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. for this model.
Other tire combinations are not recommend-
ed.
Front:
Manufacturer/model:
DUNLOP/KT851B
Size:
AT21 x 7-10
Type:
Tubeless
Rear:
Manufacturer/model:
DUNLOP/KT877A
Size:
AT20 x 10-9
Type:
Tubeless

The tires should be set to the recommended
pressure:
Recommended tire pressure:
Front:
30.0 kPa (0.300 kgf/cm
2
, 4.4 psi)
Rear:
30.0 kPa (0.300 kgf/cm
2
, 4.4 psi)

Check and adjust tire pressures when the
tires are cold.

Tire pressures must be equal on both
sides.

Tire pressure below the minimum speci-
fied could cause the tire to dislodge from
the rim under severe riding conditions.
Minimum tire pressure:
Front:
27.0 kPa (0.270 kgf/cm
2
, 4.0 psi)
Rear:
27.0 kPa (0.270 kgf/cm
2
, 4.0 psi)

Use no more than the following pressures
when seating the tire beads.
Maximum tire seating pressure:
Front:
250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm
2
, 36 psi)
Rear:
250 kPa (2.5 kgf/cm
2
, 36 psi)

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EBU19880
OPERATION
EBU19900
Read the Owner’s Manual carefully before riding
the ATV.
WARNING

EWB00630
Read the Owner’s Manual carefully to become
familiar with all controls in order to help pre-
vent any loss of control, which could cause an
accident or injury. If there is a control or func-
tion you do not understand, ask your Yamaha
dealer.
EBU29340
Starting a cold engine
WARNING

EWB00640
Always make sure all control cables work
smoothly before you begin riding in cold
weather. If the control cables are frozen or do
not work smoothly, you could be unable to
control the ATV, which could lead to an acci-
dent or collision.
NOTICE

ECB00150
See the “Engine break-in” section on page 6-4
prior to operating the engine for the first time.
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the fuel cock to “ON”.
3. Turn the key to “ON” and the engine stop
switch to “”.
4. Shift the transmission into neutral.
5. Use the starter (choke) in reference to the fig-
ure:
Position (1):

Cold engine start with ambient temperature be-
low 5 °C (40 °F).
Position (2):

Cold engine start with ambient temperature be-
tween 0 °C (30 °F) and 30 °C (90 °F).
Position (3):

Cold engine start with ambient temperature
above 25 °C (80 °F).

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EBU20520
Shifting
This ATV has a 6-speed forward transmission. The
transmission allows you to control the amount of
power you have available at a given speed or for
starting, accelerating, climbing hills, etc.
To shift into neutral, return the throttle lever to the
closed position, apply the clutch, and then repeat-
edly depress the shift pedal until it stops.
When it stops, it will be in first gear. Raise the pedal
slightly to reach the neutral position.
EBU20590
To start out and accelerate
1. Release the throttle lever, and then release
the parking brake.NOTICE

ECB00200
Always close the throttle before shifting gears,
otherwise damage to the engine and drive train
may result.
2. Pull the clutch lever to disengage the clutch.
3. Shift into first gear.
4. Open the throttle gradually and at the same
time, release the clutch lever slowly.
5. Once the ATV has attained adequate speed,
release the throttle, and at the same time,
quickly pull in the clutch lever.
6. Shift the transmission into second gear.
(Make sure not to shift the transmission into
neutral)
7. Open the throttle part way and gradually re-
lease the clutch lever.
8. Follow the same procedure when shifting to
the next higher gear.WARNING

EWB00730
Opening the throttle abruptly or releasing the
1. Shift pedal
2. Neutral position
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clutch lever too quickly could make the ATV
wheelie, which would increase the chance of
an accident, including an overturn.
EBU20650
To decelerate
When slowing down or stopping, release the throt-
tle and apply the brakes smoothly and evenly. As
you slow down, shift to a lower gear. Be sure that
the engine has sufficiently slowed before engaging
a lower gear. Improper use of the brakes or shifting
can cause the tires to lose traction, reducing con-
trol and increasing the possibility of an accident.
WARNING

EWB00710
Make sure the engine has sufficiently slowed
before shifting to a lower gear. Engaging a low-
er gear when the engine speed is too high
could make the wheels stop rotating and lose
traction. This could cause loss of control, an
accident and injury. It could also cause engine
or drive train damage.
NOTICE

ECB00180

Even with the transmission in the neutral po-
sition, do not coast for long periods of timewith the engine off, and do not tow the ATV
for long distances. The transmission is prop-
erly lubricated only when the engine is run-
ning. Inadequate lubrication may damage
the transmission.

Always use the clutch when changing gears.
The engine, transmission and drive train are
not designed to withstand the shock of
forced shifting and can be damaged by shift-
ing without using the clutch.
EBU20672
Engine break-in
TIP


For ATVs equipped with an odometer or an hour
meter, follow the figures given in km (mi) or the
figures given in hours.

For ATVs not equipped with an odometer or
hour meter, follow the figures given in hours.
There is never a more important period in the life of
your engine than the first 320 km (200 mi) or 20
hours of riding. For this reason, you should read
the following material carefully.
Since the engine is brand new, do not put an ex-
cessive load on it for the first 320 km (200 mi) or 20

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EBU20860
Parking on a slope
WARNING

EWB00850
Avoid parking on hills or other inclines. Park-
ing on a hill or other incline could cause the
ATV to roll out of control, increasing the
chance of an accident. If you must park on an
incline, place the ATV transversely across the
incline, shift into first gear, stop the engine, ap-
ply the parking brake, and then block the front
and rear wheels with rocks or other objects.
Do not park the ATV at all on hills that are so
steep you could not walk up them easily.
1. Bring the ATV to a stop by applying the brakes
in first gear.
2. Stop the engine and release the clutch lever.
3. With the rear brake applied, apply the parking
brake and slowly release the brake pedal.
EBU20910
Accessories and loading
EBU20920
Accessories
Accessories can affect the handling and control of
your ATV. Keep the following in mind when consid-
ering an accessory or operating an ATV which has
accessories.
1. Locked position
1